Automechanika Frankfurt says trade visitors can look forward to a range of presentations, panel discussions, and other live events as the event unfolds from 13 to 17 September 2022. Key among these presentations is a series of ‘Collision Talk’ discussions presented by BodyShop News Publisher Michel Malik.
From 1 PM to 2:30 PM on 14 September, Michel will moderate a session titled ‘Maintaining Profitability In A Crisis Economy’, with a panel consisting of Carl Bizon, CEO of AMA Group in Australia; Eric Devos, President of GiPA; Christoph Kues from IRS Group in Germany; Robert Snook, Group Director of MG Cannon in the UK; and Roberto Sticca, GM of CSN Collision Group in Italy.
Two days later on 16 September from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM, Michel will facilitate a discussion with manufacturers and suppliers titled ‘Innovations That Are Shaping The Future Of Body Repair’. The presentation will highlight new panel repair technology and how embracing these systems can improve business performance and profitability. The panel will again consist of Snook along with Ron Olsson, President of Pro Spot International; Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services at Thatcham Research in the UK; Pierre Nicolau, President & CEO of Celette; and Osvaldo Bergaglio, CEO of Symach.
On the same day from 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM, Michel will moderate a discussion which will detail how embracing innovation can improve body shop performance and profitability. Titled ‘Advances And Improvements In Preparation And Refinish’, the panel will feature Snook and Lander, as well as Andrew Tindall, Commercial Director at Indasa Group; Khaled Sorour, Export Manager at Kapci Coatings; Joerg Goettling, Head of Export at SATA; and Dirk van Driessche, Sales Director at Finixa by Chemicar.
The Collision Talk presentations will be held on a stage at D64 inside Hall 11.1.
The International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) will also appear in a new networking area in Hall 11. On 13 September, CEO Jason Moseley will lead a talk with leading industry participants titled ‘A Global Perspective On The Ever-Changing Body And Paint Landscape’. On 15 September, Moseley will also talk about his international experiences, including at Automechanika trade fairs in Shanghai, Mexico, Birmingham, and Istanbul.
The Classic Car area in Hall 12 will also have a programme of panel discussions, live podcasts, and workshops, along with the German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZKF) stand that will feature a Porsche chassis showing different painting technologies presented in collaboration with Glasurit.
Olaf Musshoff, Director of Automechanika Frankfurt, said knowledge transfer and dialogue are extremely important in times of radical change. “That is why we have decided to make this a focal point of this year’s trade fair with a whole series of presentations, panel discussions, trainings, live demonstrations, and other events,” he said.
The fair will also feature a number of celebrities, including Sidney Hoffmann, star of shows ‘PS-Profis’ (Horsepower Professionals) and ‘Sidneys Welt’ (Sidney’s World), along with influencers including KLE from the Schrauberblog technicians blog, the ‘car paint monkeys’ from Autolackaffen, and the ‘car doctors’ from Autodoktoren. Mike Puellen and GlossBoss will also appear.
The second Body & Paint Championships will also be held, where five painters from Germany will attempt to impress an international panel of experts – including Michel – with car bonnet designs based on the theme ‘Mobility In Transition’. The awards ceremony will take place on 16 September on the stage at D64 in Hall 11.1.
The full programme is available online here.