Regional metal working industry can expect a lot from SteelFab 2018, which is set to pack a bigger punch for its upcoming edition scheduled for early next year.

Leveraging on the success of the previous edition held earlier this year, the 14th edition of SteelFab will look to strengthen its position as the region’s largest and longest running trade fair dedicated to the metal working industry, said organisers.

Besides, for the first time, SteelFab will be bringing the renowned German excellence in technology, engineering and innovation to the region through its tie-up with Messe Essen and International Tube Association (ITA).

SteelFab 2018 will be organised and hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah from January 15 to 18, 2018.

Foreign partnerships have always been the mainstay of SteelFab

“Foreign partnerships have always been the mainstay of SteelFab. In our latest endeavour, the tie-up with Messe Essen will see the launch of a special pavilion – Essen Welding & Cutting Pavilion, while the partnership with ITA will help us focus more on pipes and tubes machinery and tools. Both the tie-ups are important to us since they underscore our commitment to introduce better technology and machinery to the region,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

Messe Essen and ITA join the list of supporting foreign industry associations such as Ucimu Sistemi Per Produrre (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products), DVS and Auma for the official German pavilion, Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry and UAE Contractors Association.

“Messe Essen organises the Schweissen & Schneiden fair, one of Europe’s largest gatherings of welding, cutting, and finishing industry professionals, while the ITA is the world’s largest association for the tube and pipe industries. They are names to reckon with and add great value to SteelFab,” added Al Midfa.

“The deals with Essen Messe and ITA will go a long way in helping us attract bigger names in the industry not only from Germany but also from across Europe,” he added. The association with ITA is expected to elicit a good response, with the pipe and tube machinery segment showcasing a wider spectrum of international suppliers and machinery makers for visitors from industries such as oil and gas, pipeline, power and water, MEP, food manufacturing, electrical, marine and offshore, heavy industries and manufacturing.

The continuing tie-up with ITA will help the association’s 900 members from more than 70 countries to present equipment, innovations, machines and technology for the regional tubes and pipes industry. The increasing foreign support will also boost participation from countries such as Italy, Taiwan, Turkey, India and China, apart from Germany, a statement said.

Apart from these, SteelFab will also feature special segments such as wear resistant, welding and cutting and machine tools; seminars and technical presentations; live displays and the Third Fasteners World Middle East, a dedicated vertical for the complete range of industrial fasteners and fixings, assembly and installation systems, fastener manufacturing technology as well as storage and logistics services.

In its previous edition, SteelFab featured 342 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries and attracted 7,950 visitors from 83 countries.