26.04.2012 Automechanika St.Petersburg: Successful start of the first cooperation between Messe Frankfurt RUS and ExpoForum

• Automechanika St. Petersburg 2012: new fair concept and further prospects of development
• Extensive fringe program with conferences, rounde tables, seminars and special events

With products of 102 leading producers from ten countries, the 19^th edition of Automechanika St. Petersburg took place on April 12 – 14 and attracted over 3.000 professional visitors. It was the first edition of the show in cooperation with ZAO “ExpoForum”. During three days the show presented products and technologies of the leading manufacturers from such countries as China, Estonia, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and UK.  Mr. Eugen  Alles, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt RUS, points out: "Automechanika is the leading brand in the automotive industry. Automechanika St. Petersburg was one of the first Automechanika fairs to be held outside Frankfurt. Since its launch at the end of the 1990s, it has demonstrated again and again that St. Petersburg offers an attractive location and infrastructure.”

The Northwestern regional market for automotive industry, services and equipment is one of the segments in the economy of St. Petersburg that develop most dynamicly. Mr. Michael Johannes, Brand Manager Automechanika, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, about the market situation: “St. Petersburg is the place where the automotive potential of Russia and Eastern Europe might be heavily implemented. Automechanika St. Petersburg has a promising future especially now since it concentrates on a B2B-audience.”

Trade fairs usually reflect progress and growth of an industry, and Automechanika St. Petersburg is no exception. The exposition was constructed in accordance to the product groups: parts and systems, car accessories, repair and maintenance and service stations equipment. Automechanika St. Petersburg this year attracted such international companies as Seven Diesel (Italy), Lizarte (Spain), MAHA, Auger Autotechnik (Germany), Exedy Clutch (UK), OIB (Turkey), F.R.C. Int. (Japan), Companies CEMB (Italy), etc. Such Russian companies as MAHA Russia, Kamskiy Motor Factory, VolgaAutoProm, Energomash, Motordetal, Spezmash, GAZ Group, etc took part within the fair. Moreover in camparison with the previous year Automachanika St. Petersburg 2012 increased the exhibition space in threefold. Over 50 percent from the total amount of participants were foreign companies. This result is quite rare for Northwestern regional trade fairs. Parallel to Automechanika St. Petersburg the autosalon of commercial transport “InAutotrans”, where the latest models of buses and tracks (Mercedes-Benz, VW, Yutong, and others) were demonstrated, was held.

The fringe program of the fair was conciderably improved in 2012. Over 20 professional events took place within the business program: the leading one was the international conference “Modernization of auto transport – strategies 2020”. Within this conference such subjects as the usage of navigation systems, the usage of gas facilities, training for specialists, the industry policy of the city, and others were discussed. More then 70 professionals visited the conference “Development of cooperation between Polish and Russian companies in car mechanic sector”. The conference participants mentioned that companies were especially interested in joint cooperation and negotiated a certain number of new meetings and appointments for the detailed discussions. Furthermore  over 60 visitors had a chance to take part at the rounde table “Alternative types of fuel”.

Automechanika St. Petersburg 2012 featured a special program – “Business contacts Exchange”. This system helped to organize more then 250 professional meetings within the trade fair.

Thanks to its updated and renovated concept, Automechanika St. Petersburg became an effective business platform for exchange of expert opinions and search of decisions, which allowed to improve the quality of autocomponents market at the North-Western region of the Russian Federation. Moreover the organization of Automechanika St. Petersburg 2012 became an important contribution to the implementation of state Program for development of automotive production in Russia up to 2020.

Exhibitors statements:

OIB – Automotive Industry Exporters' Union of Turkey, Evren Belenlioglu:
“At first, I would like to thank the whole Messe Frankfurt-Team for the perfect service before and during the fair. I appreciated it very much. Among the regional automotive fairs in Russia, it was surely the biggest one which I saw. I participated as OIB Russia third time at the AM St.Petersburg. The concept of the show was much better this time. There can never be enough visitiors of course, but I had more visitors than last year. I received in general more than I expected, therefore I am very happy having participated at the AM SPB.  The other two Turkish participants were also very happy about their participation. I see the development year by year and I will surely participate again next year and recommend to Turkish companies. The organizers can already book a booth for us. Same size, same place.”

Perfekt, Anna Rudzka:
“A smooth and trouble-free organization as well as friendly additude towards exhibitors are the dominant features of the Automechanika's Service Staff; in fact, they were always ready not only to answer inquiries in an exhaustive way but also give their support in problem solving. All things considered, we are highly satisfied with our participation at Automechanika St. Petersburg; therefore, we are already planning to come back next year.”

For detailed information please visit: www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.com