50,000 visit 24th SMM
With environmental protection and offshore as innovation drivers, SMM 2010 came to a close on 10 September last. Some 50,000 trade visitors from all parts of the world have enjoyed the opportunity to visited 2,003 satisfied exhibitors from 58 countries. The number of visitors is only little under the record attendance of 53,006 at the 2008 edition. Image courtesy HMC / Katrin Neuhauser.
“SMM once again demonstrated its leading role as the foremost global fair for the industry,” said Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC). “We covered all the present and future key issues for the maritime industry at SMM 2010 .” The largest group of visitors came from shipowners and shipping companies, followed by machinery and plant manufacturers, and the shipbuilding and shipyard industry. 69% of the trade visitors at SMM 2010 had a decision making role in their companies (versus 67% at SMM 2008). More than a third of the trade visitors came from abroad. Nearly two thirds of the international trade visitors gave a positive assessment of the economic situation, and are expecting further improvement.
The exhibiting companies, two thirds of which were from abroad, were certainly optimistic, even though some of them still expressed their optimism with a degree of caution. ‘Green’ technologies, offshore engineering and ship financing were the keynote areas at this year’s international trade fair – a trio of subjects which will be vital for the future. These subjects were also prominent in the supporting programme, which comprised a large number of conferences and workshops. The enthusiasm of SMM trade visitors was evidently fuelled by the economic recovery and the wide range of environmentally friendly and efficiency enhancing innovations. SMM 2010 thus continued its tradition as the world’s leading shipbuilding and marine industries fair – a real trend indicator and trend setter.
Many companies have already registered for SMM 2012, and there was also a great deal of interest in the overseas offshoots of SMM Hamburg, that is SMM Istanbul and SMM India. SMM 2012 will be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 4 to 7 September 2012.