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Crossover Opportunities at Biggest Ever METS
01 Oct 2004
The Marine Equipment Trade Show , which takes place this year from the 16-18 November at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition Centre , has been completely sold out for months and will be bigger than ever.
Some 925 exhibitors from 30 countries will be presenting their products or services, with an independent study showing that 83% of the 250 largest global suppliers to the leisure marine industry will be represented. Some 86% of the exhibitors come from outside the Netherlands. With overlaps between leisure and commercial marine becoming ever more commonplace, METS is increasingly seen as a must attend event for manufacturers and suppliers addressing both sectors or considering doing so.
'We've had to do a lot of juggling with the space in order to be of service to as many exhibitors as possible, said Irene Dros of the METS project team at Amsterdam RAI. 'Although every square metre of space is being used, we have unfortunately had to disappoint a number of potential exhibitors.'
New features at METS 2004 will be matchmaking meetings and seminars on both marina management and composites technology. Emphasising the function of METs as a platform for innovation, matchmaking meetings will place selected overseas buyers in contact with those presenting innovative new products at the exhibition, many of whom will have been competing for the 14th DAME Award, a prestigious prize for new products which are judged on the basis of design, functionality, originality, innovativeness, user friendliness and price/quality ratio.
The Composites Pavilion, which was successfully launched last year, is to have a follow-up.
The providers of products and services in this market sector will mount a joint exhibition inside the pavilion while a Composites Seminar organised by 'European Boatbuilder' will review the latest technical developments on the 16th and 17th. Also, at least ten companies which operate and equip marinas will join forces to provide the Marina Pavilion. A first ever Marina Seminar will be held on the 17th for managers and operators of and suppliers to marinas, organised by 'Marina World'.
More and more companies are opting for participation in national pavilions in order to strengthen the export position of their countries.
METS 2004 will have no fewer than 15 national pavilions, including delegations from Australia, Turkey, France, Sweden, Italy, Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and the USA.
Admission to METS is restricted to trade visitors and is free to those employed in the leisure marine industry. Registration can be made in advance at www. metstrade. com.
METS 2004 is open from 10:00 to 18:00 on the Tuesday and Wednesday, opening at the same time but closing an hour earlier on the Thursday.
MJ Information No: 19939
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