This August, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt UK, Simon Albert, Automechanika Birmingham Event Director, Jack Halliday and Account Manager, Nicola Heath teamed up to join another 25,000 amateur cy ...

Automechanika Birmingham 2019 has been hailed a record-breaking success, attracting more than 12,000 visitors from the UK automotive industry, the highest ever attendance.

Automechanika Birmingham has drawn to a close with 12,145 automotive industry professionals visiting the hugely successful 2019 event.

Automechanika Birmingham 2019 has announced a series of new initiatives dedicated to bodyshops which will feature at this year’s show, to feed demand from bodyshop professionals.  

Next month, the automotive aftermarket will be descending on Birmingham once again as it becomes the focal point for the UK’s automotive industry. Automechanika Birmingham will bring thousands of visitors to the region and provide a boost to local business.

£26,000+ worth of BIG giveaways show deals and competition prizes for visitors – limited availability. The biggest savings on tools and garage equipment from over 500 exhibitors will be exclusively available at next month’s Automechanika Birmingham 2019.

Automechanika Birmingham 2019 will be hosting the automotive industry’s largest seminar programme when it opens its doors next month, designed to upskill the aftermarket and provide invaluable insight from over 75 expert speakers, trainers and key players.

Automechanika is holding the first international Body & Paint competition in the exhibition’s history in association with DeBeer Refinish, Octoral and SATA. Bodyshop professionals will be competing against one another at six Automechanika shows worldwide.

Wendy Williamson, chief executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) will be addressing challenges faced by the aftermarket in the digital era, when she delivers a speech to delegates at Automechanika Birmingham next month.

Automechanika Birmingham is enhancing their visitor and exhibitor show experience again this year by offering a meetings programme for attendees of Automechanika Birmingham 2019.

Automechanika Birmingham 2019 is giving independent garages a boost by announcing the launch of its new Big UK Garage Event at this summer’s show, providing more benefits to thousands of garages planning to visit.

Automechanika Birmingham’s ‘Garage of the Year’ will be crowned at an awards dinner on 5th June, after the middle day of the trade show. The event will once again be run in partnership with Garage Wire.

Why every motor factor should attend Automechanika Birmingham

“We’re in a very competitive market, one that requires us to perform at our best every day. It’s an old saying, but we are only as good as our last delivery.

“The automotive aftermarket is a fast-changing sector and in addition to facing challenges from within the industry, we also have to ensure we are fully compliant with new legislation such as pensions, national living wage and GDPR.

 

Getting out what you put into Automechanika Birmingham

Autoparts UK is no stranger to trade events having ran one of the largest motor factor trade events in 2015 at its head office in Glasgow.

Operating out of a 60,000sqft warehouse and running a network of 12 branches, Autoparts UK is one of the most successful motor factors in the UK, with a number of awards confirming its status. 

“I was sceptical when first visiting Automechanika Birmingham in 2017,” says Vic Clarke of Autocentre Rushden. 

“It’s been a long time since we had a national show in the UK dedicated to the automotive trade and I was worried it wouldn’t cater for my business.”

Vic’s concerns soon evaporated when he saw the number of relevant suppliers at the event, but what really drew his attention was the array of keynote speakers.

Scotlands Ash Garage is an award-winning garage based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The company prides itself on providing a range of services to motorists throughout the area, operating with a team of five and three ramps, alongside a separate MOT bay.

Peter Welch, proprietor, talks openly about the future for independent garages: “The future is incredibly scary for small businesses like independent garages. With an array of threats and challenges, we have to continually look at ourselves and ensure we are the best we can be.”

Automechanika can reinvigorate accessory retailers, says Shortis

For Richard Shortis, managing director of Wilco Motor Spares, running a branch network of more than 42 retail sites brings with it its own set of challenges. 

With the demise of the high street well documented, Wilco continues to buck the trend and Richard puts of a lot of the company’s success down to the company’s close relationship with not only customers but also suppliers.