The international tire industry and the automotive aftermarket now have a new common denominator: Frankfurt. From September 11-15 2018, REIFEN and Automechanika Frankfurt will be taking place simultaneously for the first time. It is a move that offers tremendous synergies for trade visitors, as the automotive services and tire retail industries continue to grow closer together, creating new revenue models – especially for tire retailers. The topics covered by the new trade fair duo include networking in the workshop, tire storage and equipment, new tire services, online tire retail and tires for electric vehicles.
In the new Hall 12 at the upcoming 25th Automechanika Frankfurt from 11 to 15 September 2018, everything revolves around today’s wheel and tire services. Here, visitors will be able to experience the ties between the automotive aftermarket and the tire industry in a series of live demonstrations, presentations and the wheels Lounge ‘Rund-ums-Rad Lounge’ with market leaders from the tire, wheel and rim scene. As part of the ‘Networked tire workshop’ special showcase, ASA – the German Association of Manufacturers and Importers of Automobile Service Equipment – will be presenting the entire spectrum of digitised and process-optimised tire services. According to ASA President Frank Beaujean: “tire services are a traditional business field for car dealers and workshops, and in recent years in particular, the automotive industry has shown how appealing service programmes can be used to recapture lost business.” The special showcase features networked equipment in action, while experts demonstrate how tires can be balanced, mounted and repaired using state-of-the-art equipment. The ‘Networked tire workshop’ is being organised in collaboration with asanetwork GmbH, AVL DiTEST, Corghi, gewe-Lagertec, Hella-Gutmann, Hunter, MAHA, Robert Bosch, Rotary, Snap-on, Tiresonic and TIP TOP.
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH will be presenting its latest products and innovations in its customary location in the Forum in the eastern section of the exhibition grounds. Exhibiting for the first time in the new Hall 12 are numerous other international key players, including the Al Dobowi Group, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT), Dessen Tires, Dongying Fangxing Rubber Co., Ltd., Jantsa Wheel Industry, KRM tires, Kyoto Japan Tire, Linglong Tire, Mainhatten-Wheels, Martins Industries, Matteuzzi S.r.l., Maxion Wheels, NDI GROUP A/S, Petlas, Qingdao Doublestar Oversea Trading Co. Ltd, Shandong Zhongyi Rubber Co. Ltd., TEJ Wheels, TOMKET s.r.o., YHI Corporation (Singapore) Pte Ltd. and many others. Delicom AG will be on hand from the e-commerce sector, while various companies are exhibiting from the field of rims, including AD Vimotion, Foliatec, Ronal GmbH, Tomason GmbH, Wheesandmore GmbH and Eccentrical Imports AG, with brands such as Carmani, Folia Tec and Oxigin. Other exhibitors include Giti Tire Deutschland GmbH, Keskin Europe GmbH, Pirelli Deutschland GmbH, SCC Fahrzeugtechnik and SCC Electromobility GmbH, to name but a few.
Academy: Specialist presentations at REIFEN
Every day, a new stage in Hall 12 will be playing host to specialist presentations on the topics being featured at REIFEN. On Thursday, 13 September, HUSS Verlag will be giving a talk on the ‘round revolution’ and smart tires. GfK is discussing the trend towards all-season tires and how business models based on conventional tire changing may be nearing their sell-by date. ETM-Verlag will be exploring tires for fleet operators and commercial vehicles, while on trade fair Friday, Delicom AG is speaking on the topic of the digitisation megatrend and the opportunities this presents for tire retailers.
REIFEN meets electric mobility
“When it comes to electric vehicles, having the right tires is absolutely essential,” says Marco Gundel, Managing Director of Varaneo, a new manufacturer of electric vehicles. “The type of tires used not only impacts the vehicles’ efficiency, but also their range.” Varaneo will be presenting its new E-microcars, E-scooters and E-bikes for the first time, offering interested trade visitors the opportunity to give them a test drive in front of the exhibition hall. One of the areas of focus will be tire behaviour on various types of surfaces.
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,400 employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €669 million. Thanks to its far-reaching ties with the relevant sectors and to its international sales network, the Group looks after the business interests of its customers effectively. A comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
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