The 19th edition of METS will run in the Europa Complex of the Amsterdam RAI over November 14, 15 and 16. The show offers an unbeatable quantity and variety of marine equipment, materials, accessories and business tools under one roof (well, seven actually).

You’ll see everything from propulsion, navigation, fittings, communications and safety equipment to furniture, construction materials, electrical installations, clothing and marine paints and coatings. Many will be on show for the first time at METS and some will be competing for the coveted DAME Award, the internationally recognised prize for innovative new product design.

“We have been working very hard to guarantee a broad exhibition programme with high quality and innovative products that are sure to attract an increasing number of decision makers in our industry,” said Irene Dros, Amsterdam RAI product manager.

Pavilions

The show offers exhibitors the choice of stand-alone displays in the main body of the exhibition, or participating in one of the specialist pavilions.

There are national pavilions - 15 of them this year - for Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In addition to the national pavilions, there are three specialist pavilions at METS. The established Composites and Marina Equipment pavilions and (after a successful introduction last year) the SuperYacht Pavilion, all return to highlight specific leisure marine growth areas.

The larger and improved SuperYacht Pavilion reflects the high end of the yacht business and is complemented by a very comprehensive superyacht conference programme – The Global Superyacht Forum; formerly known as Project 2006.

DAME Awards

The DAME Awards are made annually to the best-designed product at METS. They have become recognised worldwide as the leading competition for marine equipment and accessories. A leading international jury assesses new products in terms of design, functionality, originality, innovation, user-friendliness and price/quality ratio.

The winner will be announced during the METS Breakfast Briefing hosted by ICOMIA and METS on Tuesday November 14. All short-listed products will be featured in a special DAME presentation in Hall 6.

Route planning

The METS organiser (Amsterdam RAI) has improved and expanded the online route planner, first launched in 2005, to help everyone make the most of their time at METS.

“The on-line route planner on www.metstrade.com gives a clear colour-coded overview of METS 2006 so that it’s easy for anyone to draw up a list of every company they wish to visit and zoom in on any areas of the plan that interest them most,” said Dros.

National pavilions and specialist pavilions, catering facilities, bars, cloakrooms and information areas are also clearly highlighted, making it easy for exhibitors and visitors to see precisely where everything is before they arrive.

To make up a customised route map, you user select one of 21 different product groups and select or deselect individual companies from the listing. The METS computer then does the rest by collating the chosen list, complete with stand numbers, in suggested “walking route” order.

The listing can then be printed out, along with a floor plan.

You can compile as many different lists as required for different people, so colleagues from the same company can have personally tailored METS route plans, enabling them to cover as much ground as possible.

Superyacht route

The Yacht Report is producing a Superyacht Route Guide in association with the Global Superyacht Forum. This gives visitors information on a selection of the latest and most interesting superyacht related products on show.

Conferences and seminars

Four key forum events are being held prior to or during the show: 1) The Global Superyacht Forum, incorporating Project 2006, for the 24m+ and 40m+ market; 2) The Technology Forum – to exchange ideas on materials and production processes; 3) The HISWA Yacht Symposium – the world renowned conference on design and construction, and 4) ConnectFest – the presentation and demonstration of NMEA 2000, a new world of marine electronics

Trade only

Interest from visitors is always growing but METS says it sticks strictly to its promise to keep the show a trade-only event. Visitors of over 80 nationalities are involved in many different areas of the marine industry from boatbuilding, repair and yacht design to marina management, product manufacture and distribution.

Pre-registration online

METS is free of charge to visitors who are registered in advance or have invitation cards. Further information is available on www.metstrade.com, where visitors can also pre-register.

Opening hours

METS 2006 will be open from 10.00 to 18.00 on Tuesday November 14 and Wednesday November 15 November and from 10.00 to 17.00 on Thursday November 16. Additional information about METS, including company news and information from the international leisure marine industry can be found on www.metstrade.com

You can find Boating Business on stand 06.109 alongside the DAME products.