The organiser behind automotive aftermarket and supply chain show Automechanika Birmingham has branded this year’s show “absolutely amazing”, with over 12,000 visitors.
The event was 70% bigger, hosting over 800 quality exhibitors, with visitors from motor factors, workshops, retailers, dealerships, vehicle manufacturers and tier 1 and 2 manufacturers.
See more from the show in our feature here.
Across five halls of the NEC, visitors saw companies including Schaeffler (UK) Ltd, ZF Aftermarket UK, Bosch UK, Denso Sales UK, Valeo Service, Delphi, Draper Tools. In a new dedicated zone, over 150 exhibitors from all tiers of the supply chain were located in Hall 6, including Magal Engineering, TR Fastenings, DS Smith, Venta Global Ltd, SMC Pneumatics and many more.
Simon Albert, event director, Automechanika Birmingham said “Automechanika Birmingham 2017 has hosted a 70% bigger event than in its launch year and welcomed over 800 exhibitors, including 250 new to the 2017 event – it has been absolutely amazing. We are delighted with the quality and quantity of senior buyers who attended, as well as the number of independent companies taking time out of their daily work to review and direct their business – it is what Automechanika Birmingham is all about. We have closed the 2017 event knowing that exhibitors are very happy with over 300 already reserving space for 2018.”
Highlights of the event included over 40 aftermarket and supply chain seminars, hosting industry experts, who delivered sessions covering daily challenges and industry developments, advanced technology and future solutions for day to day work. The new Workshop Training Zone welcomed speakers including Frank Massey, James Dillon, Peter Coombes and others who hosted technical talks and live demonstrations.
Frank Massey, Technical Expert from ADS Ltd said: “As a technician myself, Automechanika Birmingham is an event not to be missed; it offers new information which is benefiting and shaping the future for workshops. It’s a chance to find tools, garage equipment and discover a range of new products on offer. At this year’s event, I’ve learnt a lot of interesting information from many suppliers and seminars.”
Hall 6 featured a brand new Connected and Digital Technology Zone which hosted new and upcoming technologies to benefit the future of manufacturing vehicles. Products included the new Range Rover Velar, a Kuka robot from REECO, Semcon brought HoloLens augmented reality glasses and Adient showcased advanced seating commodities among other innovations.
The visitors included buyers from across the industry, such as Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley and Nissan as well as Faurecia, Aisin Europe, GSF Car Parts, Euro Car Parts, Andrew Page, Lookers, Pendragon Plc, Halfords, Kwik fit GB ltd.
Next year’s event at the NEC Birmingham running from 5-7 June 2018 will deliver a newly improved layout with supply chain exhibitors in Hall 6, aftermarket suppliers in Halls 19 & 20 and a dedicated Workshop Quarter in Hall 18, set to welcome relevant exhibitors looking to meet garage owners and technicians. Automechanika Birmingham will continue to develop in order to establish further as the UK’s key automotive trade event.