Turnout at 2010 Automechanika Frankfurt Reflects Upbeat Mood
2011/02/22 | By Quincy Liang
Messe Frankfurt, organizer of the bi-annual fair, said some 4,486 exhibitors from 76 countries were spread over 305,000 square meters, coupled w
Compared to the previous event, there was a 2% increase in the number of exhibitors from outside Germany so that 81% of all exhibitors were from abroad. The new exhibitor nations and areas included Albania, Congo, Macao, the Philippines and Vietnam, enhancing the global representation of the event. As in the past, most exhibitors come from Europe with Germany as the leading nation followed by Italy.
Braun adds that in view of the economic climate – especially in the automotive sector – over the last two years, these figures represent a big success. The high degree of stability compared to the record event in 2008 once again illustrates the significance of the Automechanika for the sector and, above all, the continuing trust of companies in the fair. It is the platform for solving tomorrow's challenges and, for this reason, sustainability and emission reductions are major topics at this year's fair.
A key theme of this year's Automechanika was electro-mobility. As well as being about alternative propulsion technologies, this also specifically raised questions about the ways in which the aftermarket can prepare itself in the future for electrically driven vehicles. Beyond this, the focus was on technologies to reduce fuel consumption and on sustainable solutions for lowering emissions.
“After the financial and economic crisis with its negative impact on the motor-vehicle sector, Automechanika has given us some positive indications of the recovery,” sums up Robert Rademacher, President of the Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade. The mood in the motor vehicle trades has definitely improved. The quality of business deals is up, though there is room for improvement in terms of quantity, says Rademacher.
Taiwan Presence
Taiwan remained the third-largest exhibition nation, or the second-largest foreign exhibitor at the 2010 Automechanika, in terms of booth floorage. According to Messe Frankfurt, some 468 Taiwanese exhibitors attended the show. Actually the number is around 500 for some Taiwan-based suppliers registered via foreign subsidiaries or partners, according to Messe Frankfurt's branch in Taiwan.
| Number of Exhibitors (2010/2008) | ||
| 2010 | 2008 | |
| German | 849 | 913 |
| Foreign | 3,637 | 3,558 |
| Total | 4,486 | 4,471 |
| Number of countries | 76 | 71 |
| Source: Messe Frankfurt (September, 2010) | ||
| Product Categories & Exhibitors | ||
| Product Category | No. of Exhibitors | |
| 2010 | 2008 | |
| Parts & Systems | 2,583 | 2,622 |
| Repair & Maintenance Equipment | 941 | 938 |
| Accessories & Tuning Equipment | 473 | 610 |
| Service Station & Car Wash Equipment | 356 | 322 |
| IT & Management Systems | 133 | 188 |
| Source: Messe Frankfurt. | ||
The number of Taiwan-based exhibitors has been steadily growing over the past 20 years, with this year's number similar to that in 2008. This year most of the Taiwan-based exhibitors were headed by three organizations: Taiwan's China Economics News Service (CENS), a leading provider of print, event and online media for various exports including the prestigious the Taiwan Transportation Equipment Guide (TTG) magazine, led 273 firms (340 booths); Messe Frankfurt's Taiwan branch 128 suppliers; and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), a semi-official trade promoter, 66 exhibitors.
Automechanika Events
The 21st Automechanika this year continued to hold various key events alongside to make the event more than a product exhibition.
The trade fair's image for being a source of innovativeness was upheld by the internationally recognized "Automechanika Innovation Award," given in eight categories for particularly outstanding developments and product innovations. Altogether, 147 products were submitted for this year's competition, 74 of which from Germany and 73 from 16 other nations, in particular France, Italy, The Netherlands, Austria and Denmark.
Launched in 1996, Automechanika Innovation Award is given in nine categories: Parts, Systems, Tuning, Accessories, Repair/Diagnostics, Repair/Maintenance, IT & Management, Service Station & Car Wash, OE Products & Services. This year, however, the jury did not consider any entry worthy of an award in the IT & Management category.
A jury of renowned experts evaluate entries in accordance with the criteria of innovative content and quality of solution; functionality; economic efficiency, user benefit and application areas; aftermarket relevance; safety and quality; and contribution to environmental protection, resource conservation and sustainability.
No less positive is the number of entries for the "Green Directory." A total of 25 participants and their particularly sustainable and emission-cutting products were chosen for the Automechanika "Green Directory" this year. An independent expert reviewed all 60 entries in terms of innovativeness and sustainability. Points were then given within the framework of the subsequent analysis of materials and energy efficiency and emissions balance. Visitors followed the eye-catching leaf as guide in the halls, coupled with a handy brochure, to the exhibitors and products listed.
As in the past, the Automechanika Aftermarket Forum was part of the complementary programs. This year saw the addition of a full-day seminar on the topic of e-mobility, which attracted considerable interest with around 500 participants from all over the world.
The Aftermarket Forum was also held in a new venue at the Portalhaus, where top speakers addressed wide-ranging issues, with the agenda including also the Damage Repair Management Forum.
Damage repair management is very significant for the automobile, repair and insurance market. The majority of accident repairs are not carried out by carmakers' authorized workshops but by independent body shops that, in turn, cooperate with authorized dealers. The aim of the first Damage Repair Management Forum raised awareness among trade visitors from home and abroad the demands that would confront them in the near future.
The extra day for the E-Mobility seminar was added due to high demand from numerous participants of the last Aftermarket Forum in 2008, which also takes into consideration the importance attached to the subject. Representatives from industry, politics and business discussed the future of electric vehicles on Sept. 17, when experts in the emerging business presented content related to energy suppliers, drive-train electrification and review of different types of electrification and the latest developments in the market, as well as new mobility concepts that circumvent the range barrier of electric vehicles by integrating individual and public transports.
2010 Automechanika Study
The “2010 Automechanika Study.” a heavyweight research report published under the commission of Messe Frankfurt and by key automotive-related academic institutes, focused on “New Era in Automobile Service.” This year, Prof. Willi Diez of the Institute for the Automobile Sector (IFA) presented his research results in a 90-page report at the Business Press Conference by outlining eight trends in the after-sales market of tomorrow.
Automechanika Rally
IP Protection
Doing its part to protect intellectual property, Messe Frankfurt in 2006 launched the “Messe Frankfurt against Copying” initiative. This year various representatives of national and European authorities were on-hand to provide information about protecting trademarks and designs, including people from 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).
Tommy Ni, general manager of CENS, observes, “Now is the turning point for Taiwanese parts and accessory makers, because fierce competition has been forcing Taiwan-based players to focus on new-product development and quality upgrading to stay ahead of low-cost rivals in China, as well as enabling them to tap upscale segments.”
Meanwhile Ni is very confident of Taiwanese auto-parts makers' long-established skills and integrated competitiveness, which enable them to offer high quality, prompt delivery, and take on small-batch, large-variety orders. He also thinks to succeed in the aftermarket (AM) auto-parts business requires long-term and substantial investment in tooling that effectively bar most China-based counterparts.
However, Ni says that sharpening marketing is undoubtedly the next step for Taiwan AM-parts makers, who are generally more adept at manufacturing good quality products at reasonable prices; so Taiwan suppliers have to more effectively emulate, for examples, Swiss watchmakers and Japanese consumer electronics brands.
The next Automechanika Frankfurt is scheduled for Sept. 18-23, 2012.
