Front ,Roof & Cladding Middle East to open at Expo Centre Sharjah on March 20

The event will host a number of leading manufacturers and suppliers of fenestration and exterior façade products from Finland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey, China, Taiwan, India, France, UK, Qatar, UAE, CIS countries, and the USA.

'Front is the most comprehensive and the region's only dedicated display of fenestration and exterior façade products,' said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

'Demand for such products have skyrocketed with the boom in the regional construction sector. However, despite the rise in demand, there is no dedicated platform in the Middle East that the construction sector can turn to for its sourcing requirements. Front is primarily aimed at fulfilling that void,' he added.

The Gulf region now boasts of active construction projects in excess of USD $ 1 trillion. Of this, the UAE accounts for projects in excess of USD $ 221 billion.

In other parts of the Middle East, Iran and Iraq have several high value construction projects with the total worth being USD $ 97 billion and USD $ 27 billion respectively.

The coming edition of Front will be a one-stop platform for the complete range of fenestration and exterior façade products and solutions. Exhibits at the event will include Windows, Doors, Grills, Gates, Shutters and Sun Protection, Sun blinds and Awnings, Louver blinds and Interior roller blinds, Glass and glass products, Glass Processing Machines, Paints and Chemicals, Drives and Drive technology, Raw material, Components and Machinery, Accessories, Business fitting curtains, Wall coverings, locks, Access Control Systems, and Door operating devices.

An added attraction for visitors to Front 2007 will be the opportunity to get introduced to micro cement, an extract from ordinary cement.

To produce micro cement, extract from ordinary cement is ground, refined, and toasted to become extremely fine (like starch) and with strength which is five times the usual cement. The strength and efficiency of one ton of micro cement equals the strength of five tons of ordinary cement.

The micro technology that is used to convert the extract from ordinary cement in to micro cement will be launched at Front 2007 by Finland-based CT Building Material Manufacturing Company.

A highlight of this year's Front exhibition is the product presentations and seminars that will be held on the sidelines. The seminars will cover a range of important issues concerning the regional construction industry including inverted and green roofs - A solution for utilising urban space, Balconies and Walls - Weather proofing in the Middle East, and Built-up Roofing, Cold Fusion bonding, Utilising Zero heat and Zero flame technology, among others.

Front, as in last year, will be colocating with Roof & Cladding Middle East. Roof & Cladding Middle East will host key players from the global roof and cladding industry and will feature Roofing systems, Architectural Cladding, Structural Glazing, Curtain Walling, Façade Engineering, Metal Building Systems, Skylights and Sky domes, and Waterproofing.

Given the exclusivity of the profiles, both Front and Roof & Cladding Middle East will attract senior personnel including top decision makers from the region's construction industry.

Categories of visitors to the event will include Architects, Designers, Builders, Contractors, Construction professionals, Consultants, Civil and structural engineers, Planners, Importers, Property Managers, Investors, and Government Authorities.

Front and Roof & Cladding Middle East are an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.