The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event (UKGBE), which takes place next week on 5-6 June at the NEC, Birmingham, is promising to deliver an insightful two days filled with extensive on-stand training and live workshops, providing bodyshop professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to stay ahead in the sector.
The event will feature a wide range of exciting product demonstrations and hands-on training opportunities from industry leading exhibitors, showcasing the latest advancements and techniques in automotive repair and maintenance.
PPG will showcase its digital innovation tools PPG LINQ and MoonWalk, streamlining colour matching and repair processes. It will also demonstrate its One Visit Low Energy Repair Process, featuring the Deltron DP7000 Air Dry Primer, Envirobase High Performance with One Visit Modifier, and Deltron D8177 Rapid Performance Clearcoat, highlighting energy-saving and efficiency-enhancing solutions.
Training and workshops for repairers
Sherwin-Williams will display the Octoral SMART Repair System and PF345 Rapid Surfacer, offering solutions to improve repair efficiency and reduce turnaround times and Teroson will show visitors how to replicate OEM seams using its seam sealing products, with opportunities for hands-on practice.
3D Group will be demonstrating key cutting, lock picking, key programming and the benefits of cloud vehicle diagnostics throughout the show, while Absolute Alignment will showcase its latest Bluetooth Lite wheel aligner, designed for workshops with limited space, offering flexibility and precision in wheel alignment.
Selson will present its unique air jacks, which use compressed air to quickly and safely raise and lower vehicles, making them ideal for various underbody servicing tasks.
VIEZU Technologies will conduct multiple daily demonstrations on vehicle tuning tools, including Alientech KESS3, Autotuner, EVC WinOLS5, bFlash, and Magic Motorsport Flex, providing comprehensive insights into their applications and benefits.
What’s more Car Bench will introduce its Contact Evolution software, enabling operators to quickly measure and diagnose vehicle damage without lifting the vehicle, ensuring accurate first inspections and reducing additional estimates.
Visitors can also pay a visit to the LKQ Euro Car Parts stand, which will offer a variety of product and training demonstrations, including paintless dent removal, interior repair techniques, and a virtual reality welding challenge with a chance to win £250 in vouchers. Its stand will also feature interactive digital screens showcasing technical drawings and parts, along with LKQ Academy’s new skills assessment demos.
And Albatross Spray Booths will present its mobile spray booth, an innovative solution for quickly and efficiently handling small spray-painting jobs, offering significant energy and time savings compared to traditional paint ovens, while Lake Country will be demonstrating its extensive range of polishing pads, including some of the highest-quality foam, microfibre and wool pads available on the market suitable for both detailing and bodyshop markets.
Serious about bodyshop profession
Alex Jones, marketing director at Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, said:
“Our goal is to equip technicians with the latest skills and knowledge to keep pace with industry advancements. The hands-on demonstrations and interactive sessions will provide invaluable insights, making the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2024 a must-attend for anyone serious about their profession.
“This year’s event is shaping up to be incredibly insightful, with a vast array of on-stand training and live workshops designed to equip bodyshop professionals with the right skills for the future. We are excited to bring together leading industry exhibitors who will be demonstrating cutting-edge products and techniques, ensuring attendees gain valuable knowledge and practical experience.”
Visitors can register for a free UKGBE ticket here – there are limited complimentary tickets remaining for the event.
If you are going to be there on day one (that’s Wednesday, 5 June) make sure you visit the Bodyshop Magazine Lounge (stand G18) and the Bodyshop Training Hub (H18) next door from 4:00pm-6:00pm for our two-hour networking drinks party – BODYSHOP BUZZ – which is completely free for all repairers and anyone working in the collision repair supply chain. All you have to do is register using this link.
