The nautical industry renews it’s trust in Seatec 2010

Just three months away from the eighth Seatec, the international exhibition for technology, subcontracting and design for boats, yachts and ships and participation is following the trend of previous years. An increase in the number of foreign exhibitors. 14,000 trade visitors expected at Seatec 2010. Organised by CarraraFiere, the exhibition, now in its eighth year, consolidates its position as a high profile B2B event with a high technology content and international recognition.

Positive outlook for the eighth year of Seatec: participation results are very optimistic at three months from the opening of the international exhibition for technology, subcontracting and design for boats, yachts and ships due to be held from Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 February 2010.

Seatec has grown continuously from its first year in 2003 to today, both in terms of the number of exhibiting firms and the number of trade visitors and has become “the” B2B event for the international nautical industry. The exhibition is the only one of its kind in Italy for trade only, featuring numerous goods categories including technology, accessories and services, furnishings & design, materials and applications, composites, electronics & domotics, engines & propulsion, media, project & engineering, sailing equipment and port equipment over an area of 34,000 sqm.

“The trend in participation at Seatec 2010 is in line with previous years” Paris Mazzanti, General Manager of CarraraFiere (the organiser), emphasised, pointing out that “the first signed contracts came in straight after the end of the 2009 exhibition and as usual there is a “final sprint” with exhibitors confirming their participation from December to mid-January”
As for foreign exhibitors, that accounted for 33% of the total in 2009, numerous firms have confirmed their individual participation in the event: approximately 60% are European firms, first and foremost the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia, Norway and Spain and 20% are US firms, while the remainder are from other countries, including Japan and Korea.

Confirmation of the international significance of Seatec, that has been a member of the IFBSO (International Federation of Boat Show Organizers) since 2007, is the participation of new foreign exhibitors who are taking part in Seatec 2010 thanks to the coordination by associations and Chambers of Commerce such as the British Marine Federation, UBI France, the French agency for the internationalisation of companies, the Chambers of Commerce of Zagabria (Croatia) and of Cantabria (Spain).

Italian exhibiting firms are expected from various regions such as Lombardy (approx. 30%), Tuscany (21%), Liguria (12%), Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, Lazio, Marche, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Campania.

Seatec, created by CarraraFiere in 2003, was an immediate success. In its first year it had 150 exhibitors, which increased to 315 in 2004, 500 in 2006, 626 in 2007, 865 in 2008 and 963 in 2009. “These figures confirm the interest in this event that is continuously moving with the times with exhibition areas divided up into themed areas to make for a more user-friendly experience and the attention focussed on young people with the organisation of special design awards and conferences. This year’s participation, that is in line with 2009, may be considered a first sign of a recovery” said Mazzanti.

For the first time in 2010 the event will be held from Wednesday to Friday – to meet the requirements of both exhibitors and visitors, and there are expected to be around 14.000 trade visitors, including 15% from abroad with numerous foreign delegations.
What is more difficult to interpret is the situation of the nautical industry for which Seatec is held.

According to the latest data available (2008), provided by Ucina (the Union of shipyards and nautical and related industries), the nautical industry closed its 2008 books with figures in line with 2007, despite the significant drop in turnover recorded in the last three months (with the industry’s contribution to the GNP standing at 5 billion 557 million Euros (+ 0,2% compared to 2007), a shipyard turnover of 3,821,970,000 Euros (+ 0,4% on 2007), an accessories turnover of 1,458,000,000 Euros (-0,8%) and an engines turnover of 515,920,000 (-2,5%).

Despite the current economic situation (the 2009 figures are not yet available, but the crisis has hit the nautical industry like all other industries), Seatec 2010 is an excellent opportunity for firms in the industry to promote and develop their business – as confirmed by the participations – being a very highly specialised B2B exhibition with a high technology content that enjoys international recognition.