July/August 2019

company's highly knowledgeable staff about the range of lubricants, including its Multivis engine oil range was another reason. Want another? Well, you could jump into augmented reality via the company's latest update to the Morris AR app. The company’s online lubricant selector WHATOIL? was also on show, yet another reason. Meanwhile, Morris’s Automotive Product Manager Adrian Hill was at the Aftermarket Seminar Theatre on the second day with an excellent presentation. There are many more reasons, but one of the biggest was the chance to meet Guy Martin in person. After opening the show, Guy was on hand at the Morris Lubricants stand, and long queues formed so attendees could get a chance to meet their hero. He was fantastic with everyone, and a great choice to be at the show. ZF Aftermarket ZF offered double the insight to visitors at the show, with two stands covering its wide offering. "We have one stand about the product," explained Martyn Houghton, Senior Manager IAM, ZF Aftermarket. "This is where we are demonstrating the products of today. Equally however we are trying to demonstrate something of the future with the Concept Cockpit. This shows systems you will see in the future, around vehicle safety and how they will take care of themselves. 'See.Think.Act' is our current slogan. We are a partner of the future, but we want to show we are also a partner of today. Martyn continued: "On the other stand we have [pro]Tech training. [pro]Tech is our workshop concept. It is a vehicle to deliver all the support services I have talked about; training, technical information that you need, the diagnostics, the equipment. All the things you need to work on the new technologies is delivered via [pro]Tech. It begins with [pro]Tech Start, which is access to a portal. The garage pays a one-off set-up fee, and then you get access to all the information, technical bulletins, all the way to OEM information including recalls. If you did want some of the additional training etc you can pay-as- you-go. Providing an overview, Martyn added: "In the aftermarket we want to be able to deliver the full product portfolio, but then equally also all the product support and services behind that to be able to work on products. We all know that products are getting a lot more advanced. There is a lot more technology coming through, and it seems to be coming through quite rapidly now with electric vehicles, autonomous driving, all those different systems that people are going to have to work with in the future in the aftermarket. What we are trying to do is put all of those support services in place, so it is not just selling a product now. We are actually taking care of the market and putting our product into a safe pair of hands so they know how to work on it, they have got the technical training, the information and everything they need." Snap-on Another exhibitor who had a pair of stands was Snap-on. The company used Automechanika to bring together their Sun, Hofmann and John Bean brands under one roof, although they actually had two stands as we mentioned. The Snap-on stands featured wheel aligners, wheel balancers, and multi-speed tyre changers. Also on show were vehicle lifts, along with the DGA5000 emissions analyser. As you would expect, Snap-on's friendly and knowledgeable representatives were be on hand to help. DENSO Speaking of doubling-up, DENSO was one of the exhibitors who went for a two-storey stand, and it was worth the effort. From their top deck you got a really panoramic vista of the show. They were not there just to provide nice views though, as the company used the show to present its e-Videns vehicle inspection tool, designed to assist workshops with customer relations and business efficiencies, as well as its many other products. “Automechanika Birmingham is an important event as it provides us with a tremendous opportunity to showcase both our range of OE components and the company behind them, to a dual audience of motor factors and technicians,” said Fatiha Laauich, DENSO's Assistant Project Manager Aftermarket. On e-Videns, Fatiha said: “DENSO has an unprecedented level of technical capability, which has made it possible to develop e-Videns, a unique vehicle inspection tool specifically designed to instil customer confidence in the processes and abilities of the workshop, while also improving its productivity. It essentially puts the independent on the same level as the franchised dealer, giving them a tool that makes them transparent with the customer." Visitors to the stand also had the chance to meet Edd China, have their photo with him and receive a signed DENSO baseball cap. Kalimex Kalimex made their debut at the show with a range of products. The DPF Cleaning range from JLM was on show, and included the professional 50 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2019 AUTOMECHANIKA BIRMINGHAM 2019 Above: Edd China at the Denso Stand www.aftermarketonline.net