About us
SMI’s trained sales and service personnel support high quality marine equipment manufacturers offering a complete line of propulsion, maneuvering, fire-fighting, deck machinery, davits, and other custom designed marine equipment to the market.
The main offices in Miami, FL is an ideal hub to the Americas providing complete sales and service support for all of the products that we represent. Our location allows us to service the broadest possible marketplace.
We share a vision with our suppliers to provide our customers with the highest quality and value to meet the demands of the complex and demanding marine environment. The diversity of our product lines together with the continued support and commitment from our suppliers is key to our mutual success in supplying the best modern marine equipment available.
SMI has successfully introduced many Manufacturers to the U.S. Market and assisted many of them to achieve their own lasting presence in the U.S. Market.
SMI’S HISTORY
SMI’s company history goes back to the early sixties of the last century. In 1963 a company was formed as a daughter company to a German manufacturer of propulsion systems. After several moves to different locations, a property north west of the Miami airport was purchased in 1978 and a custom building was built to support the increased demand on U.S. built bow thrusters.
1992 the company was restructured and renamed to Ships Machinery International, Inc. The restructuring allowed SMI to act as a sales and service agent for multiple vendors in the marine industry. At that time the in house production of bow thrusters was reduced and the focus put on sales and service of product from overseas vendors.
In March 2007 SMI moved to a down sized facility east of the Tamiami airport in south west Miami Dade County. The acquired property included a vacant lot besides an existing office building and warehouse. At this point the intention was to build in the near future a custom built office and warehouse which would suit SMI’s need for the next decades.
Earlier than anticipated the new built project was started in 2009. The building was finalized in summer of 2010 and the move in of the company was finished shortly after.
Our new building is offering ample space for expansion in the future, featuring a 5,000 sqf workshop with a 10 ton overhead crane and 4,000 sqf of office space. Due to the efficient design of the building it offers a safe and comfortable work environment. We at SMI consider the building also as the home and face for the companies we represent in the U.S.
