Gulf Construction Online - Steel expo grows in size and stature

Expo News

Steel expo grows in size and stature

01 October 2008

SteelFab 2009, the Middle East's trade show for the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industries, will be held from January 19 to 22, 2009 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The fifth edition will feature a bigger number of exhibitors and brands, an increase in exhibitor space and several other first-time attractions, according to Expo Centre Sharjah, the show’s organiser.
“With an objective of supporting and encouraging further growth of the fair, we have taken various efforts to add more value to the existing profiles and introduce new ones, including special focus areas, new product line-ups and tie-ups with industrial bodies,” says Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general, Expo Centre Sharjah.
The show will feature, for the first time, the latest high-tech equipment like automatic beam welding lines, resistance welding machines and laser punching machines.
A major highlight will be a special display area for CNC metal cutting machine tools. “Given the increase in the number of large manufacturing units in 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,” says a spokesman for the organiser.
Besides the wide range of machinery, equipment, products and services related to surface preparation, blasting, galvanising, finishing and painting, a continued emphasis on sheet metal manufacturing solutions will feature air-conditioning duct manufacturing lines, turret punch presses, cut-to-length lines, slit-to-length lines, coil-handling machinery, and roll-forming machines.
As in the previous edition, SteelFab will continue to feature a live machinery display. The equipment will include 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.
The list for steel machinery at the show is quite impressive. It includes metal forming, machine tools, and workshop machinery; grinding, cutting, power tools, tooling for machinery; pipe construction equipment and tools, orbital welding, software, services, training, testing, measurement, and NDT (non-destructive testing); welding and cutting including welding machines, and specialty welding, cutting systems including CNC-plasma, oxy-fuel, laser, and water jet; and material handling equipment including overhead cranes, hoists and trolleys.
The forthcoming edition will also have a massive Italian presence. “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. Under the umbrella of the association, nearly 25 Italian firms took part in the previous show,” remarks the spokesperson.
SteelFab 2009 will also feature a dedicated pavilion from Bavaria, Germany, set up in association with Bayern International. The Bayern pavilion had nine companies occupying 192 sq m at SteelFab 2008.
Speaking on the prospects for the region’s steel fabrication industry, the spokesperson points out: “The Middle East’s steel fabrication industry is currently in the midst of a major boom on the back of the several trillion-dollar infrastructure and industrial projects in the region. It is estimated that the demand for fabricated steel in the Middle East exceeds 750,000 tonnes, far outstripping the available supply. 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 point as well as networking platform for the steel-working sector.”
“The regional steel-working industry now looks at SteelFab as a highly credible sourcing point,” says Midfa. “The show’s growth curve speaks for itself. From about 1,200 sq m of exhibition space and 48 companies in its first edition in 2004, the show has expanded fast to cover about 17,000 sq m of exhibitor space and more than 250 exhibitors for its forthcoming edition.The number of brands too, is projected to rise to 500, speaking volumes about the success of the show and its all-round growth.”
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 more than 50 brands dealt in surface preparation and finishing.
The show is supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.