Steel Working Industry now a key player in the Booming Contruction Sector

The show, the Middle East's largest trade show for the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry, is in its fifth edition and will be hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah from January 19 to 22, 2009.

"The growth curve has been steep for SteelFab.From about 1,200 square metres of exhibition space and 48 companies in its first edition in 2004, the show has expanded fast in a short span of time to feature about 17,000 square metres of space and more than 250 exhibitors for its forthcoming edition,"

said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"The number of brands to is projected to up to 500, speaking volumes about the success of the show and its all-round growth," Mr Midfa pointed out.

The Middle East steel fabrication industry is currently in the midst of a major boom on the back of several trillion-dollar infrastructure and industrial projects in the region.

The show has been perfectly positioned and marketed to benefit from these favourable market conditions.

"The regional steel working industry now looks at SteelFab as a highly credible sourcing point. The event caters to the industry's complete
requirements of machinery, machine tools, welding equipment, supplies and consumables used in pre-treatment and post-treatment of steel and ancillary equipment, all under one roof," said Mr Midfa.

It is estimated that the demand for fabricated steel in the Middle East exceeds 750,000 tonnes, far outstripping the available supply in the region. Faced with this situation, a large number of regional steel fabricators have gone in for capacity expansion leading to a sudden rise in demand for related machinery, equipment, machinery, and consumables.

In this scenario, SteelFab will act as a perfect sourcing as well as networking platform for the region's steel working sector.
In line with its strategy to better serve the steel working sector, the show will feature for the first time latest high-tech equipment like automatic beam welding lines, resistance welding machines and laser punching machine.

"Our aim is to support and encourage further growth of the trade fair and in this regard we are taking all efforts to add more value to the existing profiles and introduce new ones. Special focus areas, new product line-ups and tie-ups with industrial bodies are all in this regard," said Mr Midfa

A major highlight of the show will be a special display area for CNC metal cutting machine tools. Given the increase in the number of large manufacturing units in the country and the region, metal-cutting machine tools using CNC to produce a wide range of precision cut products are growing in demand.

SteelFab 2009 will feature a dedicated area, focusing on technology for metal-cutting, providing visitors a first-look at their future machining requirements.

A continued emphasis on sheet metal manufacturing solutions will feature AC duct manufacturing lines, turret punch presses, cut to length lines, slit to length lines, coil handling machinery, and roll forming machines, and this segment is expected to double with the addition of all major international players.

As in the previous edition, SteelFab will feature live machinery display. The equipment on display will include shears, press brakes, punch presses, CNC profile cutting, beveling, 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.

The forthcoming edition will also have a massive presence of Italian firms operating in this field. The support from Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre -- the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products - will ensure that the Italian participation will be strong this year too. Under the umbrella of the association, nearly 25 Italian firms took part in the previous show.

SteelFab 2009 will also feature a dedicated pavilion from Bavaria, Germany. The pavilion will be set up in association with Bayern International. The Bayern International pavilion had nine companies occupying 192 square metres at SteelFab 2008.

Meanwhile, 13 Italian firms have already registered to participate in the 2009 show. With several months to go before the event, the number is likely to go up and even exceed the past year's figures.

"Changing investment patterns and economic realities across the world due to high oil prices and the financial crises in the West have placed added focus on the booming economies of the Gulf and the region.

This has encouraged investors and manufacturers to look for better opportunities in our region and we can expect a huge turnout of trade visitors and industry representatives from across the world,"said Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre, Sharjah.

On display at the exhibition will be machinery, equipment, products, services, and consumables related to surface preparation, blasting, galvanising, finishing and painting.

Steel machinery including metal forming, machine tools, and workshop machinery, grinding, cutting, power tools, tools, tooling for machinery, pipe construction equipment, tools, and orbital welding, software, services, training, testing, measurement, and NDT, welding and cutting including welding machines, and specialty welding, cutting systems including CNC - plasma, oxy-fuel, laser, and water jet, and material handling including overhead cranes, hoists and trolleys will also be on display.

Product presentations and seminars that will he organised alongside the show are expected to invite good attendance.

The past edition of the show held at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 21-23, 2008, attracted a total of 7,177 visitors from over 50 countries. The event also showcased over 400 brands and companies.

Of the total number of brands represented in the previous edition, about 100 brands focused on steel machinery, 75 brands were dedicated to welding and cutting, and over 50 brands dealt in surface preparation and finishing. Several manufacturers of pipes, CNC cutting systems and structural steel fabrication machines also took part.

SteelFab 2009 will be organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.