Automechanika Innovation Award Steers Car Upkeep and Repair Into Future

Increasingly more trade show organizers realize that progress in especially technologically-intensive trades as the automotive industry hinges on innovation being made, which relies on inspiring and rewarding creative minds who are willing to turn cutting-edge ideas into reality, even better if such can be easily commercialized. One avenue allowing this creative process to be honored is the Automechanika Innovation Award, an event held among several key activities in conjunction with Automechanika in Frankfurt, the world's largest auto-parts, accessory, and repair equipment exhibition. This event that rewards some of the most advanced innovations in automotive upkeep and accessories inevitably rivets all kinds of people at the Automechanica, regardless of status and include visitors, industry professionals and exhibitors.

Besides instinctively attracting attention as oneupmanship is always exciting, the Automechanika Innovation Award benefits from the aura of the main show and its location, which is after all Germany and home to some of the most coveted auto brands, that naturally draws true car buffs, experts who are fascinated by sophisticated auto-tech, not just cosmetic enhancements as often displayed at other shows. In addition, the competition is significant, not only as a stage for brilliant, practical innovations, but also because winners chosen by a host of experts from various fields often steer the future course of the automotive parts trade.

According to Messe Frankfurt, the show and Innovation Award organizer, the German automotive industry invested no less than 18 billion euro in R&D in 2007, accounting for a very high proportion of the 54 billon overall spent by all industries in the nation. Also interesting is that suppliers come up with most of the innovations.

An independent jury of seven renowned experts from the automotive sector chose eight companies as the winners of the 2008 Automechanika Innovation Award, including two in the repair/diagnostics category. In addition to the award-granting ceremony held simultaneously with the Automechanika opening, Messe Frankfurt also set aside a special zone (in the foyer of Hall 4.1) to showcase all the winning entries to some 166,000 global visitors from over 140 nations at the 2008 event.

The following summarizes the award-winning items at the Automechanika Innovation Award, offering a glimpse of the present in car upkeep and repair and perhaps the future.

'E-Zinc' is a portable electrolytic 12 V manual galvanization system for galvanizing repairs on car bodies and metal add-on parts, as well as welded points and seams. A variety of electrodes can be used, which means the system is suitable for use with both small and large surfaces.

The Vehicle ECG from Volkswagen is a data logger used in connection

with sporadic malfunctions. At the press of a button, the device records the values measured from a complaint the customer has been unable to reproduce at the workshop. The result is a more precise fault diagnosis and rectification. Hence, repeated repairs and

an unnecessary exchange of parts can be avoided, costs cut and customer satisfaction increased.

Using the Audi Quick Current Tester, it is possible to measure the current flowing at the fuse without influencing the vehicle's systems. The electrical circuit is not broken, which permits a quick diagnosis to be made. Moreover, it is not necessary to delete information from any data store or make any adaptations.

The "Rapidon 6" is a petrol can with which a tank can be filled with a specific amount quickly and without drips or dirty hands. However, the canister is also suitable for use with other liquids, such as screenwash fluid. It is always tightly sealed unless the push button has been pressed. With a capacity of six litres, it is an ideal reserve canister for

cars, mopeds and law mowers.

The StARS system stops the engine at a red light or in a traffic jam and restarts it almost noiselessly as soon as the driver takes his or her foot from the brake. This technology ensures great fuel savings and cuts emissions without having a negative impact on the driver's normal driving habits. In a Smart 'mhd' (micro hybrid), the Valeo system produces fuel savings of up to 19% in town driving.

TecIdentify checks the authenticity of automobile parts worldwide. The system enables anyone anywhere in the world to check via the Internet that automotive parts marked with the CLEPA security code are genuine. The 2D barcode can be read and transmitted with the aid of a conventional 2D scanner or mobile phone.

In conventional systems, power is transferred between the wheel bearing and the joint housing via radial toothing, which has a certain degree of play. The new FAG wheel- bearing concept with selfcentring, zero-play axial spur toothing is approx. 10% lighter than conventional systems and is easier to fit.

With the V-Protector Paint Protection Film from Volkswagen, vehicles can be protected from stone impact, corrosion damage or the annoyance of parking dents easily and effectively. Particularly striking in this connection is the innovative processing flexibility that includes even the smallest radii. Besides protecting the vehicle's good looks, the product is ideal for ensuring that leasing cars hold their value and maintaining the resale value for private or commercial resale. (QL)