Fighting spirit brings record numbers to METS 2009

METS is the world’s largest trade exhibition of equipment, materials and systems for the international marine leisure industry but there is always considerable overlap with the world of commercial workboats and commercial marine equipment. As of late September, 1,232 exhibitors were already signed up for the show, guaranteeing that METS 2009 will be the biggest METS to date, with increased floor space to accommodate this biggest ever tally of exhibitors. In addition to a strong turnout of repeat exhibitors, there will be at least 193 first time companies at METS 2009 and 33 in the SuperYacht Pavilion.

‘In these troubled economic times, we were definitely not expecting a record number of exhibitors for METS 2009, said senior product manager Irene Dros. ‘We experienced a huge sense of relief when exhibitor commitment reached a healthy level but as the numbers have steadily built up our relief has turned to plain delight. It’s an enormously encouraging sign of the fighting spirit in our industry and the strongest possible endorsement of the value global companies place on METS as the place to do business. I think METS 2009 can be seen as a beacon of hope that the marine equipment industry is determined to be proactive and push on through to brighter times.’

METS 2009 and the SuperYacht Pavilion (SYP) 2009 will have a fresh look that revolves around the recently completed Elicium building. The new layout offers more space for both exhibitors and visitors, a separate hall for the SYP and an ideal location for Design Award METS (DAME) display.

For 2009, all DAME registration fees will go to the African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) Flying Doctors for the creation of accessible water supplies and sanitary facilities in Mtwara, Tanazania.

Entrance to METS 2009 is free to marine industry professionals.