(MENAFNEditorial) Sharjah, 23 Dec 2012:
The construction sector is once again providing work for the regional metal working and steel fabrication industry, thanks to mega projects worth billions of dollars that were announced recently in the UAE.
And, an upcoming trade show, SteelFab is set to showcase the technologies for the fabrication required to complete these projects. Set to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 14-17, 2013, SteelFab, which had already assumed significance due to a growing economy, is now keenly awaited in anticipation of a surge in demand from the construction industry.
"Before 2008, the regional steel fabrication was heavily driven by the construction industry. After that, sustenance continued with projects from the infrastructure, oil & gas, manufacturing, and rail projects. Now, with the return of mega projects, we are going to see good demand for products from the construction sector once again. The interest being shown by confirmed as well as prospective exhibitors are pointing at this trend," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General, Expo Centre Sharjah.
Dubai recently unveiled the Mohammed Bin Rashid City, which consists of 100 hotels, the world's biggest shopping mall and a Universal Studios theme park. Other projects include US$ 2.7 billion entertainment complex in Jebel Ali, a US$1 billion replica of the Taj Mahal, a canal connecting Dubai's business district to the sea, and Adnoc's large projects worth billions of dollars.
"With the UAE ranking at 14th as the world's largest importer of steel products, SteelFab 2013 will continue to showcase the evolving growth of machinery and equipment in metal forming, surface preparation & finishing, grinding & cutting, machining & other allied engineering disciplines. It will also feature the largest welding & cutting segment to be found anywhere in the Middle East and North Africa," said Mr Midfa.
For its ninth edition, SteelFab will host over 200 direct exhibitors from 24 countries who will display more than 600 international brands for steel machinery, welding equipment and surface preparation. Supported by UCIMU Association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots, automation systems and ancillary products, the show will occupy 16,000 square metres of exhibition space.
German and Taiwan pavilions will be special attractions at the show. "Trade between the UAE and Germany is growing at a fast rate.. and machinery is one of the principal items that Germany exports to the UAE," said Mr. Midfa, stressing the importance German manufacturers are placing on the show. "This is the third time in a row the German pavilion is being organized as part of SteelFab and, with each participation, the number of exhibitors at the pavilion is increasing," he added.
Bilateral trade between the UAE and Germany rose nearly 120 per cent from 3.9 billion euros in 2004 to 8.5 billion euros in 2011, according to figures by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, which places the Europe's largest economy as the fourth largest trade partner of the Emirates.
The Taiwan pavilion, will host leading manufacturers from the country, displaying cutting-edge equipment that is much sought-after in the region, while Machinery Trade International will organize a pavilion for used and re-conditioned machinery.
With demand for welding and cutting equipment going up in the UAE and the rest of the region, SteelFab 2013 will have a special focus on this key segment, and over 100 brands have already confirmed their participation. The special section will be a boon for the fast-growing manufacturing industry in the region, which is constantly on the lookout for advanced technologies for welding and cutting.
"The steel fabrication sector has also evolved with the UAE economy.. with the change reflecting in SteelFab's special focus areas, which now include material handling, metal-cutting machine tools and pipe & tube machinery, " said Mr. Midfa.
The live display of machines will feature shears, press brakes, punch presses, CNC profile cutting, bevelling, grinding, oxy-fuel cutting, water-jet cutting, plate drilling/cutting, beam drilling/sawing, blasting/painting, cut-to-length, slit-to length, welding displays and stud welding.
Product presentation seminars held alongside the show will offer industry representatives and professionals an informal discussion board to share views on the industries' needs and preferences. The topics to be taken up at the sessions will cover subjects such as filtration solutions, welding & cutting, sheet metal, software, surface preparation & finishing, filtration, grinding, material handling & structural fabrication.
SteelFab 2013 will be playing host to several new exhibitors this time. Some of the prominent first-timers at the show include Expressweld, Swedish ME Steel (SMS), Amob, Batliboi Machine Tools Group, ATI, SITELMK3, Galvabrembo Srl - Impianti Galvanici, Weco; Graco Inc. and Roundo, among others.
The show will also be aiming to build on the surge in visitor turnout last time, when SteelFab 2012 attracted about 7,000 trade visitors, registering nearly 22 per cent growth over its past show.
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