Innovation in machinery to be unveiled at Steelfab from Jan 14-17

Several global manufacturers and dealers have chosen SteelFab 2013, which will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 14 to 17, to launch their new products, aiming to tap into a sector that is looking at acquiring new machinery and technology to enhance production to meet rising requirements from its core sector.

"We are in fact seeing a flood of new launches that are perfectly timed to coincide with the rise in demand for metal forming, surface preparation & finishing, grinding & cutting, machining & other allied engineering machinery and equipment to cater to the booming construction, infrastructure, rail, and manufacturing sectors," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"SteelFab has become the exhibition of choice for manufacturers and dealers... so much so that some of them delay their regional launches to have them displayed at SteelFab. This year, while several exhibitors have at least one new launch, there are some who have multiple new products, with one having almost six brand new products for the region," he added.

For instance, Rockwood International will launch six new products, including a tig brush, a unique temperature brush to conduct electrical energy combined with a mild solution to quickly remove weld discoloration and simultaneously passivate stainless steel surface.

"Our tig brush helps reduce workplace hazards and is economical to run in all kinds of environment," said Mr Basanth of Rockwood International, pointing out that Rockwood sees SteelFab 2013 as an excellent launch platform for their six new products.

Other launches include SafanDarley's electronic e-brake, Roccia Rundbiegen's revolutionary design of plate rolling machines, Trumpf's TruFiber fibre lasers, OMM's longitudinal welding of tapered tubular shafts, La Rosa's new sandwich panel manufacturing line and Gietart new paintsprayer, among others.

SafanDarley's new B-Shear and the Press Brake E-Brake B models will be presented at the stand of SIMCO Industrial Machinery Trading at SteelFab 2013. "The E-Press Brake & Shear removes the need for any oil in the machine. It significantly reduces operation time and electrical consumption by almost 50%," said Mr Mohammed Abu Dakka, Steel Machinery Division Manager at SIMCO. "The absence of oil will be of great significance to the environment too," he said.

"Unfortunately, plate rolling machines starting from 1' capacity are often tall so they need to be installed in a pit. This is a big problem if the pit is to be dug in an existing building," said Mr Mauro Roccia of Roccia Rundbiegen. "Our revolutionary machines of up to 60 mm thickness are designed in such a way that they do not need a pit," he added. This innovation will be on display at the stand of Kahrl & Wiemann.

Trumpf's TruFiber fibre lasers primary aim will be to popularize the technology in the region. "Fiber lasers have been introduced in industrial production for some years now. However they are yet to catch up here in the Middle East," said Jawad Khawaja, Managing Director of ATAD International, distributors for Trumpf machines. "We are showing a Trumpf fibre laser for the first time in the Middle East," he said.

OMM - Murgesi, the world patent holder for longitudinal welding of tapered tubular shafts, will have a big presence at the Comex International stand at SteelFab 2013.

"For all highway construction projects, OMM can offer full know-how for turnkey supply of all required structures related to steel guardrails, steel poles, steel culverts and other internal and external services," said Mr Mostafa El-Hageen of Comex International.

Visitors can expect to see live demonstrations of sandwich panel forming machines by LaRosa. "Machines for forming corrugated sheet will be combined with PU foaming machines from ISC Italy to provide on the spot samples for interested buyers," said Mr Abdel Karim Zuhair of LaRosa Hardware.

Another launch at SteelFab, the Gietart paintsprayer will offer an efficient and quick way to paint freshly cleaned material. "The new system is not only faster, it is also cheaper and better for the environment because it saves paint and energy," said Mr Peter Michorius of Gietart.me.

"In the past we have showed our shotblasting system, but this will be the first time that a paint spray system will be featured at SteelFab," said Mr Michorius.