METSTRADE Closes Another Successful Show

This year’s METSTRADE attracted a record, 16,307 visitors, representing 116 different nations. This is a five percent rise in attendance over previous years. The largest exhibition of equipment, materials and systems for the international recreational marine industry, METSTRADE Show is organized by RAI Amsterdam in association with ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) and includes the SuperYacht Pavilion, the Marina & Yard Pavilion and the Construction Material Pavilion.

A highlight of the show was the Breakfast Briefing keynote by chief executive officer of Brunswick Corporation, Mark Schwabero, who discussed the change in market opportunities and the need for companies to pay attention to the changes.

Schwabero gave a glimpse of the current market for outboards and boating and asked the audience to be mindful of the fishing market and its importance to the boating industry. In addition, Schwabero discussed the boat sharing trend and autonomous boats, highlighting the company’s partnership with Boat Bound a peer-to-peer boat rental company, and its support for an MIT project to develop fully integrated electronic controls and interfaces for Mercury sterndrives and outboards. Finally, he predicted that trends in the automotive industry will influence the marine market so the industry needs to be mindful of what’s happening with cars.

Another feature of METSTRADE was the “Pitch the Press” event where nine show exhibitors chosen by a panel of journalists from international trade magazines, were asked to demonstrate their products for an audience of show attendees, other exhibitors and the media. The event served as a showcase for some of the thousands of products on display.

The exhibitors were selected based on unique features of their products that made them distinctive, practical and innovative. It allowed the exhibitors to reach a wider audience as they were given five minutes to describe and demonstrate what they were offering. Those selected included: MacGlide by Mactac, the CCROV camera by Shenzen Vxfly Intelligent Information Technology Co. Ltd., the InnoLin by Flax Composites, the DynamicTrim control System by Zipwake, the Trimcontrol Electronic Telltale by Meragitee, the S.A.F.E. by Opacmare, the Clik by PME Mare Inc., the Hook 2 line by Lowrance and the Seakeeper 6 by Seakeeper.

METSTRADE 2018 will take place from November 13 to 15.