Automechanika 2010 will include the following events:
Automechanika Innovation Award 2010
As in previous years, the Automechanika Innovation Award 2010 will be presented for outstanding new products and innovative solutions. Launched in 1996, the internationally recognised award is given in nine categories: Parts, Systems, Tuning, Accessories, Repair/Diagnostics, Repair/Maintenance, IT & Management and Service Station & Car Wash. A jury of renowned experts evaluates entries in accordance with the criteria of innovativeness, functionality, relevance to the aftermarket, safety, quality and contribution to environmental protection. New this year is a separate category for ‘OE Products & Services’. All winners and the top 4 entries will be on show in a special exhibition in the very busy foyer of Hall 4.1 throughout the fair. The awards will be presented during the official opening ceremony in ‘Saal Europa’ on Sept. 14.
Automechanika Green Directory
Account is taken of climate protection and sustainability by the Green Directory, a guide for visitors first published in 2008, which offers a complete overview of environmentally compatible and emissionreducing products and services in all product groups. The guide and the ‘green logo’ on the floor of the exhibition halls show visitors the way to all exhibitors taking part in the Green Directory project. Thus, visitors have an aid to better orientation in the form of an allembracing summary of sustainable solutions at Automechanika. This year, for the first time, there will also be an award for the best applicant. It will be presented during the opening ceremony in ‘Saal Europa’ on Sept. 14.
Automechanika Aftermarket Forum, E-Mobility Day and Automechanika Study
With around 50 top international speakers, this year’s Aftermarket Forum begins on the first day of the fair with an official opening ceremony and runs a day longer than in 2008. The focus of this additional day will be on the subject of ‘e-mobility’. In addition to a study by Prof. Willi Diez on the ‘New Era in Automobile Service’, visitors can look forward to a comprehensive program of lectures and interesting panel discussions on a variety of subjects including ‘The situation in the sector – in the wake of the financial crisis and car-scrappage scheme’, ‘Options for increasing workshop productivity’, ‘Damage-repair management’, ‘The trade + workshops – competition and chances’, ‘Right-to-repair conference’ (by personal invitation only) and ‘Electric transportation – future perspectives: a new infrastructure and new mobility structures’. Admission to the Automechanika Aftermarket Forum is free of charge and all contributions will be translated simultaneously into English and German.
1st Automechanika Rally
On the occasion of Automechanika 2010, a competition will be held in cooperation with the Association of the Independent Parts Market (Verein Freier Ersatzteilemarkt e.V. – VREI) under the motto, “Off to Frankfurt! 1st Automechanika Rally – the Platform for your vehicle”. The leading international trade fair for the automobile sector calls on all German workshops and automobile-parts dealers to take part with a special car. The competition is open to all owners of a vehicle in one of the following categories: ‘before 1945’, ‘Classic up to 1979’, ‘Youngtimer up to 1989’ or modern cars in the categories ‘Performance’, ‘Appearance’ and ‘Multimedia’. The impressive cars will drive in procession through Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre to the Agora outdoor area where they will be introduced by presenter Johannes Hübner. All participants are invited to an atmospheric evening event,including overnight accommodation. On the Sunday of the fair, the winners of the individual categories will receive their awards from ex-rally driver Walter Röhl at the Agora area.
Messe Frankfurt against Copying
Launched by Messe Frankfurt in 2006, the ‘Messe Frankfurt against Copying’ initiative will also provide information about protecting trademarks and designs during Automechanika 2010. At an information stand in the foyer of Hall 4.1, representatives of national and European authorities, including the Association of the Independent Parts Market (VREI), EGEA (European Garage Equipment Association), FIGIEFA (International Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors) and CLEPA (European Association of Automotive Suppliers) will be available to answer questions. Further tips and information can be found in a special brochure published by Messe Frankfurt.
Automechanika as a recruiting platform
There will be several different job exchanges and portals at Automechanika 2010, which will make the fair an attractive recruiting platform for specialists and managers. The German Employment Agency will present its Job Exchange with new technology. At Automechanika, visitors will be able to download interesting job offers onto their mobile phones via a touchscreen terminal and Bluetooth. The JobboardING platform gives exhibitors the chance to publish fairrelated job offers at www.automechanika.jobboarding.de. During the fair, visitors will be able to see all job offers on a job wall in the Galleria. Another service is offered by Career-Journal.com, the world’s first news and careers portal for students, graduates and young professionals. At the stand in ‘Portalhaus’, job hunters and people thinking of changing jobs will be able to obtain advice on applications or benefit from speed coaching.
Networking at Automechanika
The trade-fair business is people business and the Automechanika will do justice to this motto with its own networking platform. At the International Cooperation Forum of Hessen Agentur, automotive suppliers will have the chance to conduct discussions about business and technology with international partners. The Forum is aimed at companies from the automobile sector, which are interested in cross-border working relationships within Europe. Companies interested in taking part can register online at www.b2match.com/automechanika until Aug. 29. BMWi promotional area for young and innovative companies The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie – BMWi) and the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (Messeausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. – AUMA) will promote the participation of young, innovative German companies in the Automechanika.
ColorTec
As at Automechanika 2008, the ‘ColorTec’ special show by schools of advanced training for spray painting will present the latest developments in the fields of paintwork repairs, accident repairs and damage repairs. Lecture program on filling up and washing, the German Filling Station and Commercial Car Wash Association will offer Automechanika visitors a program of lectures on filling up and washing. The lecture will cover subjects such as ‘Petrol out – what to put in?’, ‘Easy and inexpensive – new filling-station management system’, ‘Express wash or personal preliminary wash?’, ‘Car washes in accordance with VDA standard – criteria and procedure for awarding the seal of quality’ and ‘Energy-saving opportunities in electricity distribution’. Parallel to the programme of lectures, a special show entitled ‘Correct vehicle cleaning and preparation’ will be held in Hall 10.
‘Oldtimer – Youngtimer’ special show
The special show offers lots of information about restoring classic cars. Live demonstrations will spotlight perfect craftsmanship and bring the subject of car restoration to life. Together with expert companies, the special show will present a wide range of services and products for classic cars. The location of the special show in Hall 11.0 (Stand E27) will generate optimum synergies with the bodywork processing and repair product segment in that exhibition hall. ‘yourmove’ special show The aim of the ‘your move’ non-profit training platform is to interest young people in the trade and promote the new occupation of restorer of historical vehicles. At the special show, visitors will find a restored motorbike with a display of all disciplines involved, including the restoration trade. With the support of Harley Davidson, a complete, driveable motorcycle will have been assembled by the end of the fair – a Harley Davidson as a handmade custom-bike.
Special shows of the associations
The special show of the German Federation of Body and Automotive Engineering covers the fields of repair painting, bodywork repairs and damage management. The special show of the Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade – ‘Knowledge, Expertise, Passion’ – will be located in the Galleria, Level 1. There, experts will be on hand to discuss challenges in the training, workshop and sales fields. Complete information about Automechanika and the complementary programme can be found on the internet at www.automechanika.com.
