More than 200 direct exhibitors from 24 countries will display 600 international brands for steel machinery, welding equipment and surface preparation at the upcoming 'SteelFab 2013' expo in Sharjah.

A major trade event for the steel fabrication, metal working and metal manufacturing industry, SteelFab will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 14 to 17.

The ninth edition of the event is being supported by UCIMU Association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots, automation systems and ancillary products, the show will occupy 16,000 sq m of exhibition space.
 
According to the event organisers, the exhibitors will showcase the technologies for the fabrication required to complete key ocnstruction projects.

"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 Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, the 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 the $2.7 billion entertainment complex in Jebel Ali, a $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," noted Midfa.

"It will also feature the largest welding & cutting segment to be found anywhere in the Middle East and North Africa," he added.

According to him, 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," stated 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.

Taiwan pavilion, will host leading manufacturers with their cutting-edge equipment, 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 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 covered include 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 include Expressweld, Swedish ME Steel (SMS), Amob, Batliboi Machine Tools Group, ATI, SITELMK3, Galvabrembo Srl - Impianti Galvanici, Weco; Graco Inc. and Roundo.

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.-TradeArabia News Service