As we head into the second half of the year, we are entering a period where we can take a welcomed break from the hard-grind of on-the-road trucking realities and lighten up a little by absorbing what the suppliers to the trucking industry on both the local and international fronts have to offer. On the international scene, the 61st International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) takes place in Hanover in September. This is Europe's premier trucking show where hundreds of companies keen to make inroads into the massive European market gather in Hanover to exhibit their product and service offerings. Although directed at European markets, what goes on show at Hanover has a bearing on South Africa in that it gives a glimpse into what we'll be seeing enter our market in the future - both in terms of products and trends, from our European suppliers. With sanctions long gone, South Africa no longer has a truck manufacturing base to talk of - assembly yes but manufacturing, no - meaning we are totally reliant on overseas supplies for our products. This can be good and bad news. Good in the sense that we are now able to stay up with - and benefit from - the latest technologies being introduced onto the world's trucking stage and bad, because not all those technologies - or indeed lack of technologies - are applicable to our operational conditions. On this latter point, the 'bad' only enters the picture when local testing of new product is not done prior to introducing any overseas 'gizmos' into our territory. Local testing for suitability is imperative and we cannot stress this strongly enough.

My guess is that we will also, no doubt, see companies from China exhibiting their wares on the Hanover show - most for the first time. I predict this because Chinese companies are on a relentless drive to grab a slice of whatever export markets they can - and a little slice of the European market would be 'kewl' business for them. They are certainly doing the same in South Africa and on this front, I notice that there are a number of foreign companies exhibiting on TyreExpo Africa 2006 being held at the Sandton Convention centre in Johannesburg starting September 12th. This is South Africa's first international show focussing solely on the tyre industry and names like Dong Ah Tire & Rubber Co Ltd, Hanksugi Tyre International Co Ltd, Fujian Jinjiang Yingshan Rubber Industry Co Ltd, Shanghai Baolong Industries Corp, Shanghai Durotyre Int Trading Co Ltd and others we have never heard of, are exhibiting their wares. This tells me that while thousands of South Africans still regard this country as a little blip on the tip of Africa operating in isolation to the rest of the world, there are many companies out there who don't see us as such. They see South Africa as a viable market in which to do business and are actively - and aggressively - driving various initiatives to make inroads here. Being wanted certainly gives one a warm feeling and is a much welcomed change from those days of isolation when apartheid made us the pariah of the world. However, while enjoying the warm feeling, let us walk a careful path in ensuring that we are not opening our arms to a load of junk. This is already happening and proof of this is given on page 69 of this issue in the article titled Rim Robbers. Let's make sure that we are welcoming the 'right stuff' into our market and not just any old junk.

After Hanover and the TyreExpo comes our own trucking industry showcase - Auto Africa 2006 which starts on October 26th. Although the scale of the two major truck exhibitions is vastly different with Hanover by far out shadowing Auto Africa in size, the quality of the shows is, in my opinion, pretty much equal. Obviously with Europe being the market it is, the exhibits of individual companies are far larger but I think our local guys hold their own in putting on a show that more than does justice to elevating our market onto a platform of world quality. Proof of this is that Auto Africa has now been accredited by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers whose membership comprises 43 national trade associations around the world, including all major automobile manufacturing countries, thereby covering virtually the entire motor vehicle industry all over the world. Being accredited by this body essentially means that you have arrived on the world's auto industry show stage so well done to the organisers of Auto Africa on this achievement.

Speaking to Phillip Otto, marketing and sales manager for Auto Africa 2006, all signs point to this year emulating past years in projecting excellence with some interesting differences thrown in. Every truck manufacturer - bar Volvo - will be on the show with MAN Truck & Bus participating for the first time. Rumour has it that MAN is going all out to maximise its presence by putting on a 'cracker-jack' exhibit. Of course, the other manufacturers will also be doing the same and while there will be awards for the best stand and so forth, I reckon they all deserve an award for projecting our industry in such a positive and professional light. Another difference this year is that outside exhibits will not be plonked outside Hall 9 where they have been squeezed under the trees. A separate 'outdoor' area has been set aside with separate entrances through Gates 1 and 2 for trucking visitors. "We want to bring the trucking visitors into the trucking show first so we have separated the visitor entrances to make it more exclusive," says Otto. Indoor exhibits will also be there in Hall 9 as per the last show. The other big difference this time round is that the trucking show will stay open for the entire duration of Auto Africa. That's 11 days. In the past, the truck section of the show stayed open for a limited time compared to the 'car' side of Auto Africa. This time, they're running the whole race. Although we don't as yet have an exhibitors list, we're sure we're going to see a lot of new foreign names and companies out there and once again, we warn visitors - who are no doubt now making plans to visit these shows - to separate the good from the bad. Remember, that every good show should always have a 'clown' act but those clowns are meant to provide light relief rather than be taken seriously. Treat them as such.

Patrick O'Leary
Managing Editor