(openPR) - Initial impulses for the 1st Automechanika in 1971 generated by the industry
The first Automechanika opened its doors in Frankfurt am Main on 18 September 1971. At that time, nobody would have predicted that the trade fair would develop into the world’s leading business plat¬form for the supplier industry, the workshop sector and the trade. And it was the industry that generated the initial impulses for the new event.

The trade associations, especially the Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe e. V. – ZDK), were not deterred by the cancellation of the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) and instead called for an event for the automotive parts and accessories suppliers who were also represented at the IAA. Around 500 companies and 75,000 visitors from 63 countries came to Frankfurt for the première. The participants were delighted and the results were good. Accordingly, it was decided to hold the new fair in the years between the IAA shows.

Today, Automechanika is not only one of the leading fairs organised by Messe Frankfurt. It is also the world’s most international trade-fair brand and, in addition to Frankfurt, is held at eleven venues worldwide: Moscow, Shanghai, Bangkok, St. Petersburg, Dubai, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Istanbul and Johannesburg.

Frankfurt continues to be the home venue, a fixed star and a strategic orientation aid for the sector and, last year, attracted 4,471 exhibitors from 76 countries and 155,000 visitors. 80 percent of the exhibition space for the next Automechanika from 11 to 16 September 2012 has already been sold. Companies wishing to register can find full details on the internet at www.automechanika.com.

Congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the Automechanika have been received from:

Michael Söding, President of Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket:
“Automechanika is the ideal interface for international communication with our focus groups – the trade and workshops. And it is a magnet for visitors distinguished by top quality and outstanding international contacts.”

Wolfgang Steube, General Manager of Partslife:
“I have been coming to the Automechanika for the last 20 years. For me, it is always like a ‘family reunion’ where I can meet many old acquaintances from the automobile industry.”

Rolf Wuehrl, Chairman and CEO of AuDaCon AG:
“We invited six and a half thousand workshops to last year’s Automechanika! For us, this fair is a unique international platform for the presentation of our products. We are planning to expand into Asia and North American soon and, to this end, will also take advantage of the Automechanika brand and its events around the world.”

Helmut Engel, Head of the Automotive Aftermarket in the ContiTech Power Transmission Group:
“The automobile parts business is of great strategic importance for Conti-Tech and, thanks to the large number of visitors from outside Germany, Automechanika is a leading fair for us. We have been using it for our sales activities and to present innovations since 1982. Repeatedly, our exhibits, such as the CO2 cutting drive belt, have been selected for inclusion in the Automechanika Green Directory as one of the 25 most environmentally-friendly products to be seen at the fair.”

Thorsten Krüger, Chairman WashTec:
“Automechanika is the world’s leading trade fair in terms of scope and exhibitor and visitor internationality. For us, the event is something special and we use it as a platform to present our most important product developments.”

Ralf Blättner, District Manager and Stand Manager of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG:
“Our customers gave our presentation in the new Hall 11 an enthusiastic reception. It is the high level of decision-making authority of visitors that makes the Automechanika so valuable for us.”

Harald Schmidtke, General Manager of the Association of Automobile Tuners (Verband der Automobil Tuner e.V. – VDAT):
“The Automechanika is most certainly the most international trade fair for the accessories and tuning segment of the market. For the component manufacturers belonging to VDAT, this fair is a must.”

Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s leading trade fair organiser with € 448.3 million in sales and more than 1,600 active employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 52 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2010, Messe Frankfurt organised 87 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Centre. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com

Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1
60327 Frankfurt a. M.
Telefon +49 69 75 75-0
Telefax +49 69 75 75-64 33
info@messefrankfurt.com
www.messefrankfurt.com

Press contact:
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