NMTA’s Director of Communications, Karsten McIntosh, recently conducted the association’s first-ever China member visit in Weihai, China, touring the facilities of Zhao Marine. As the second-largest producer of inflatable boats in the world, Zhao Marine manufactures for many of the industry’s leading global brands — including NMTA members — and serves as a major manufacturing partner within the global marine marketplace. In addition to inflatable boats, Zhao Marine also produces docks, fenders, and other marine and non-boating accessories.
Hosted by Jackie Ryu, Director of Global Sales, Karsten toured the full production operation — from material cutting and precision gluing to welding, pressure testing, quality control, and final shipment. The visit offered valuable insight into the craftsmanship, scale, and technical expertise behind inflatable boat manufacturing at the highest level, and it was fascinating to see firsthand how the global supply chain comes together to deliver products to markets around the world. Zhao Marine participated in the Seattle Boat Show for the first time this year and has expressed plans to return after having a fantastic show this year.
