We are back from SMM, Hamburg

Our complete business development team mobilised alongside procurement and management to attend SMM in Hamburg on 1-4 September.

We just returned from an intensive week in Hamburg exhibiting at SMM, the leading international trade fair in the maritime industry.  Our Simplex Turbulo stand, with its understated graphics and well-stocked bar, worked a treat, offering plenty of space and a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere for business discussions and informal chats.  

Our team was grateful for the exceptional flow of guests, friends, and spontaneous visitors to our stand, and hope to continue many a conversation in the weeks to come.

CEO Justin Brooking led the UK-based team with fellow SLX Group Directors Marcus Poole and Richard Blair, and newly appointed Engineering Director of Simplex Turbulo Lee Pino.  Operations Manager Darryl Evans, at his first SMM, joined in his procurement capacity and was pivotal in the management of the stand building and running.

Business Development Managers Ben Southwick, David Lamb and Jon Sargeant, together with Business Representatives from Poland Dorota Wisniewska and from Spain Nicolás Rodríguez coordinated to meet customers on and off the stand while making the most of the chance to catch up in person.

It’s always interesting to see different teams working together; trade fairs in particular offer a great occasion for a spontaneous team-building exercise.  The work dynamics of the office disappear on the equalising playing field that is an exhibition stand, where welcoming guests, visitors and friends is everyone’s duty and delight, where supporting each other outside of one’s strict responsibilities becomes natural, where business advocacy finds its highest expression.  

The show itself didn’t disappoint, with a reported record-breaking attendance of over 50,000 participants for the first time.  The agenda was focused primarily on security and resilience, while decarbonisation and energy efficiency remain key challenges for the industry.

Supply chain resilience was a recurring topic in many of the conversations we had with our guests too, highlighting the importance of establishing and strengthening relationships with customers and suppliers.  Our teams tirelessly work towards building strong connections and we are grateful for the trust and support demonstrated by our many long-standing partners in business.

SMM is reconfirmed to be the global platform of the maritime sector and we are proud to play our part in supporting this industry.