With the UAE economy rapidly normalising towards pre-pandemic activity levels, the upcoming SteelFab 2022 scheduled to be held early next year in Sharjah is keenly awaited by the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry in the region.

To be organised and hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah, the 17th edition of SteelFab will take advantage of the global attention on the UAE for the Expo 2020, and the spurt in economic activities following the launch of new economic initiatives to stimulate and diversify the economy.

The four-day event is scheduled to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 10 to 13, 2022, targeting a wide range of industrial segments and sub-sectors of the manufacturing sector, and catering to core sector industries like construction, infrastructure, plastics, cement & ceramics, oil & gas, ship building and pipelines, among others.

Steelfab 2022 will have special sections

“Our industry is changing. If Industry 4.0 revolutionised the manufacturing world by providing manufacturers with opportunities to utilise advanced tools and technologies throughout the product lifecycle, the fifth will be all about man and machine, pointing to the surge in demand for IoT, automation, robotics, and machines that utilise deep learning. If you need to thrive in such a state of affairs, you must leverage latest technologies and trends. SteelFab will equip you with a wide variety of high-tech solutions for optimising, modernising and expanding production processes,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

SteelFab will also coincide with Expo 2020, offering exhibitors a great opportunity to capitalise on the largest event that connects world nations. While the Expo 2020 will provide a big boost to the events and exhibitions industry and related segments with the UAE hosting the world for six months and more than 25 million visitors expected for the mega event, a specialised trade fair like SteelFab too stands to gain a lot in terms of visibility, visitor turnout and industry attention.

“Another key factor that will prepare the ground for an impressive showing by SteelFab is the new economic initiatives launched to boost the country’s competitiveness and attract foreign direct investment. With the country aiming to invest more heavily in advanced industry sectors, attract skilled individuals and help companies adopt flexible working arrangements, the core sectors that drive demand for the fabrication industry stand to benefit the most,” added Al Midfa.

As part of the 'Projects of the 50' initiative, the UAE has also launched the Tech Drive, which will support advanced technology adoption in the industry, and the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution Network’ that aims to grow 500 national companies through the application of advanced technology. Both these initiatives will increase the industry attention on SteelFab since it is the only dedicated trade fair that focuses on such tech and equipment on a large scale.

Another development that brings limelight to the country’s flourishing industrial sector and SteelFab is the latest United Nations Industrial Organization’s global index that places the UAE 30th in its Competitive Industrial Performance Index report 2021 that tracks 152 countries. The UAE was the only Arab nation that received a ‘high performance’ rating in the index and ranked third in the Middle East after Turkey and Israel.

“SteelFab has always been the first and foremost reference point for the region’s steel fabrication and metal working industry for nearly two decades now. The dates for SteelFab 2022 have been announced and once again it’s time to explore latest technology, equipment and tools in the metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing industries. It will also help you have a closer look at some of the biggest trends that are currently sweeping the industry, and that are likely to have a greater impact in the future,” said Sultan Shattaf, Sales and Marketing Director, Expo Centre Sharjah.

SteelFab 2022 will be the most comprehensive sourcing point for technology, machinery and equipment in metal forming, surface preparation & finishing, grinding & cutting, machining & other allied engineering disciplines.

The special sections such as Welding & Cutting, Machine Tools, Pipe & Tube Machinery, Grinding & Cutting, Surface Preparation & Finishing, Tools & Ancillaries, besides the 6th Fasteners World Middle East and National Pavilions will make SteelFab a must-visit event for key engineers, manufacturing personnel, professionals, decision makers and buyers from a wide spectrum of industrial segment.

Industry executives and professionals will also have an opportunity to listen to experts on topics such as material handling, welding, grinding and metal cutting by industry leaders during the technical seminars that will be held during SteelFab.

Going by the response and queries from the industry, the upcoming 17th SteelFab 2022 is all set to improve upon the figures of its previous edition when it hosted 300 exhibitors who displayed more than 700 brands from across the world at 26,000 sq m of exhibition space and attracted 6,500 trade visitors from 70 countries.