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Voting for the CAT Awards 2013 closes this Friday, 21st December.

Make sure your votes are in before this date, as votes cast after this date will not count towards the final result.

If you need reminding of who is in the race for this year's awards, here's our nominations rundown.

Or, if you just need to cast your votes, click here.

This year has already attracted a record number of nominations and votes, with businesses from all areas of the aftermarket fighting it out to be crowned the top of their game.

The end is now in sight for the CAT Awards 2013. Voting for this year's awards closes on the 21st December, so you have until then to vote for YOUR aftermarket heroes.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in February, and a full report will be in our special awards edition of the magazine soon after. Of course, you can follow CAT Magazine on Twitter and Facebook for live updates throughout the day, too.

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Gates' Balsareny production plant in Barcelona is one of three sites in Europe which make the company's new Micro-V Horizon belt.

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Nominations for the 2013 CAT Awards are open!

This year there are more ways to get involved in the nominations process. Do you know a factor that goes above and beyond your expectations every time? Is one of your customers a garage that's beating the franchises at their own game? Perhaps you know an independent retailer that's staying strong on the high street? The CAT Awards is your chance to get them recognised by the industry.

And don't forget, it only takes ONE nomination.

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So that was our first Automechanika.

Apart from our Publisher David Harris the CAT team had never visited the aftermarket show before, and truth be told we didn't know what to expect.

Exhibitors love aftermarket trade shows like Automechanika because it allows them to do six months worth of meetings in just a few days.

Journalists love it too because it allows us to catch up with so many companies with the same purpose in mind, good business.

Walking through one of the many Frankfurt halls today I've already seen deals being struck and new customers being made. It is great to see the aftermarket selling itself so well.

At the same time I'm still astounded at the sheer size of the show. It's just taken me half an hour to get from a stand in Hall 6 to the press centre to post this.

There are some nice big, and small, facts and figures to consider when you think about Corteco and look into the history of its parent company, Freudenberg.

Fantastic. On the eve of my first visit to the gargantuan Automechanika show in Frankfurt, Lufthansa cabin crew have decided to go on strike. And, of course, I'm flying Lufthansa.

See that? We built that, we did.

We think you'll agree the finished product looks excellent, and there's a chance for you to own one too.

These models are all part of a competition being run by Bosch. It's a colouring competition for children between five and ten, and the winner will receive this self-build model of a Bosch Car Service garage.