Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 opened with the latest edition of the BodyShop News Collision Talk seminar series, hosted on the main stage in Hall 11.1. For the third consecutive event, BodyShop News Publisher Michel Malik welcomed prominent figures from across the international collision repair industry to discuss the issues and opportunities shaping the sector.
The programme began with a panel discussion titled New Trends in the Industry, featuring Ron Olsson, President of Pro Spot International; Jason Scharton, Global Collision Industry Relations Leader at 3M; Rafael Dias, Iberian Market Manager at INDASA; and Khaled Sorour, International Business Manager at Kapci Coatings.
Representing different segments of the collision repair supply chain, the panel shared perspectives on the market dynamics currently influencing manufacturers, suppliers and repairers. A common theme throughout the discussion was the need for businesses to remain agile and adaptable as technological change and evolving customer expectations continue to reshape the industry.
On the second day of the exhibition, Malik hosted a fireside discussion with Steve Arndt, Executive Vice President Refinish Coatings at Surventis. Speaking ahead of the company’s official global launch at Automechanika Frankfurt, Arndt outlined Surventis’s strategic vision and explained how the business intends to manage the transition of brands previously associated with BASF.
The seminar series concluded with a session focused on the growing influence of automation within collision repair operations. Joining Malik on stage were Roar Solberg, Vice President at Surventis; Joerg Goettling, Head of Export at SATA; and Roberto Sticca, General Manager of the Italian division of multinational repair network CSN Collision.
The discussion, titled Robotic Refinishing and the Benefits to Body Shops, explored how automated technologies and advanced equipment are transforming workshop productivity and efficiency. Speakers encouraged body shop operators to embrace automation as a tool that can improve consistency, increase throughput and support long-term business sustainability.
Reflecting on the event, Malik said he was honoured to once again present the Collision Talk programme and facilitate conversations with some of the industry's most respected voices.
"I was delighted to be asked by Automechanika Frankfurt to present the BodyShop News Collision Talk series for the third time and host such high-performing individuals," said Malik. "The information they imparted to the audience was invaluable and reassuring, especially in the current tough global business environment."
