Companies to showcase marine parts, autonomous vessels at SMM 2026 in Hamburg

The entrance to the venue hosting the SMM international shipbuilding and maritime exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. [Captured from the SMM 2026 website]
The entrance to the venue hosting the SMM international shipbuilding and maritime exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. [Captured from the SMM 2026 website]

Small and medium-sized enterprises from Ulsan are pushing into the European market, leveraging their technology in eco-friendly energy and shipbuilding equipment.

Ulsan said Monday it is joining forces with the Korea International Trade Association's Ulsan branch to support six local companies at SMM 2026, the international shipbuilding and maritime exhibition held at Messe Hamburg in Germany from Tuesday through Friday.

Held every two years in Hamburg, SMM is a leading global trade fair for the shipbuilding and maritime industry, bringing together shipbuilders, shipping companies, marine equipment manufacturers and industry experts to share the latest technologies and market trends.

The shipbuilding and maritime sector is rapidly shifting beyond vessel construction, converging with advanced technologies such as eco-friendly energy, digital systems, AI and autonomous navigation. The exhibition comes as companies are eager to track those changes and gauge international demand. At the 2024 edition, more than 2,200 companies from 68 countries and some 48,000 visitors took part.

Six Ulsan-based firms are participating in this year's exhibition: Adwinner Co., Daehwa Engineering Service Co., Seho Marine Solutions Co., Sinwoo Jeonggong, KPC Co. and the Ulsan factory of Osung Tech.

The companies plan to showcase products developed in-house — including components for ship engine operation, cooling parts, and autonomously navigating unmanned surface vessels and small craft — with the aim of generating export deals.

Adwinner developed a marine protection film for yachts that prevents barnacle attachment and the adhesion of marine pollutants, along with a ship glass protection film that blocks infrared and ultraviolet rays and a ship paint protection film. The company exported 10 billion won ($7.26 million) worth of these products to the United States and the Middle East last year.

"Through this exhibition, we plan to conduct market research in the maritime industry while focusing particularly on breaking into the European market, where leisure culture such as yachting is thriving," said Jo Yang-rae, chief executive of Adwinner.

Ulsan is also supporting participating companies by covering exhibition space operations, cargo transport, interpretation and airfare, helping local firms promote their technology abroad and secure new business partners.

"The global shipbuilding and maritime industry is rapidly reorganizing around eco-friendly and digital priorities," a city official said. "Through this exhibition, we will help local companies read the international market, showcase their technology to the world and identify new business partners so they can achieve tangible export results."


cityblue@heraldcorp.com