Aftermarket July/August 2022 Issue

JULY/AUGUST 2022 AFTERMARKET 57 www.aftermarketonline.net towards wheels and tyres, ISN Europe had it covered. The company had a range of tyre changes, including the megamount 513 Racing and the megamount 813 XL Evolution on show, both Hofmann Megaplan machines. The company ran a number of demonstrations through the two days, which drew a lot of attention. For those looking to get their garages organised, TechMan were literally a beacon in the middle of the show, drawing in the curious with their bright new stand. Their team was busy right through the two days, making sure that garages found out what they need to know about the latest additions to the TechMan system. Moving over to lubricants, Certas Energy, part of The Race Group, the ambassador distributor that works in partnership with Castrol, were at the event to showcase the Castrol Service garage programme. Michelle Rice from Certas Energy commented: “It is very much based around the right oil for the right car. We are here to educate the workshops.” Apart from the stand presence, Castrol fielded speakers in the Workshop Training Hub, including its Technical Manager from Madrid who flew over especially. Over at Motul, as well as its range of lubricants additives and coolants, the company was showing off its sustainable BioClean parts washing system, which it launched last year. While LIQUI MOLY was showing off its range of additives at the show, the company was also encouraging visitors to take a look at its Gear Tronic III, which helps mechanics doing an oil change in an automatic transmission, as well as the JetClean Tronic II, which cleans petrol and diesel engine injection systems. The company also fielded a speaker in the form of its very own Michael Mayer, who showed those in attendance at the Workshop Training Hub just what to expect from the Gear Tronic III. Staying with additives, Kalimex looked to educate and inform on the dangers of the misuse or overuse of additives when working on DPFs, as well as the damage that unnecessary multiple forced regenerations can do. This message was reinforced by the presence on the stand of Darren Darling, the founder of the international DPF Doctor Network. Darren also spoke within the Workshop Training Hub, drawing capacity crowds that spilled out into the halls. Another blockbuster seminar came from Andy Crook, whose discussion within the EV and Hybrid Training Hub on the potential for hydrogen to become a mainstream fuel also drew a huge crowd. Meanwhile, also within the EV and Hybrid Training Hub, HEVRA’s Peter Melville got into the specifics of EVs. Many of the exhibitors also fielded speakers in the three Training Hubs. Snap-on was at the show, based on a large stand that showed off its range of equipment, covering the John Bean 3D Wheel Aligner, the Sun One Person Test-Lane, and of course diagnostic kit. On this side of things, for those looking to learn more, Tristain Hindle from the company was shooting from the hip for his presentation on Fast Track Intelligent Diagnostics. Meanwhile, Autogem’s Prashant Chopra also hit the stage during the event, and covered how to make the most of TPMS. On the panel front, GiPA’s Quentin Le Hetet led discussion on digitalisation and customer service for garages in the Workshop Training Hub, while IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field sat down with Neil Pattemore in the EV Training Hub to discuss UKAFCAR and the lobbying taking place on behalf of the UK aftermarket. Extraordinary event Looking back as the show ended, Hayley Pells from Avia Autos and Head of the IAAF garage section, who was both a visitor and a participant in the seminar programme, said: “It’s been a jam-packed two days of training, tools and technology. It’s been an extraordinary event, an important one for any garage owner to attend with so much on offer.” Summing up the success of the show, Simon Albert, Managing Director of event organisers Messe Frankfurt UK, said: “The first UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has been a resounding success and has achieved its aim of providing a training platform for end users. Our exhibitors have told me how happy they were to meet serious garage and bodyshop owners, and also that they have come from all over the UK and Ireland.” He added: “We now look ahead with an even greater sense of purpose to Automechanika Birmingham, which brings together the entire automotive industry with a dedicated section for garages and bodyshops, replicating the success of the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event.” The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event will be embedded within Automechanika Birmingham, which is taking place 6 -8 June 2023. Following that, The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event will return as a regular standalone event in the intervening years between each biennial Automechanika Birmingham show. In the meantime, the immediate next stop for the industry will be Automechanika Frankfurt, taking place 13- 17 September. Aftermarket will be there.