Leading names from the industry will present new technology at SteelFab.

Preparations are already under way and bookings and enquiries have started for the 18th edition of SteelFab, the region’s premier metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry event that will be held in Sharjah, UAE, early next year.

The key event, set to take place at the Expo Centre Sharjah from January 9 to 12, has been anchoring the growth of the metal working industry since the past two decades and will focus on the expanding industrial sector of the UAE.

“The UAE economy has already shifted course from recovery mode to solid growth, aided by a rise in oil prices and an upside in non-oil sectors and is set to post its strongest annual expansion since over a decade,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah. “The government’s continuing investments in industrial programmes are also serving the fabrication sector well. Besides, the announcement to establish an integrated metal hub is another development that is keenly watched by the industry since it has the potential to revolutionise the metal working industry.”

According to UAE Central Bank’s Quarterly Economic Review 2022, the country’s economy grew by 8.2 per cent in the first three months of this year and there is a high probability of stronger growth due to higher oil production and a government pledge to double the manufacturing sector's size. Government initiatives and its move to continue investment in the industrial sector have already started bearing fruits, with more than 200 new factories having gone online last year itself.

“Being the largest and well-established event of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region, SteelFab has been the go-to event for the fabrication industry for nearly two decades now and I believe the new developments would help the event scale more heights in terms of its significance, cutting-edge technology, sharing of expertise, and top-notch networking opportunities,” he added.

SteelFab 2023 will be the largest showcase of its kind in the region with the presence of leading global manufacturers and their dealers catering to the entire gamut of auxiliary segments of the fabrication industry through special segments such as Welding & Cutting, Steel Machinery, Pipe Construction Equipment and Surface Preparation & Finishing. It will also feature a two-day conference.

“The primary demand drivers for the fabrication industry are the core industries such as construction and oil and gas, but new and emerging sectors like aerospace and automotive that use fabricated metal extensively are triggering growth. Besides, advancements made in the field of robotics and automation tools are emerging as another factor for the expansion of the metal fabrication market,” said Sultan Shattaf, Director, Sales and Marketing, Expo Centre Sharjah.

The previous show held in January 2022 across 12,000 sq m witnessed more than 150 exhibitors from 25 countries presenting over 400 brands, and attracted 6,000 trade visitors from 42 countries.