Another feast of automotive accessories and workshop equipment – 4,631 exhibitors from 71 different countries (including three from New Zealand) spread over 11 halls, many with multiple levels.

It is so overwhelming in terms of sheer size that you really need a plan to get the most from your visit, and after three full days I was definitely getting to the stage that if I saw another filter (change for any other car part) I would scream

If you are in the business, though, and looking for a new source of supply, or just ideas for your own business, then it is amazing.

For most visitors the workshop equipment area will be the most interesting to see what is the latest and greatest, so we have focused on that in this issue, and will look at parts and accessories next month. We will also be doing separate pieces in the Diesel Industry News section for heavy equipment, and Paint & Panel for that sector.

There were lots of interesting new ideas, some better fitting larger scale workshops, where a number of exhibitors showed full service lane products that test just about everything in one line (suspension, brakes, headlights etc). Maha took this further with its Innovation Award-winning MFP 3000, which added the ability to do an in-place test drive cycle which also covered safety and driver assist systems.