Keynote and Pitch the Press Stand Out at METSTRADE

METSTRADE was held last week in Amsterdam, kicked off by a keynote by Hervé Gastinel, Group CEO at Groupe Beneteau. Gastinel explained how he had introduced a ‘Transform to Perform’ programme focusing the 10 boatbuilders in Groupe Beneteau’s portfolio on innovation across the key areas of product development, customer service and manufacturing transformation.

In the past decade, Beneteau has launched 200 models with 88 models just in the past three years. The company produces 10,000 boats annually.

Groupe Beneteau’s innovation road map includes improved connectivity, with all systems accessible through a common user interface and easier boating using autonomous technologies like collision avoidance, self-docking and predicted maintenance. The company’s approach to the environment will include parallel-hybrid solutions with a longer-term focus on fuel cells. Groupe Beneteau is also working on a range of solutions to improve customer experience and make boating accessible, from leasing, club and fractional ownership models, to its new Band of Boats full service portal.

Another highlight of METSTRADE was the Pitch the Press event where nine exhibitors gave elevator pitches to demonstrate the benefits of their products. The participants were selected in advance by a panel of international trade magazine journalists who toured the show floor on opening day and handpicked products based on unique features.

“Our main priority with the Pitch the Press event is to give well-deserved additional exposure to unique, practical and pioneering solutions,” said Sigrid van der Wel, marketing communications & public relations manager. “It is also designed to support companies who do not always have the major marketing budgets that can often be needed to reach a wide audience. We are pleased to give the chosen firms the chance to describe and demonstrate their product to the watching spectators from the media and the show itself.”

The presented products include 450 HP Boat Engine by Greenstar Marine, PROtect tapes by PROtect Tapes, Ecoblast Sport by Samui Corp, all-in-one stabilizer by Dynamic Marine Systems, Marina Antenna by Glomex, Long Reach Telescopic Rescue systems by Reach and Rescue, esa m7 – Mast Unit Graphic Display by ASTRA Yacht, Balsasud by CoreLite, Combi Inboard by Combi Outboards BV, Sailcloth by Montura – Tasci S.R.L, and Powerdolphin by PowerVision Oy.