Following the success of its inaugural show June 2014 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre in Stuttgart, Germany, the organizers of the UNITI Expo are planning expansions for the 2016 presentation of the biennial event.
The expo, a trade fair for the retail petroleum market, including gas stations and car washes, drew 11,000 visitors from 92 countries. The tradeshow floor covered 270,000 square feet, housing 344 exhibitors from 29 countries. Plans for 2016 include the expansion of exhibit space to 325,000 square feet.
Of particular interest is the organizers’ expectation that the car wash exhibit space in 2016 will be at least twice as large as in 2014. UNITI is reportedly focusing on the car wash industry for 2016 to create a presence as global as it had for its forecourt (gas station) equipment sector in 2014. To reach that goal, the organizers are scheduling a range of seminars, and are planning a “car wash action park” outdoors with running machines. An international visitor marketing campaign is also in the works. UNITI claims that 15 months ahead of the event it has recorded a 40 percent increase in the booked exhibition space compared to 2014.
Notable exhibitors at the 2014 expo that have committed to the 2016 event include WashTec AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of vehicle washing equipment; Otto Christ AG, who will increase its presence at the show; Holz Autowaschtechnik GmbH, who has chosen UNITI expo as strategic trade fair and will reportedly not be exhibiting at Automechanika 2016; and SONAX, an international manufacturer of products for the car wash and detailing industries.
UNITI Expo 2016 is scheduled for June 14-16, again at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre.