The 20th edition of Automechanika Dubai, which took place in early October, saw some notable developments in the automotive aftermarket space, including record footfall and a couple of ‘firsts’.
The largest international trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket industry in the Middle East welcomed 52,082 trade visitors during the three-day showcase, according to organiser Messe Frankfurt. The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 21% in trade visitors compared to last year, when 42,937 people attended, establishing a new record for the show and demonstrating the automotive aftermarket in the region is booming.
With sustainability a focus, Automechanika Dubai’s saw 1,938 exhibitors from 61 countries gathered at the Dubai World Trade Centre to explore how the industry can create a sustainable future while also hearing from leading speakers and exhibitors on the latest technology utilised across the industry.
Amongst the top 10 countries represented were the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Iraq, China, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia and Oman, with a 15% increase in visitors from countries outside the UAE. While the rise in visitor numbers was no real surprise, some of the exhibitors surely were.
JCB debuts tools at Automechanika
One such was JCB, that same brand which is ubiquitous with its backhoe loaders, telehandlers and other construction equipment – only this time with their tools at Automechanika.
Speaking to PMV Middle East about this side of the JCB family, Adrian O’Nion, Commercial Director, JCB Tools said: “The automotive tools under the JCB brand have just launched this week here at Automechanika. They’ve been developed and tested over the last 18 months with support from the team in JCB and they’ve been tested on the shop fl oor and some of the production sites as well – and this is the start of the new programme here in the Middle East.
“Our power tools and hand tools have been in the region now for three years and have done well. So, based on that success, we’ve now expanded the range and we’re now moving into this new category of workshop tools. The range is based upon general automotive needs and general workshop needs, but does go up to high-end applications in maintenance, service and repair.”
The JCB brand is quite legendary in the Middle East and that has no doubt contributed to what O’Nion called a “great reception” that the launch found at Automechanika, adding: “We’re really pleased. I think it’s validated our decision. It’s validated the quality and the testing we’ve put into it. We’re, of course another branch of JCB – JCB Consumer Products – which is different from the construction machinery side of JCB’s operations. But the JCB brand is still resonates deeply with people in the Middle East.”
The JCB automotive tools will be distributed in the region by Rockforce and it is already in markets around the Middle East, such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while looking to expand into more. Raman Martsinovich, MD of Rockforce, said there are plans for wider expansion after starting from Dubai.
“Rockforce is bringing JCB to the region here, and I think this is a very good start. JCB is a huge brand, of course, well- known in the region and everywhere. JCB is known for quality first of all, and now they’ve started the collaboration with Rockforce, which is the No.1 brand in Eastern Europe and in Europe in general.
“Rockforce opened its first branch office in Dubai 20 years ago. Now we have two offices and two showrooms – and growing, JCB-Rockforce will be a great collaboration in this region. And the reception we have got at Automechanika from the sector is simply a vindication of that.
Scope lubricants launches batteries
With JCB’s move into the automotive tools among the pleasant surprises at Automechanika, another surprise came from local UAE-based brand Scope Lubricants, which introduced its batteries line at the event.
Hassan Alyousuf, Director General of the company explained: “Scope Lubricants is our brand. Our company is United Grease Lubricants. We are oil blenders for a lot of multinational companies as well, with more than 25 brands we are blending for. We manufacture right here in the UAE in our Ajman plant and we export to over 35 countries worldwide. With production of more than 100,00 tonnes per year, we are truly a made-in-UAE global brand.
“We are regular participants in Automechanika, and this year we are highlighting some new developments at United Grease Lubricants – our automotive battery line and our hybrid line of lubricants for hybrid vehicles. We are a grease and oil manufacturer, but we have come up with the batteries, which we have improved and refined as our next product segment expansion.
“Of course for heavy commercial vehicles and equipment we have diesel engine oils of the latest grades, CK4 Plus. And now, with our battery line, we have the big batteries for the diesel and heavy duty vehicles as well.”
Another well-established UAE organisation and a regular at Automehcanika is Al Shamali Auto Parts LLC. The company’s COO, Siddhartha Sarkar, said: “We started with a new lubricant called INEOS, which is a Japanese brand. We have extensive product representation of Japanese brands, and now we are also rejuvenating our Korean brands division. These two aspects are the main thrusts of our participation in Automechanika this year. We are ready to meet the requirements of fl eets and car rental companies as well, in terms of spare parts, batteries, lubricants – everything.
“Our new Japanese brand, INEOS, is doing pretty well, considering the fact that the market is overcrowded. INEOS is a relatively new brand and with the fact that we are very customer centric, we ensure satisfaction with the products and services that we represent and also ensure that the suppliers are happy with our performance.”
Over at Lubatex, heat resistant batteries were the focus. Julien Kranz, Marketing Project Manager, said: “The response has been very great, especially for the high heat range products for high temperatures, which are specifically dedicated to the GCC regions.”
Lubatex has specific products that it’s expanding into the GCC based on the technology of the product and the needs of the market, and it is also focusing on AGM technology in the batteries. On the lithium side Lubatex is starting a new partnership with a French based company called Hive Electric that specialises in lithium technology, Kranz said.
“They produce tailor-made batteries, so they can be adapted to any kind of need, whether for the automotive, solar, transportation or aviation sectors. The technology is brand new in the sense that they don’t use wear materials. So it’s more eco-friendly and safe,” Kranz added.
Goodyear Lubricants, brought to the region by Alonsa Electric Gulf, showcased its lubricants line-up and highlighted the upcoming launch of a full range of fluids and batteries for electric vehicles in Q2 2024.
Goodyear rolls into lubricants
While Goodyear is a colossus in the tyre industry, the brand is also present in a big way in the lubricants space. At Automechanika, Sunil Khanchandani, MD, Alonsa Electric Gulf FZCO, said Goodyear Lubricants in under the licensing programme of the Goodyear Tire Company from the USA.
“The programme was started in 2020 and at Alonsa Group we are the licensee for manufacturing, distributing and appointing distributors in our region, which comprises the GCC, Africa, the Levant and some parts of Asia. The manufacturing takes place in four plants, located in the UAE, in Malaysia, Spain and the US,” Khanchandani said.
Goodyear (and Winged Foot Design) and Blimp Design are trademarks of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company used under license by Alonsa Electric Gulf FZCO, Dubai.
He added that Alonsa Group is a member of the Al Tara Group established in the UAE in 1978. The Alonsa-Goodyear licencing programme has been on since 2020 and in that time we have already established a presence in 26 countries. This is their third time at Automechanika as Alonsa Group for Goodyear and he felt the interest in Goodyear lubricants this year has been considerably more.
Talking about future plans, Khanchandani elaborated: “Under the Goodyear Additives and Fluids programme, we’ll be launching the full range of fluids and electric batteries for the electric vehicles market hopefully in the second quarter of 2024. From the engine oil perspective, we have already launched made-in-USA products into this region.
“For the commercial and heavy vehicles sector, we have Goodyear Acer, a CK4 product in API terms. It’s a very high-end, fully synthetic product for diesel engines, particularly for heavy machinery.
“Also on the hydraulic oils side, which are used in construction, mining and heavy drilling equipment, we have developed a highly synthetic range, which is quite different and more effective than the normal products for hydraulics,” said Khanchandani.