SMM2006 Breaks Attendance Record

The SMM 2006, 22nd shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology, international trade fair hamburg, closed on Friday at the end of this four-day event, setting up a new visitor record. The event went very successfully for the 1,669 exhibitors from 50 nations. Seldom has the mood been so good among SMM exhibitors. A key element in that was the attendance by a total of more than 45,000 trade visitors from all continents (the SMM 2004, which lasted 5 days, had 42,151 trade visitors). The largest visitor group at the SMM was from the ship¬owners and shipping companies, accounting for 18%; they were directly followed by the ship¬yards. The percentage of foreign visitors was up substantially this year again, to 38% (2004: 34%). A large proportion of trade visitors at the SMM 2006 were decision makers within their organisations, that is 72% (2004: 70%). Many exhibitors used the SMM 2006 to present their innovations to the maritime experts for the first time. 63% of exhibitors were from abroad