The growth in the regional manufacturing and industrial sector is driving up demand for welding and cutting equipment in the UAE and across the Arab world, according to experts.
 
The contribution of the industrial sector in GCC countries’ GDP ranged between 9.5 per cent and 10.5 per cent from 2001 to 2012, expect for 2008 when it reduced to 8.5 per cent because of the global financial crisis, said the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting.

With the current fall in oil prices being seen as a wake-up call for Arabia to adopt better economic diversification strategies, the manufacturing sector is set to continue its robust growth, it said.
 
The welding sector will thus be an essential component of the regional steel fabrication, metal working and metal manufacturing industry, highlighting the importance of the premier regional trade fair – SteelFab.
 
Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, chief executive officer of Expo Centre Sharjah, said: “SteelFab has been an important event for the region’s steel fabrication and metal working industry since the past decade.

“Now, with the introduction of a special segment for welding and cutting a couple of years ago, SteelFab has become a reliable sourcing platform for not just welding machines but a complete range of welding and cutting equipment and devices.”

The 11th SteetFab 2015 will run from January 26 to 29 at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
 
“In Arabia, it is important to note that the regional industry consists of fabrication yards and engineering workshops and not ‘welding shops’ hence a complete show like SteelFab is the precise answer to the complete procurement needs of regional industry,” added Midfa.
 
Naveen Fernandes, group exhibition manager, Expo Centre Sharjah, said: “Leading brands such as Miller, Lincoln Electric, Esab, Fronius, Kemppi, Lorch, Jackle and several others have chosen SteelFab as the exhibition of choice, which underlines the importance of the show.”
 
The fall in crude prices is set to encourage regional oil producers to focus more on the non-oil sector, with manufacturing and industrial segments primed to receive more attention in order to sustain the prevailing growth momentum, said a statement.
 
SteelFab’s special focus areas, which now include material handling, machine tools, pipe and tube machinery, besides welding and cutting, and new pavilions like Steel-Tech, Fabricators Pavilion and Steel Showcase, apart from live display, and technical seminars & product presentations, will make it a prominent event that will give a shot in the arm for diversification efforts.
 
The special section on welding and cutting will showcase machines/power sources - conventional, arc, plasma, tig and mig/mag; welding and cutting - consumables, electrodes, wire and flux; accessories - torches, guns, tips, holders; gas cutting and welding, brazing - equipment, spares, consumables; welding - robots, positioners, rotators, manipulators and tables; weld preparation, heat treatment and weld finishing; stud welding equipment, fasteners, studs and fastening systems; automation, resistance and capacitor discharge; beam welding systems, seam welding lines and special purpose welding systems; cutting systems – CNC plasma, oxyfuel, laser and waterjet; pipe construction, orbital welding, cutting and beveling. - TradeArabia News Service