Automechanika, NACE to join forces

FRANKFURT, Germany (Sept. 15, 2016) — Two of North America's largest auto repair trade shows, Automechanika Chicago and the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), are planning to combine their respective shows in Chicago next year.

The two entities claim combining their shows will create a “unified stage using NACE's strong relationships within the collision and OE community combined with Automechanika Chicago's global strength throughout the automotive aftermarket.”

This combination, they added, will create an “unprecedented partnership” focused on training and product discovery for the automotive technicians, shop owners and parts distributors.

A combined Automechanika Chicago/NACE trade show will take place July 26-29, 2017, at McCormick Place West in Chicago, the parties said.

“We are extremely pleased with this alliance. The industry has been asking for this and we listened,” said Dennis Smith, president and CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America. “…We are confident of our ability to offer a comprehensive platform for companies interested in reaching collision and mechanical repair shops en masse.”

ASA President and Executive Director Dan Risley said that by combining resources, “this collaboration will provide the market with a unique opportunity to connect each segment of the industry, thus serving the entire automotive collision and service repair audience.”

Representatives of the parties signed a letter of intent for the combined show in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sept. 14.

Automechanika Chicago's inaugural show in April 2015 attracted more than 6,000 technicians and shop owners and 450 exhibitors. NACE has served the automotive repair and collision market for more than 30 years; its most recent show, the combined NACE/Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) expo in Anaheim, Calif., drew 7,000 visitors.

The parties did not mention if or how the CARS event — which has run concurrently with NACE for the past several years — might be involved in this new partnership.

UBM Americas — formerly Advanstar Communications Inc. — is Messe Frankfurt's partner for organizing Automechanika Chicago. The event also will include an enhanced tire and wheel component thanks to an agreement between Messe Frankfurt Exhibition G.m.b.H., owner and organizer of the worldwide Automechanika series, and Messe Essen G.m.b.H., organizer of the biennial Reifen trade show, to incorporate Reifen into Automechanika.

Separately, Automechanika Chicago, with the support of industry suppliers, has launched an automotive repair training initiative in cooperation with leading technical colleges in select markets.

The free “Commitment To Training” program began in May with a session at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich. The second session is scheduled for Oct. 15 at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis.

Each one-day event features breakfast and lunch for all attendees, as well as three-hour technical and management training classes in the morning and afternoon for collision repair and service repair audiences.

For more information on the program, visit its website. or click here.Supporters of the program include: Abaris Training Resources; CARQUEST Technical Institute: Delphi Automotive L.L.P.; Garmat USA; Global Finishing Solutions: Mitchell Information Systems/Mitchell 1; Pico Technology; Polyvance; PPG Industries Inc.; and Schaeffler Automotive Group.