The largest automotive trade exhibition for the UK’s aftermarket will take place next month, providing a one-stop shop for discovering new products, the latest technologies and to gain practical advice. Over 800 suppliers will attend, including Schaeffler (UK), ZF Aftermarket UK, Valeo Service, Delphi, Denso Sales UK, NGK Spark Plugs (UK), Draper Tools Limited, MAHLE Aftermarket Ltd, TEXA UK, OSRAM, Pro-Align, Bosch UK, Arnott Europe, Dayco, Comline Auto Parts and many, many more. The 2017 show is set to be 70% bigger than last year and organisers have introduced dedicated zones for the aftermarket and supply chain, helping visitors to locate the most relevant suppliers. Many of the exhibitors will have special show deals, offers and competitions during the event.
SEMINARS AND EVENTS
Over 60 seminar sessions, technical talks and demonstrations will provide visitors with advice and discussions on new technology. The Workshop Training Zone is new for 2017 and is held in association with Autotechnician magazine, giving workshop owners and technicians practical tips and live demonstrations on the latest technologies and the opportunity to learn from the experts on a one-to-one basis.
Simon Taylor, Director of Main Street Garage, who visited Automechanika Birmingham in 2016, says: “As a busy independent garage, investing the time to attend events can be tricky but taking a couple of days out of my workshop to attend Automechanika Birmingham is a must. I’ll be attending all three of the days for this year and will bring a different member of staff each day… I’m particularly excited about the new Workshop Training Zone and seeing some live demonstrations from the experts.”
SMMT’S MEET THE BUYER EVENT AIMS TO BOOST UK INVESTMENT
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT ) will bring the UK automotive industry together at Automechanika as part of efforts to boost supply chain reshoring and make British cars more British!
The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy, accounting for more than £71.6 billion turnover, 169,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and 814,000 across the wider automotive industry. It accounts for 12% of total UK export of goods and invests £2.5 billion each year in automotive R&D. More than 30 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK, supported by more than 2,000 component providers and some of the world’s most skilled engineers.
UK vehicle manufacturing output has continued to grow over recent years, driven by record export demand. To help British companies exploit this growth, SMMT’s Meet the Buyer event will encourage inward investment by bringing together purchasers from vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers and matching them with component makers in hundreds of one- to-one meetings.
WORKSHOP TRAINING ZONE…
PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR TECHNICIANS AT THE SHOW
Automechanika will provide technicians with comprehensive technical support over the three days within a new Workshop Training Zone, in association with Autotechnician magazine and sponsored by ACTronics.
Industry experts including Peter Coombes, Andy Crook, James Dillon and Frank Massey will headline a programme of Technical Talks located at 17E20 and address the technology and significant issues facing workshop technicians.
ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY, PETER COOMBES OF TECH-CLUB
Peter will highlight the key features of modern Electric and Hybrid vehicles, including battery and drive-motor
technologies, transmission systems (e.g. Toyota Prius power split systems), energy recovery systems and power electronics.
BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, ANDY CROOK OF GOTBOOST
With an increasing number of vehicles utilising start-stop technology, it is imperative that workshops understand the importance of testing, selecting and correctly fitting/programming vehicle batteries. Once a
simple device for storing electrical energy, to start the vehicle or provide electrical energy when the engine is not running, it is now a part of an energy management system. It’s vital for workshops to appreciate the technical developments of the humble battery in recent years in order to correctly identify, test, recover or replace modern vehicle batteries. During his seminar, Andy will look at the technology involved, the role of the energy management system and opportunities for workshops.
VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, JAMES DILLON OF TECHNICAL TOPICS
The relentless advance of the modern vehicle’s ‘on-board technology’ presents an opportunity and a threat to
aftermarket repairers. ‘Diagnostics’ is ever more complicated and the risk of getting it wrong has serious
implications to both the profit and reputation of your business. Consolidation within the data provider market, combined with more open access directly with the vehicle manufacturer, means access to data and tools are ‘easier’. This, in combination with the skills shortage, have created an interesting and challenging garage repair business micro-climate. James will provide a technical and real-world view on a way forward, which will benefit both business owners and vehicle technicians alike.
GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION EMISSION REGULATION – EVOLUTION OR EVASION? FRANK MASSEY, ADS AUTOMOTIVE
With the current battle raging over the demise of diesel, is gasoline direct injection the way forward? As with many things, the answers to our future are often found in the past. One hundred years ago, if you advocated that coal had no future, you would have been committed to an asylum. Today, we still cling to the belief that the combustion of fossil-based fuels will continue, aided by the evolution of new technologies. The naked reality is that the combustion of hydrocarbons produces harmful emissions – in the short term, directly to us and inevitably to our life support system, the planet Earth.
The first task in dealing with a problem is to understand it as fully as possible. Frank will present the evolution of Gasoline Direct Injection, expose some of the hidden myths that it is cleaner or less harmful than diesel and discuss how we need to change the way we service and repair vehicles in the future.
Many other issues and technology will be explored within the Technical Talks, including Advanced Driver Assist System Awareness, Timing & auxiliary belt system design & troubleshooting, and ‘The Circular Car’.
GET HANDS-ON ADVICE AT THE INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP
Alongside the Technical Talks, Autotechnician magazine is working with organisers to provide hands-on advice
at an Interactive Workshop, located at 17D20, next to the Technical Talks area. Expert speakers and partners will be offering ‘one to one’ advice and using vehicles and various equipment to demonstrate new technology and fault finding/repair techniques. Subjects covered will include: Diagnostics & Connectivity, ADAS Calibration, Battery Technology, Diesel Engines, Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, Tyres & TPMS.
TECHNICAL TALK THEATRE TIMINGS:
The largest automotive trade exhibition for the UK’s aftermarket will take place next month, providing a one-stop shop for discovering new products, the latest technologies and to gain practical advice. Over 800 suppliers will attend, including Schaeffler (UK), ZF Aftermarket UK, Valeo Service, Delphi, Denso Sales UK, NGK Spark Plugs (UK), Draper Tools Limited, MAHLE Aftermarket Ltd, TEXA UK, OSRAM, Pro-Align, Bosch UK, Arnott Europe, Dayco, Comline Auto Parts and many, many more. The 2017 show is set to be 70% bigger than last year and organisers have introduced dedicated zones for the aftermarket and supply chain, helping visitors to locate the most relevant suppliers. Many of the exhibitors will have special show deals, offers and competitions during the event.
Simon Taylor, Director of Main Street Garage, who visited Automechanika Birmingham in 2016, says: “As a busy independent garage, investing the time to attend events can be tricky but taking a couple of days out of my workshop to attend Automechanika Birmingham is a must. I’ll be attending all three of the days for this year and will bring a different member of staff each day… I’m particularly excited about the new Workshop Training Zone and seeing some live demonstrations from the experts.”
VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, JAMES DILLON OF TECHNICAL TOPICS
GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION EMISSION REGULATION – EVOLUTION OR EVASION? FRANK MASSEY, ADS AUTOMOTIVE
