Author: Alex Wells
Addressing the skills crisis and the importance of prioritising innovation will be among the major themes explored at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2026, being held from 3rd to 4th June at the NEC Birmingham.
Major names set to appear include Alliance Automotive Group (AAG), Toyota Trade Parts, BM Catalysts, Bosch Automotive, JHM Butt & Co, Ring Automotive, Niterra, Pichler Tools, SATA, The Race Group, LKQ Euro Car Parts and many more.
Unique features will include the Ignite Arena, designed to show off the many opportunities for young people across the automotive aftermarket and highlight ways to address the skills crisis. Similarly, the Automechanika ‘Thirty Under 30’ awards programme will shine a light on the 30 young professionals seen to be leading the way in the sector.
On the seminar front, visitors will be able to visit the Workshop Theatre for technical content taking in diagnostics, EVs, ADAS, MOTs and much more. Speakers are set to include Hella Gutmann’s Technical and Training Manager Steve Fox will appear on Wednesday 3rd June to discuss Secure Gateway Access as well as tips on working with OEM-protected vehicle data. Meanwhile, speakers at the Business Management Theatre will include Delphi UK Country Director Aliya Lam, who is set to discuss quality in the aftermarket as well as methods to maximse profitability at her session, also on Wednesday 3rdJune.
Following on from launching at the IAAF Annual Conference 2025, visitors will get the latest updates on the IAAF Garage Den, where aftermarket suppliers were teamed up with independent garages to co-develop a number of products and services for the aftermarket.
Demonstrations
MAHLE will be giving visitors a double opportunity to catch them at the event. The company’s workshop equipment demonstration van is set to be the first thing attendees see as they pass through the main entrance to the show. Once inside, they can head for MAHLE’s stand where the focus will be on its ArcticPRO air-con machines, TechPRO Digital ADAS 2.0 system and the TechPRO2 diagnostic platform.
If the chance to take in the entire Think Car range in one go isn’t enough for you, the diagnostic tool provider will also be hosting the influencer team from RMS Diagnostics along with Mechanic Mindset’s Darren Quinn. They will all be on hand to talk about their favourite Think Car tools. If you end up star-struck as a result and want to stay that way, you’ll need to seek out Cataclean, who will be offering visitors the chance to meet the all-new British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Cataclean Plato Racing team. Drivers Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan will also undertake a live Q&A on the stand.
Debuts
Delphi is set to take its debut at the now-established two-day bienniel show, and for its first appearance the company will ’Make Some Noise’ about its ongoing braking awareness campaign. Delphi’s Tech Van will also be rolled in to provide product braking and diagnostics demos. There is also the chance to play Delphi’s ‘Spin the Wheel’ game, with a range of prizes set to be given away across both days.
Hella Gutmann’s CSC-Tool PRO digital ADAS calibration system will also be taking its first bow in the UK, and it will be unveiled alongside the mega macs PLUS. The provider will also be drawing attention to its macsRemote pay-as-you-go remote diagnostics service.
Digital
ZF Aftermarket will have a digital focus at the show, with the company looking to show off its ZF [pro]Manager workshop management platform, as well as its ZF [pro]Diagnostics, diagnostics system. Beyond these tools, workshops that sign up with the company’s ZF [pro]Tech garage programme at the NEC during the two days will be entered into a prize draw that could net them a McLaren-branded e-scooter. Garage Services Online (GSO) will be urging garage owners to address online visibility and how to use this to increase bookings, with much of the focus on the company’s RampUp booking widget.
Also on the digital side, TechMan will be making sure visitors get up close and personal with their eponymous garage management system.
Another supplier with a digital focus is BM Catalysts, whose BM Garage Pro online training platform will be receiving a push at the show, alongside the company’s latest product releiases, and some fun and games too.
Direct
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of UK Garage & Bodyshop Event, concluded: “The UK Garage & Bodyshop Event is built around what today’s garages truly need - practical solutions, accessible training and direct access to the brands shaping the aftermarket. We’re looking forward to welcoming workshops from across the UK to two days of learning, networking and hands-on discovery at the NEC in June.”
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