Automechanika to showcase innovations in repair, maintenance

The 24th edition of Automechanika, regarded as the world’s biggest trade fair for vehicle repair and maintenance, will bolster the future of the sector, the organiser, Messe Frankfurt, said.

Running from 13 to 17 September, this year in Frankfurt, Germany, Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition and Trade Limited, Nigeria representative of the company, Omonigho Itoya, said the event would showcase latest discoveries in products and services including garage equipment, tools, bodywork repair, recovery services, accident assistance and mobile services.

Speaking with The Guardian in Lagos, Itoya said the event has over the years improved the experience of Nigeria artisans who have regularly attended the exhibition, helping them to import skills and technology that could meet with the increasing demand of the sector.

According to her, the fact that all the sector’s leading automobile manufacturers, including German federations, will be present at the event underlines the huge importance of the trade fair to the global automotive sector.

“Automechanika is a platform for innovations and future-oriented solutions and trends and, for the first time, will present the after-sales world of the future as ‘Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility’,” the company said.

Itoya, who said repair and maintenance industry in Nigeria has witnessed a remarkable improvement, noted that the technological trends rocking the sector must trigger repair and maintenance experts towards improved skills and technology.

Taking place in a total of 366,637 square metres of exhibition space, as well as an outdoor exhibition area measuring over 96,000 square metres, the organiser said more than 4,600 exhibitors, 138,000 trade visitors from 176 countries were expected at the event.

She stated that the event would offer training opportunities covering a range of topics affecting the industry, particularly as it relates to new trends in the sector, adding that her organisation would ease travel processes for interested Nigerians.

Automechanika would hold 12 professional-development workshops covering almost all aspects of the collision-damage repair process, the organsiation said.

On recent trends in the sector, the organiser added that alternative drive systems, automated driving and mobility services would take centre stage as car manufacturers, suppliers and start-ups are expected to present pioneering products and solutions.