Topargee’s presence at Metstrade this year marked a significant step in the company’s expansion into the UK and European marine markets. The decision to exhibit followed a strong year of engagement with the broader Australian marine export community, particularly after positive interactions with AIMEX members at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) earlier in the year.
“SCIBS showed us the calibre of Australian businesses operating internationally,” says Danielle Wayne, Co-Owner and Director. “It helped reinforce that there is space globally for innovative, practical marine technology and that we were ready to take that step.”
Exhibiting on the AIMEX stand provided a recognisable & reputable platform, coupled with Topargee’s own preparation and capability allowed a successful show at Metstrade. Operations Director, James Bush, played a key role throughout the show, providing technical insights, explaining the engineering behind the gauge systems, and engaging directly with product specialists from multiple regions.
“Having James with us was invaluable,” notes Kylie Trabona, Co-Owner and Director. “His technical knowledge meant we could have in-depth, solutions-focused conversations with distributors, dealers, and OEMs. It elevated the quality of every interaction we had.”
The team also found the broader international exhibitor community to be highly receptive. Exhibitors from Europe, the UK, and North America were open and proactive in facilitating introductions, a level of professionalism that made the show especially productive.
“We were impressed by the willingness of exhibitors from multiple countries to connect us with the right people,” says Danielle. “It reflects the international respect for the AIMEX network and reinforced our confidence in the products we’re bringing to market.”
Across the three days, Topargee’s range of freshwater tank gauges, designed to measure with litre/gallon precision while avoiding invasive tank fittings, received consistently positive feedback. Interest from European and UK distributors highlighted strong alignment between the product and current market demand.
“The response confirmed that our technology is relevant and needed,” says Kylie. “We expect several of the conversations started at Metstrade to evolve into formal partnerships over the coming months.”
With a successful debut behind them, Topargee sees Metstrade becoming an integral part of its international growth strategy.
Following the momentum generated at the show, Topargee is planning to return to Metstrade next year.
“Metstrade gave us market insight, industry connections, and confirmation that our technology fills a genuine gap,” Danielle concludes. “We will absolutely be back and with an expanded product offering for Europe and the UK.”
Topargee extends its thanks to AIMEX for facilitating a strong collective presence at Metstrade and for continuing to champion Australian marine innovation on the global stage.
