GSF TechFest continued its juggernaut trajectory through 2026, with the second event in this year’s trilogy of trade shows hitting Coventry’s CBS Arena last week (Thursday 16th July).
Around 80 exhibitors — including Lucas, BGA, Klarius Drivetec, Hofmann Megaplan, Lesjöfors and Garage Hive — were on hand to display the latest workshop technology, alongside interactive games and entertainment.
Now in its third year, TechFest has grown from a single London-based event into a multi-site staple on the automotive sector calendar. Visitors enjoyed complimentary food, drink and live entertainment throughout the evening.
The main stage hosted a series of lively Q&A sessions featuring major industry figures, including IGA Director Jonathan Douglass, IAAF CEO Mark Field, The Fleet Guy founder Tim Guidotti, Easy2Recruit’s Ambi Singh and Walsall Wood Tyre & Service Centre CEO Nathan Wood.
Industry insights and interactive stand displays
It wasn’t all serious business, however. The Yuasa red-hat prize giveaways once again drew large crowds, while the battery manufacturer also ran a popular Bullseye darts challenge on its stand.
Visitors looking for a break between stands were catered for by the GSF Car Parts ‘Fully Fuelled’ van and hot food stalls, while a display of classic cars and modern road marvels provided plenty of eye candy. But beneath the informal atmosphere, TechFest remained firmly focused on practical workshop solutions.
Intermotor showcased core components from its engine management, ignition, fuelling, and emissions control portfolios, alongside several new range additions. The team remained busy throughout the event delivering technical support to visiting technicians.
“TechFest provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the latest developments across the Intermotor range,” said group marketing Director Martin Turner. “It was great to connect directly with garages and technicians to hear about the challenges they were facing and demonstrate how our technical knowledge can support them.”
Training, safety and next-gen diagnostics
For BM Catalysts, the focus was firmly on its free online training platform, BM Garage Pro. “BM Garage Pro remained a major focus for us as we aimed to support technicians in their day-to-day operations,” noted commercial director Mark Blinston. The company also brought along its popular ‘Spin the Wheel’ competition — first introduced at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event at the NEC — giving visitors a chance to win various prizes and giveaways.
Delphi used the show to highlight its steering, suspension, fuel management and diagnostics ranges, alongside its technical training courses. A key emphasis was placed on braking safety, correct fitment, and best practice via its ongoing Make Some Noise campaign.
“Events like TechFest are a fantastic opportunity to share practical insights with workshops and support them in staying ahead of changing vehicle technologies,” said UK country director Aliya Lam. “Meeting technicians face-to-face allowed us to highlight the vital importance of choosing quality, safety-critical components.”
Bosch took a broad approach, balancing current workshop needs with a glimpse into future technologies. Workshop technical equipment manager Sean Brookes explained: “We brought our trade experts, hydrogen fuel cell displays, model cars, and even demonstrated making fire from water. Alongside that, we featured our diagnostic specialists and ADAS calibration equipment to show how Bosch actively supports garage owners.”
Elsewhere, OSRAM and Ring joined forces, with OSRAM highlighting bulbs, inspection lamps and dash cams, while Ring demonstrated its battery care and consumables lines. Experts from both brands conducted live product demonstrations and technical advice sessions throughout the night.
Hands-on support for complex repairs
HELLA was out in force, with both its parts team and the Hella Gutmann diagnostics division on hand. MD Neil Grant noted that the company was fully in its TechFest groove: “Having done multiple TechFests now, we had a clear idea of what visitors were looking for. We brought interactive elements to keep things light-hearted, which fitted the overall spirit of the show.”
On the product side, Grant added: “We brought a bit of everything, but we placed a strong focus on our advanced electronics and diagnostics portfolios — areas that are becoming essential for modern independent workshops.”
For Schaeffler, an appearance by ‘Scottie’ the robot dog proved to be an irresistible draw for visitors walking past the stand. Once drawn in, attendees were able to explore transmission, engine and chassis components from the LuK, INA, and FAG brands, alongside its Vitesco range.
Over at the Valeo stand, the key objective was raising technical awareness. Key account manager Michael Gougeon explained: “We focused heavily on clutch transmissions, introducing new technologies covering torque converters, dual wet clutches, and dual dry clutches. As these components flow through GSF’s national network, we needed to ensure garages understood them. We had components like electro-mechanical actuators on display to answer practical questions around setup and calibration.”
Wembley finale ahead
The Coventry event wrapped up at 10pm after a busy day. Garages in London and the South East won't have long to wait for the final leg of the tour, with GSF TechFest making its annual homecoming return to Wembley Park on Thursday 17th September.
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