Page 47 - Australasian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2018

AUTOMECHANIKA FRAKFURT
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Looking beyond spray guns, Rupes was available to visitors to demonstrate its range of polishing systems, under the range Bigfoot. A very common trend among exhibitors, and one that the Bigfoot range reflected, is simplicity for customers. Bigfoot’s materials, such as cloths and polishing heads, were colour coordinated to the appropriate chemical needed for the job.
The digitisation trend was also
evident throughout the event, not only
in the field of vehicle technology, but also amongst car dealers and workshops, where it could be seen in everything from remote controls, smart batteries, eCall services, and cloud-based expert systems to new IT systems, components and virtual reality.
Just one example of the theme of vehicle technology was from the exhibitor Valeo. Valeo and Cisco have joined forces to create a self-parking car as part of its Cyber Valet Services Project. Electric vehicles were also very current with products designed for electric mobility prevalent.
The event also held many sessions in its Automechanika Academy,
an area designated for speakers. On 12 September, the day centred around the theme: electromobility is approaching – desire vs reality. During the day participants could listen to multiple lectures regarding the future of mobility.
However, one trend that unfortunately no one in the industry is immune to is the skills crisis. Several exhibitors were available at Automechanika to speak to visitors about the skills shortage, including Prodiags, an online automotive technology learning programme. Started
in 1991, the programme has since had more than 100,000 students. Vocational schools and training organisations offer Prodiags’ programmes to its students, which offers them the practical side of the business to help them into apprenticeships and eventually a job.
The amount of innovation and ingenuity at Automechanika Frankfurt 2018 was infinite. The exhibition somehow managed to incorporate everything that encompasses the automotive industry, from classic cars to spray guns. Attending Automechanika ian experience that everyone within the automotive sector should attempt at least once in their lifetime.
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November / December 2018 PAINT&PANEL 47
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