Organisers of Seatec, the Italian exhibition of technologies, subcontracting and design for boats, closed the 12th edition of the show on Friday last week on an upbeat note, despite the economic clouds hanging over the country. Mirko Musumeci, Seatec project manager, told IBI that the event continues to be hindered by the wider macro-economic picture in Italy, but looked to the positives: “We have managed to get more exhibitors than last year, even if it's just a small amount, around 10 more or so, but still that means that the industry believes that Seatec is a show worth attending, and that it is a trade show that people are relying on.”

The three-day show held at the Carrarafiere convention centre in Marina di Carrara could perhaps be best described as 'slow and steady' with the second day being best attended. Official figures have yet to be released but Musumeci estimated midway though the event that numbers would be “around 10% up compared to last year."

Business meetings

A special effort was made this year to make Seatec a hub for building business networks through the Business-to-Business meeting area. The Italian Trade Agency selected 52 domestic companies and in total 650 meetings were held during the show.

“We divided our presence at the show between the stand and the B2B area and that was very efficient,” Emanuele Faconti, sales manager at Navionics, told IBI. “My colleague attending the B2B area said she could talk to a range of companies from markets that otherwise would have been impossible to reach, so that’s good.”

Fabio Tassini, marketing and communications at Glomex, concurs. “Seatec has not been so bad because we have been busy talking to people from retail companies interested in our products. We have had meetings with companies from Croatia, the Emirates and Spain, as we are trying to get into new markets with our products.”

The majority of Italian exhibitors canvassed by IBI confirmed that their business focus was primarily on international markets owing to a continued lack of business from local Italian yards. Pump and blowers manufacturer Gianneschi was one of the more positive suppliers, telling IBI that it has been through a busy period since October last year. “We’ve been able to finalise several orders worldwide. We’ve started the production and delivery of products, including full package products for superyachts or single units for boats,” Alessandro Gianneschi claimed.

The superyacht sector is by far the strongest market for Italian marine companies. The effort to tap into this market, not only in the domestic market but also abroad, was the main goal for the companies comprising the Umbria Nautical Cluster. The group comprises 12 companies that are specialists in wood, textile, and interiors, marble and metal accessories, engineering and hydraulics. Six companies have joined forces to develop a retractable balcony that was commissioned by the Benetti shipyard for the construction of its BS 05 Supreme. Giovanni Canalicchio, president at sea steel and engineering company Fratelli Canalicchio, said: “We are able to develop and manufacture this kind of products in accordance to the naval architecture and design of the yacht; we have the skills and the know-how to produce a quality product at a competitive price.”

The Umbria Nautical Cluster is now focused on finding new clients in Russia and the Middle East.

Mediterranean focus

A new feature at the show was the Med Village, an exhibition space dedicated to companies based around the Mediterranean. Paolo Berardi, OEM sales manager at Greek firm Lalizas, commented: “Seatec for us has been okay. Lots of people have come to the show, not the first day, but the second day was pretty crowded and we have seen a lot of people interested in our products, particularly shipyards, and that’s a sign that the market is moving up compared to a couple of years ago, so it’s not bad.”

Exhibiting at the Med Village was French engineering specialist CMR Group. Gerard Baldellou, marine division manager, explained the company attended Seatec with the aim to find a business partner. “The exhibition is big, but there is not enough people,” he said. “That said, those people that have come are interested in what we do. We had an enquiry for a project, so it is a good sign of the market, but the main reason of us being at Seatec is to find a company in Italy to team up with us in the automation business for yachts ranging 12m to 100m,” he explained.

Seatec 2014 featured 448 exhibiting companies, including 153 international firms from 26 countries.

Watch our video featuring highlights of the show.

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