THE GCC steel industry and allied segments are poised for double-digit growth, thanks to demand from the core sector led by the oil and gas industry and expanding markets like Saudi Arabia, according to a survey conducted during the SteelFab fair which was held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Fifty per cent of the respondents said they expected the steel industry to grow 10-15 per cent, while the rest projected the expansion at 5-10 per cent. Fifty per cent expected their business to grow between 15-20 per cent, 30 per cent between 5 and 10 per cent and the remaining 20 per cent 10-15 per cent growth.

According to a recent report, there are over $18 billion worth of steel projects in the GCC region at various stages of implementation ranging from study and design to tendering or execution, with Saudi Arabia providing the real impetus while the region’s oil and gas industry plans to invest $666 billion to boost capacities.

In the UAE, Abu Dhabi itself is spending $90 billion on development projects over the next five years, while Dubai has recently announced several mega projects worth billions of dollars, which are set to boost the core sector growth.

STRONG TURNOUT
SteelFab 2013 hosted over 200 direct exhibitors from 24 countries, displaying more than 600 international brands of machinery and equipment in metal forming, surface preparation and finishing, grinding and cutting, machining and other allied engineering disciplines across 16,000 sq m of exhibition space.

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director general at Expo Centre Sharjah, organiser of SteeFab remarked: “From the rise in the number of exhibitors, we knew the market is poised for growth. With the visitor turnout witnessing a high double-digit increase, we have enough reasons to project that the regional steel fabrication and metal working industry is set to achieve a better than expected growth rate.”

GERMAN PARTICIPANTS
“We have seen a steady rise in German participants at Steelfab every year,” said Dr Martin Riester, VDMA. The exhibition has enabled exhibitors to push for more contacts which promote new business opportunities in the Middle East region,” he added.

Over 600 international brands were on view at the expo

SteelFab 2013 witnessed revolutionary technology and the launch of revolutionary machinery including SafanDarley’s electronic e-brake, Roccia Rundbiegen’s revolutionary design of plate rolling machines, Trumpf’s TruFiber fibre lasers, OMM’s longitudinal welding of tapered tubular shafts, La Rosa’s new sandwich panel manufacturing line and Gietart new paintsprayer, among others.

“We are witnessing a bigger and better event. The turnout is also better and we expect to do good business this time too,” said Anil Kumar, manager, welding and cutting division, German Gulf Enterprise.

Visitors watched live demonstrations of a range of techniques in welding and cutting, grinding, sheet metal bending and shearing, laser and punch press machines.

“SteelFab 2013 lived up to its reputation as the leading regional platform to showcase innovation in technical products and machinery, generating accolades from exhibitors and visitors alike,” said an Expo Centre Sharjah spokesman. Neil Clarke, general manager, Passtech Machine Tools Middle East, decribed the event as “outstanding”.

The expo was opened by Sheikh Salim bin Abdur Rahman Al Qassimi, director of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office, in the presence of Mohammed Sultan Bin Houwaden AlKetbi, first vice chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and senior government officials.

“Regional governments’ ambitious economic development plans have given a major fillip to the steel fabrication sector, with projects planned in the construction, railway and oil and gas sectors set to drive the industry’s growth. The expanding industrial sector and export prospects to new markets emerging within Mena and the Sub-Saharan Africa also augur well for the industry,” said Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa.

The show was supported by the UCIMU Association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots, automation systems and ancillary products, highlighting scope to enhance non-oil trade between the UAE and Italy that has risen from $1.5 billion in 2001 to $6 billion in 2011, an increase of 295 per cent.

An important component of SteelFab 2013 was technical seminars held on January 15 and 16, featuring sessions consisting of a technical presentation followed by questions and discussions pertaining to technological innovations and the latest product offerings for the industry.