SurfDek Attends METSTRADE 35th Edition
METSTRADE is the world’s largest trade exhibition of marine equipment, materials and systems.
METSTRADE Celebrates 35th Edition With Record Attendance
Amsterdam, 20 November 2023 – SurfDek attended the recent exhibition at RAI Amsterdam from 15-17 November, which has solidified its status as a pivotal hub and gathering place for marine industry professionals globally. This event offered three days brimming with meetings, networking, exploration, and educational opportunities.
This year’s METSTRADE showcased 1,540 exhibitors, including 240 newcomers, from 53 nations, spread across 11 halls of RAI Amsterdam. The event was bustling with activity, featuring crowded stands, various features, and packed corridors, attracting 28,900 visits from 18,630 unique attendees of 130 different nationalities.
The highlight was Croatia’s debut pavilion, increasing the total to 29 country pavilions, representing 19 nationalities. Additionally, the number of specialised pavilions grew, with the Foiling Technology Pavilion and the Start-Up Pavilion joining the ranks of established pavilions like the Superyacht, Construction Materials, and Marina & Yard Pavilions.
METSTRADE Theatre, now in hall 13, continued its success with a well-attended programme addressing current key topics, including ICOMIA’s study on propulsion decarbonisation. The Next Generation Propulsion Zone drew attention to eco-friendly solutions, while the DAME Awards displayed 53 marine equipment products, highlighting comprehensive design benefits.
Images curtesy of METSTRADE
The event emphasised inclusivity and development in people and skills through various initiatives, including an expanded Young Professionals Club with the METSTRADE Career Zone and the second Women in the Marine Industry event.
Niels Klarenbeek, METSTRADE Director, reflected on the show’s legacy and future challenges and opportunities in the marine industry. He emphasised the team’s commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation.
“It is an absolute privilege to have the heritage and strong bow wave of positive sentiment from 34 editions behind us, but we take nothing for granted. The marine industry is moving at an incredible pace to address the many opportunities and challenges set before it. We were pleased to play our part for this 35th anniversary edition by offering several well received new features targeted at sustainability, people, skills, inclusivity, and innovation.
Our team is committed to ensure that METSTRADE facilitates the connections and business required for a successful year ahead. Without the underpinning creativity and enterprise of the supply chain, we have no marine industry. Our 2023 numbers are impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story. We are particularly grateful to have received so much positive feedback about the quality of the interactions between our audience and exhibitors over an extremely busy three days.”
Joe Lynch, CEO of ICOMIA, highlighted the diversity, innovation, and enthusiasm within the marine sector, emphasising the show’s role in facilitating industry-wide collaboration.
“When working day-to-day you can be oblivious to the scale, variety, pace of innovation and new developments happening across the leisure marine sector. There is so much passion and enthusiasm within our industry and to see it condensed in one place is very exciting. ICOMIA has been a partner of METSTRADE since its first edition; as the global association representing marine industry associations around the world, this show also offers the welcome opportunity for our committees to meet and plan together.”
The new Foiling Technology Pavilion received positive feedback for its impact, as confirmed by Luca Rizzotti, Founder of The Foiling Organisation and We Are Foiling events.
“I had multiple comments suggesting that exhibitors had already booked enough work by the second day to cover 2024-25 and would now need to recruit new staff. The AC40 simulator attracted people to our area and the conference programme was always full – we expect the pavilion to grow and grow.”
Similarly, the Start-Up Pavilion, according to Gabbi Richardson, founder of Yachting Ventures, experienced significant engagement and interest.
“We’ve had an incredible show with loads of traffic. People stopped to speak with one start-up, then ended up speaking to another and staying for an hour. All participants have been thrilled to be a part of such a positive initiative to encourage and promote new technologies and start-ups.”
James Ward, CEO and Founder of Marine Resources, praised the success of the Young Professionals Club & Career Zone, noting the strong community and interest in career development among young professionals at METSTRADE.
“It’s been a brilliant three days in the Young Professionals Club & Career Zone. We’ve had great footfall coming through with real interest in the events here. The biggest takeaway is that there’s a real community of young professionals at METSTRADE. They have an appetite to get together, benefit from careers development activity and enjoy networking opportunities. We’re excited by the positive feedback this year and look forward to working with young professionals at METSTRADE in the future.”
