During METSTRADE, the I-nnovationLAB in Hall 6 provides a central stage for all innovation within the superyacht industry. Within this ‘lab’, the products nominated for the DAME Design Award and the shortlisted companies for the Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement are showcased, as well as seminars, workshops, debates and presentations.

Also found inside the I-nnovationLAB is the Newsroom, which functions as a central news hub for METSTRADE. Videos and interviews are recorded and edited here by the onsite film crew, as well as housing the METSTRADE Online team, who provide live updates from the show to the online audience.

The following panel discussions are set to take place at the I-nnovationLAB at this year’s event:

Tuesday 19th November - 1pm: The Challenge of Global Biofouling
Biofouling and Biodiversity is the subject of a Global Project Task Force called GloFouling.  METSTRADE’s panel of experts will explain more, and discuss what it means for our industry.

Wednesday 20th November - 1:15pm: How Green Are We a Year On?
METSTRADE 2018 posed the question: How Green is Green?’ This year, a panel of experts will explore how the quest for more sustainable boating has progressed in the last 12 months.

Thursday 21st November - 12pm: End-of Use Boats, an Update on Progress
Since 2015, METSTRADE has hosted a number of forums on one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. This year again, a panel will identify success factors, and consider the way forward.

Within the superyacht industry and the wider maritime sector, there is a growing demand for hybrid and electric engines, as consumers and suppliers become increasingly eco-conscious. METSTRADE responded to this demand by introducing the E-nnovationLAB platform in 2017, which can this year be found in Hall 7, to ensure a spotlight is placed on this important trend.

The E-nnovationLAB platform provides an area dedicated to showcasing electric and hybrid marine propulsion technology and features an open audience seating area where visitors of METSTRADE are able to view the latest developments in this field.

Echoing the objectives of the E-nnovationLAB, on day three of this year’s edition of The Superyacht Forum, in association with METSTRADE, the ‘Technology Day’ (20th November), will provide leaders in the technology sector external to the world of superyachts with a platform to discuss how the developments within their industries could realistically be applied to yachts of the future.

Alongside the I-nnovationLAB and the E-nnovationLAB, is the MaterialDistrict Pop-Up - a space dedicated to inspirational and innovative materials for yacht building. Taking inspiration from other sectors in order for our own industry to progress, digital techniques such as 3D printing, the use of smart materials, recycled materials and bio-based materials are amply represented. During METSTRADE 2018, 3D-printed surfaces, origami textiles, luxurious leather, acoustic and fireproof metals, panels made from seagrass, and tiles of recycled plastic from the ocean were many of the examples on display.

As part of the Construction Material Pavilion (CMP), MaterialDistrict’s partners and experts from around the world will showcase innovative materials for the maritime industry, to inspire naval architects, designers, and shipbuilders with innovative and experimental materials that can be used in boat and yacht building.

For further information about METSTRADE 2019 please click here.

Profile links

The Superyacht Forum

METSTRADE

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.