Press releases

All press releases concerning AutoTechnica 2010 can be found here.

AutoTechnica 2010 in pole position
A show full of experiences
Motivated exhibitors are the best ambassadors

AutoTechnica 2010 in pole position

AutoTechnica, the biennial Benelux trade show for the car professional, is due to take place from 9‑12 May 2010 at Brussels Expo, and six months before opening is already expecting to be fully booked. Right now, after all, more than 80% of the available space has already been taken. Besides very many of the regular exhibitors, AutoTechnica will this year be welcoming a host of new premium brands, amongst which Valeo Service Benelux and Wynn’s.
AutoTechnica will also be giving the visiting professional a total picture of the sector during this 15th show: garage stock and equipment, body work materials and equipment, components and replacement parts.
AutoTechnica 2010 is getting ready for a festive show
After a successful AutoTechnica 2008, all the stops are being pulled out to make this 15th (!) show an even greater success. Thus, the show’s organisers are taking account of results gleaned from the visitors’ survey of 2008 about exhibitors’ wishes as well as the signals coming from the marketplace.

AutoTechnica is very aware that visitors to a show want to be surprised, and is already planning to address this wish. The 2010 show wants to give its visitors the chance to see products, to compare them or to try them out, which certainly can’t happen if we stick in the classic groove.

According to the organisers, a trade show ought to provide an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the market and that’s why there’s also a place for related products at AutoTechnica. So companies offering access gateways, security systems, soil decontamination, outdoor advertising or environment-friendly solutions can take advantage of the four-day period (in combination with the Service Station, Shop & Car-Wash Show) to reach more than 40,000 potential customers.

AutoTechnica is aimed primarily at professionals from the garage and car distribution sectors. At the request of exhibitors, the organisers made strenuous efforts in 2008 to attract, in addition, visitors from transport, national and local government, and even industry sectors. These efforts resulted in a palpable increase in visitors from these sectors and it became apparent that here, too, there was great interest in what the show had to offer.
Moreover, car importers are keener than ever to promote their spare parts deals, their models, their training and software packages to garages and body shops everywhere. Not illogical, then, that they are also interested participants in AutoTechnica 2010.
AutoTechnica 2008’s success in figures
AutoTechnica has developed into the biggest automotive trade event of its kind in the Benelux. Thus,
the number of visitors who attended AutoTechnica 2008 jumped to 31,531. Even on the first day there was an increase of 28% relative to 2006 and the exhibition area of the show had increased by 12%.

The survey conducted amongst 750 visitors during the show revealed that AutoTechnica had easily met the expectations of 80% of the visitors. Thus, 62% of the visitors made new contacts and a whopping 83% are planning to visit the show again in 2010.

Amongst exhibitors, there was equally great enthusiasm for the 2008 show. More than 90% of the exhibitors stated they were satisfied to very satisfied with their participation and 95% said the visitors met their expectations. The visitors’ survey also brought to light that nearly 70% of the visitors had decision-making power as managers, proprietors or employees in leading roles. An incredible 92.8% of stand-holders made an immediate decision to participate in the 2010 show.

A show full of experiences

During the previous show, it had already become apparent that AutoTechnica was developing more and more into a trade show featuring real live experience. So also at this 15th show, visitors will be able to enjoy and take part in numerous live-demos and fringe animations. To encourage this, the show organisers are providing an extra stimulus to stand-holders who come with animations. Thus, in exchange for product and model demonstrations on their stand, exhibitors get up to 10% extra stand space.

The more than 100 product demonstrations during AutoTechnica 2008 appealed to visitors but neither did it escape the exhibitors that the show has become a major experience.

Ludo Janssens of Febi Benelux describes it as follows: “There was also a whole lot to experience at different stands. There was clearly an increase in animations and demonstrations and that was beneficial to the atmosphere of the show. I noticed a lot of enthusiasm amongst both the visitors and my colleague stand-holders.”

Motivated exhibitors are the best ambassadors

AutoTechnica is the biennial meeting place for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, importers and buyers in the automotive sector. For exhibitors, AutoTechnica is also the ideal opportunity to introduce products, to meet with existing business relations and make new contacts.

Show organiser FEDERAUTO is very well aware that the exhibitors contribute to the success of AutoTechnica and goes to great pains to please its stand-holders. Thus, the show provides stand-holders with a free package of promotional materials to polish up their presence: from personalised admissions tickets to free banners or buttons for their own sites.

“As the event par excellence for the car sector in the Benelux, AutoTechnica is the perfect place for Festool to introduce the new approach of its division ‘Festool automotive systems’ to the whole sector. This department was set up at the end of 2008 and its mission is to expand our expertise in the automotive world and to focus totally on specialising in the car bodywork branch. This new total approach is clearly visible in our products and innovations as well as in our way of working. This demonstrates that Festool automotive systems does not simply want to offer machines and accessories, but also to offer solutions for specific day-to-day problems with bodywork. By participating in AutoTechnica we can put over this message to the whole market within a short space of time and provide interactive demonstrations. AutoTechnica for us therefore is an essential part of our approach for 2010.” concluded Arnout Ulenaers, Marketing Co-ordinator Tooltechnic Systems (Belgium) – Festool.

Philip Hofman, of Van Heck-Interpieces, looks back with satisfaction on his participation in 2008 and is looking forward to the coming show. “In 2008, we organised a number of competitions and demonstrations on our stand which didn’t stray from the mark. For four days we had a fair number of people passing through. Attracting attention was the watchword at that time and we were wonderfully successful in that. In 2010 we hope to do this with even more fervour and we also have quite a bit up our sleeves for the car professional.”

Market presence is the main reason why Marcel Similion of ‘Hefra Accuverkoop’ participates in AutoTechnica. Through this show participation he hopes, in the first place, to increase the brand recognition of his products. “At the next show, we hope to bring our own range of intelligent battery chargers to the public’s attention.”

“Through participation at AutoTechnica 2010, Valeo Service Benelux is hoping to maintain its contact with garage keepers and wholesalers. This will make use of live demonstrations by our brand promoter, along with extra emphasis on the services that we provide. We’ll set it all up dynamically and look forward to total interactivity at our renewed stand!” relates Martijn de Haas, trade marketer for Valeo.

Zeger Lindemans of Total Belgium hopes above all to communicate directly with the professionals in the automotive sector. “Because AutoTechnica is exclusively targeted to those professionals, the ideal circumstances are created there to show our clients and potential clients all the products and services Total can offer.”

It is clear that the current economic situation is not having an adverse influence on the expectations of the exhibitors. That has not escaped Chairman Leon Vervekken - with TAE, one of the biggest stand-holders: “In recent years the organisation has been working extremely hard to increase the headway of the show. As things stand at the moment, it looks like they will succeed.”

Even when wearing his exhibitor’s hat, Vervekken is already jumping with enthusiasm. “AutoTechnica remains a fantastic show for TAE. A show we are happy to put our efforts into, so as to give the visitor what he is coming for.”