On the road 47 www.aftermarketonline.net DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 each day, plus an all-important merch bag. The brand was also keen to highlight its leading diagnostic tools range, including the THINKTOOL EURO and its new AIpowered tools, THINKTOOL 394 and 399. Think Car’s stand also played host to special appearances by automotive influencers, including Dan’s Automotive Services, RMS Diagnostics, and Darren Quinn from Mechanic Mindset. Alex Gillbanks, owner at Think Car, said: “MechanEx is always a highlight in the automotive calendar — it’s a great opportunity for us to meet customers face-to-face, share ideas and show just how far our product range has evolved.” Meanwhile, TechMan gave garages and workshops the opportunity to see its award-winning garage management system in action and to explore the latest integrations designed to streamline daily operations. Live demos of the system featured job booking, parts ordering, invoicing, MOT reminders and a new ‘MOT History’ feature to help garages operate more efficiently. Leo Freebairn, sales director at TechMan, said the team walked delegates through practical examples of how it simplifies day-to-day workshop operations, improves productivity and enhances the customer experience. TechMan, which has been helping workshops and garages streamline operations for over 10 years, said it has a loyal customer base of 14,500 automotive businesses using its platform. Other innovations on display at the show included a significant update to ALLDATA Repair from ALLDATA Europe. ALLDATA Europe not only highlighted the milestone during a technical seminar slot, but it also demonstrated the feature on a vehicle in the new live demo area. ALLDATA Europe’s newly appointed UK sales director, Damian Milling, made his show debut by introducing ALLDATA Repair’s new solution during a morning seminar. Milling, a familiar face to seasoned MechanEx visitors, said: “MechanEx has always been a great place to connect with people in the trade. “What excites me most is the business opportunity we have right now. The aftermarket is evolving fast, vehicles are becoming more complex, customer expectations are rising, and workshops need the right tools to stay ahead.” Another familiar industry face at the show was Mike Schlup, CEO of Kalimex, the UK distributor of the JLM Lubricants’ product range. Aftermarket caught up with Schlup and Colin Benzie on the opening day and a queue quickly formed at the JLM stand, with delegates keen to talk about the products they use on a daily basis. Another well-known industry name in attendance was the team from BookMyGarage, the UK’s leading MOT and service comparison website. The business also gave a special shoutout to Mustafa Malik from Oakcroft Garage, who had been promoted to a Top Tier partner at the show. BookMyGarage said Malik’s commitment to delivering exceptional service aligned perfectly with its mission to connect drivers with trusted garages across the UK.
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