Italian machine tool manufacturers association pledges support to SteelFab

SteelFab is considered the Middle East's largest display of Steel, Fasteners, Accessories, Surface Preparation, Machinery and Tools, Welding and Cutting, Finishing and Testing equipment, and Coatings and Anti-Corrosion material.

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, which besides supporting, will have a significant presence at the second edition of SteelFab, is engaged in protecting as well as promoting the interests of the Italian Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and ancillary products industry. Almost 70% of the output of the industry in the country is actually produced by members of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE.

Italy is the world's third largest machine-tool, robot, automation systems and ancillary products manufacturer.

In 2004, Italian exports of machine tools rose by 12.4% to a value of 1,962.4 million euros. Exports of metal-cutting machines and those employing non-conventional technologies (laser, electroerosion) rose by 13.7% to 1,080.9 million euros, corresponding to 55.1% of the total; exports of metal forming machine tools increased by 10.8% to 881.5 million euros (44.9% of the total).

The main outlet markets for Italian products were Germany, which absorbed 12.6% of the total, Spain (9.4%), the United States (9%), France (8.9%), and China (8.4%).

Sales to the Middle East, which grew by 21.3% to 80.5 million euros, were driven by sales to Iran, which occupied second place among Asian consumers of Italian machine tools.

Besides machine tools, the coming edition of SteelFab will feature welding machinery, consumables and other items related to the steel working business.

The event will attract fabrication yard managers, production managers, procurement managers, estimators, planning and design engineers as visitors from across the globe, especially the Middle East and North Africa region.

A major attraction of the SteelFab exhibition will be the product presentations and technical seminars that will be held on the sidelines of the event. SteelFab is organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).