On October the 4th, the Innovation Expo 2018 took place in Rotterdam. The Innovation Expo is a convention that takes place every two years and is organised by the Rijksoverheid. The goal of the Expo is the publicity of innovations in all kinds of sectors, but the main focus is on Dutch innovations. Therefore, the slogan of this year’s Expo was “Global Challenges, Dutch Solutions”.
The Rijksoverheid wants to further the sustainable innovations for the use of antifouling in the recreational boating sector. For this reason, antifouling got special notice during the Innovation Expo. The ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, HISWA Holland Marine Industry and Waterrecreatie Nederland (Waterways Netherlands) focus themselves together on innovations in the field of alternatives of biocidal coating. This year Lamers System Care was part of the Innovation Expo.
The day after, on October 5 2018, a daylong “Innovation Workshop on Safer and Sustainable Antifouling” took place with the main topic “Biocidal-free antifouling systems”. On this day, Bob Lamers of Lamers System Care was present to talk in the panel about alternative antifouling. Not only from the Rijksoverheid, but also from the EBA, the European Boat Association, there is a strong need for alternative solutions for antifouling. The most important demands that came forward during this day were among other the possibility to install it yourself and a multiyear application without maintenance.
During the Innovation Expo and the Workshop, it became clear that sustainable and environmental friendly antifouling systems are becoming more popular and relevant. The RIVM (Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment) recently published a report on different kinds of antifouling systems, including antifouling based on Ultrasound. Lamers System Care supplies Ultrasonic Anti-Fouling Systems from Sonihull, from which over the last 12 years already more than 27500 systems have been installed worldwide.
Download RIVM Report ‘Antifouling systems for pleasure boats’ (PDF)
