Pictured, from left to right: Jim Savas, VP GM from UBM Automotive, Michael Johannes, Brand Manager Automechanika, Dan Risley, ASA president, and Dennis Smith, president/CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America announce their new partnership.
Two shows serving the automobile collision repair suppliers will merge in 2017, blending their separate focuses to create one large event in Chicago aimed at the entire auto collision repair market. Automechanika, which first launched in 2015, provides high-end technical and management-related training to collision and service repair shops, while the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) a 30-year-old event, provides a platform for the broader collision repair industry. “By combining resources, this collaboration will provide the market with a unique opportunity to connect each segment of the industry thus serving the entire automotive collision and service repair audience,” said Dan Risley, president and executive director of the Automotive Service Association.” The inaugural combined event will take place July 26-29, 2017, at McCormick Place.
NACE is produced by Messe Frankfurt North America, and Automechanika Chicago is organized in partnership with UBM, formerly Advanstar Communications. “We are extremely pleased with this alliance,” said Dennis Smith, president and CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America. “The industry has been asking for this and we listened. By combining the expertise of two undisputed market leaders, Automechanika Chicago and NACE, we are confident of our ability to offer a comprehensive platform for companies interested in reaching collision and mechanical repair shops en masse.”
