DSMS commercially kick starts second half of 2024

Damen Schelde Marine Services (DSMS) started off its active exhibition autumn at the trade fair which is most probably Europe’s largest trade fair: the SMM Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. This four-day event is huge with more than 48,000 participants and 2,200 exhibiting companies attending.

DSMS, joining a booth with Damen Marine Components, went with a team of six and organised a dinner for six of its agents, for which Managing Director Arnold Suykerbuyk and Commercial Manager Jeroen Caris also made the trip to Hamburg. “This was a way for us to update our agents on our business. Meeting everyone in person in an informal setting like this really is an added value.”

For the DSMS team, the SMM event is “definitely the place to be” adds Account Manager Josine Glerum. “It was a successful exhibition in many aspects; for networking and catching up with our business contacts, for gaining knowledge and getting a realistic impression of the maritime market. Moreover, by dividing our team over different locations at SMM, we really got the most out of our time there.”

The week after SMM, DSMS headed to London to visit the IMPA procurement event. “Most of the people going to IMPA are there in a technical or purchasing role so, from a business perspective, this is a very efficient event. Even though it is only two days long, it was a very interesting and productive visit. There is lots of potential for DSMS in the UK market, especially if you look at the growth in the Scottish offshore renewables sector,” Josine says.

DSMS rounded off the September ‘trade fair tour’ with a trip to Cyprus, this time DSMS Account Manager Diana Ponirou and Josine went to see the Cypriot market, for a technical purchasing event organised by Interglobe Marinet Services attended by around 180 people. “With a unique setting and a great intimacy, it was also the most personal event with more time to connect with clients,” Josine notes.

The three trade fairs of SMM, IMPA and Cyprus are just the start of DSMS’ plans for the rest of the year. In addition to the sales team making regular visits to their clients, there are more events on the agenda. “First of all, we have MTB Europe next week – Jeroen and Richard Nieuwenhuize are going to that. And later on in the year, Richard will be going to a purchasing event in Panama – a strategic location in a growing market for us.”