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Hamburg Serves Up a Whopper
01 Sep 2006
SMM 2006 is setting records in all areas, with the world's largest shipbuilding event expecting 1,669 exhibiting companies from 50 countries to fill some 75,000m 2of exhibition space alongside a host of conferences and specialist events. The 22nd Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology International Trade Fair Hamburg will fill the enlarged facilities from 26 to 29 September, with some 40,000 trade visitors expected to attend from all continents.
The presence of as many as 1,055 exhibitors from abroad at SMM 2006 demonstrates the significance of this event for the international shipbuilding community and many related industries. The inauguration of three new halls has boosted capacity to that staggering 75,000m 2figure since SMM 2004 but even so, that capacity is struggling to meet the demand for space. The addition of a 4,800m 2'lightweight hall', built to meet the enormous demand for participation and space, has delivered the capacity to accommodate 130 more companies, but not all of those on the waiting list. In many of the 21 national pavilions at SMM 2006, the number of applications exceeds the space available.
However, the three stylish new halls for SMM 2006 are a foretaste of the New Hamburg Trade Fair, which is due for completion early in 2008. The next SMM will boast 84,000m 2of exhibition area, some 30% more space than before the current expansion project started.
Major shipbuilding countries such as China, Japan and South Korea return to SMM but a number of emerging players such as New Zealand, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates will make debut appearances this year. More shipyards than ever before will be represented, along with a larger electronics area.
Many of the new developments and innovative solutions on show in Hamburg will focus on cost effectiveness, environmental acceptability and safety, with system integration again a key issue. This applies in all areas but the developers of automation, navigation and information systems have made particular progress and there will be major presentations from the likes of Northrup Grumman Sperry Marine and Kelvin Hughes.
The engine hall will again gather almost every company involved with marine propulsion systems, with a special focus this year on common rail and electronic control systems.
Caterpillar will be showing their new M 32 C engine for the first time, MTU will launch the 20V 4000 M73, and ABB will be showing a 14 ton device which is the world's most powerful turbocharger.
Meanwhile, more than 100 international conferences, meetings, symposia and congresses will be held within the framework of SMM, on the site of the Hamburg Trade Fair itself and at the neighbouring CCH Congress Centre. These include the traditional CIMAC Circle on 28 September when, under the title 'Next Generation Marine Diesel Engines', experts will discuss performance, future fuels, emissions, and the increasing importance of electronics.
MJInformation No: 22225
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