This year’s edition of the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) will open its doors today, on Tuesday, November 18, and will last for three days. In addition to hosting a record number of exhibitors, METS 2014 has a larger and more diverse knowledge programme than ever before. From the presentations on the Innovation Stage and Waterfront Stage to the dedicated Young Professionals programme, experience as well as best practices will be shared throughout the Amsterdam RAI complex.
Innovation Stage to be introduced at METS for the first time
The Innovation Stage
The Innovation Stage is situated in the Elicium building and is part of the brand-new Innovation LAB platform which the RAI is introducing for the first time at METS. Carla Demaria, President of Monte Carlo Yachts, will share her unique insights gained in a distinguished career in the boatbuilding sector. Celebrating its silver jubilee, navigation equipment manufacturer will examine how the next quarter of a century might look like for the marine electronics sector, drawing on technologies developed for the automotive and aeronautical sectors.
The Innovation Stage will be also the place where outboard engine producer Mercury Marine presents its very latest take on optimising marine engine designs. Another keynote demonstration will see Green Marine showcase its vision on the future of custom yacht building. Add in the presentations by the seven DAME award category winners, a fascinating workshop by IBI and ICOMIA on ‘New Technologies & Manufacturing’ and the wide range of Materia presentations, and it is clear that the Innovation Stage alone will share a wealth of knowledge to METS visitors from around the world.
The Waterfront Stage
Another fount of knowledge during METS 2014 will found in the Marina &Yard Pavilion (MYP), which is dedicated to all kinds of equipment for marinas and boatyards. As well as playing host to a record number of 47 companies and organisations, the MYP will be home to the Waterfront Stage. On the first two days of METS this stage will feature eleven different presentations by leading lights in the sector. A good example will be at midday on Wednesday as Jean-Michel Gaigné, CMM, Marina Manager, member of the board Global Marina Institute and member of ICOMIA Marinas Group, examines the topics of marina marketing and new consumer trends.
The METS Young Professionals Club
Knowledge is key to the future, of course, which is why the METS Young Professionals Club is given such a priority during the event in Amsterdam. METS YPC is designed to encourage and inspire the next generation and offers meet & greets with industry leaders, various guided tours and speed networking sessions. The programme takes in all aspects of the METS experience, from the Breakfast Briefing to the evening exhibitor social, ensuring that young professionals gain a true impression of the marine sector’s diversity.
Travelling events
Even before the exhibition side of METS starts today, there are already many hundreds of specialists gathered in Amsterdam RAI for the complementary events that add to the know-how exchange. Delegates to the International Sailing Summit were welcomed yesterday morning by Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy OBE. The three-day Global Superyacht Forum, the industry’s most professional conference for the large yacht world, has started its 20th edition with the usual first-class content. Last but not least, the HISWA Symposium on Yacht Design & Construction is underway as universities, knowledge centres and companies share their experience on a wide range of topics.
