Hamburg hosts 25th Int’l maritime trade fair SMM 2012
The 25th International trade fair SMM Hamburg-2012 for shipbuilding, machinery and marine technology opened today in Hamburg.
At 7:00 p.m., 3 September, German Federal Secretary of Commerce and Technology Dr Philipp Rösler officially opened the SMM, Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology International Trade Fair Hamburg at the CCH-Congress Center Hamburg. Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of the Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, welcomed some 800 invited guests from business and politics on the eve of the first exhibition day.
The trade fair is dedicated to innovative technologies in shipbuilding, machinery and marine sectors. This year SMM celebrates its 25th anniversary. The global maritime innovative achievements will be displayed at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. The total exhibition area is about 64,000 sqm.
From 4 to 7 September, more than 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries will present high-tech products and technologies for the shipbuilding and supply industry as well as maritime technology in twelve exposition halls on the Hamburg fairgrounds. The new Hall B8 was set up for the first time this year to provide additional space. More than 50,000 trade visitors from around the world are expected to attend the fair. Some 30 exhibitor groups will be present at SMM to showcase new developments, network and deepen their international business relationships. The patron of SMM 2012 will be German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In the framework of trade fair, experts will gather for the GMEC, global maritime environmental congress, on 3 and 4 September to discuss issues such as the reduction of CO2 and sulphur emissions or ballast water management, in four separate workshops. The GMEC, held for the second time, is one of the premium events of the SMM special events programme hosted in 2012.
All in all, the SMM special events programme will offer roughly 150 top-flight workshops, symposiums and conferences, including events such as the Turkish Maritime & Naval Summit and the CIMAC Circle 2012 (International Council on Combustion Engines) on 6 September, or the Marine Coatings Conference on 5 September. The SMM 2012 will be open daily from 9.30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. A copy of the printed catalogue (including the SMM Green Shipping Guide 2012) will cost 28.00 Euro.