Squid Data Hub debuts at Nor-Shipping

Last week, Christian Albrecht and I attended Nor-Shipping in Oslo, one of the leading global trade fairs for the maritime industry.

It was a busy but rewarding few days: until recently, only Eplan and a handful of prospective customers had seen a prototype of the Squid Data Hub. At Nor-Shipping, for the very first time, we showcased the fully working solution to a broader professional audience.

Thanks to our partners at Eplan, we had the chance to present Squid at their booth and demonstrate how it integrates into the bigger picture - linking electrical engineering with system integration in shipbuilding and other industrial projects.

⚡ What we presented and what resonated

We showed how engineers can design electrical systems in Eplan Electric P8 and then synchronize the structured data with Squid Data Hub. Once in Squid, the information becomes centrally accessible - through a web interface and APIs - for routing, reporting, exporting, and connecting with other systems such as 3D CAD tools or logistics platforms.

💡 Takeaways from the fair

• The event confirmed many of our assumptions while also sparking new ideas for Squid’s further development:
• In large shipbuilding projects, systems play a crucial role as an organizing principle. Responsibility is typically assigned per system to subcontractors, and engineers focus entirely on their own scope. Being able to navigate from systems down to assemblies and devices is therefore vital for effective collaboration
• Several conversations highlighted the importance of Electrical Balance (E-Bilanz) functionality — especially for projects where the power supply must be validated and formally documented.
• We heard repeated interest in a tighter link to the Eplan Data Portal. Many attendees saw strong potential in working directly with structured component data from the earliest engineering stages to cut down on manual data preparation.
  

🤝 Opportunities from Nor-Shipping

1. Customer discussions: We spoke with multiple engineering teams who stopped by the Eplan booth. Their questions and feedback gave us valuable insights into practical requirements.
2. Exchange with Eplan consultants in the Nordic region: Meeting colleagues from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark was a highlight. They now have a clearer picture of what Squid can do, and several expressed interest in evaluating its relevance for their customer projects.
3. Industry perspective: By exploring the exhibition and engaging with shipyards and suppliers, we gathered impressions on broader sector trends: digitalization, decarbonization, and the push for deeper integration between engineering and operations.

Overall, Nor-Shipping was a strong debut for Squid Data Hub and an important checkpoint for our roadmap. A big thank-you to our team for getting the application ready on time - and to everyone who visited us in Oslo.