German Marine Equipment Manufacturers As Driving Forte In Technology And Cost Efficiency
Marine equipment suppliers account for over 70 percent of exhibitors at the SMM and are thus easily the largest group. Thishigh share of 70 percent also closely corresponds to the share that component makers contribute to the value of a ship.
The significance of German marine equipment suppliers in the shipbuilding sector is clearly reflected in their presence in overwhelming numbers at the SMM, as well as in their enormous product range, encompassing as it does engines, gears, propellers, deck machines, pumps and valves and electronic, navigation and commu- " nication equipment. This wide range of products, components and systems will o more be fully represented at SMM, which will again dem strate the vital contribution ma by marine equipment suppliers shipbuilding in value terms, ai particularly also with respect innovations designed to enhant ship operating reliability, cost-efl ciency and environment compat: bility.
There are about 400 marim equipment suppliers in Germany. German marine equipment manufacturers are confronted with ever more demanding requirements in the world market. Their customers, shipyards and, last but by no means least, shipping lines as operators of the delivered systems, are increasing requiring bout system expertise and better after-sales service from their suppliers.
The world market expects German companies to develop and provide high-tech specialities at acceptable prices-which in practice means nothing other than tailormade suits for the price of off-thepeg garments. When designing their range of technically sophisticated equipment, suppliers must obviously cooperate closely with shipyards and shipping lines. The German marine equipment manufacturers, which are mainly medium- sized companies, have faced up to these increasing requirements and with their usual versatility are confronting the new and often far from straightforward challenges of the world market.
A conspicuous trend affecting the German suppliers is the increasing demand for systems and techniques rather than standalone components.
Customers require system capability and system integration over and beyond the mere development
