| STEELFAB 2011 PRESS RELEASE |
STEELFAB RECORDS QUALITY VISITATION ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SHOW |
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The sixth edition of the region’s leading trade show for the metal-working, metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry – SteelFab 2010 – was inaugurated at Expo Centre Sharjah on Monday (January 11). The show was opened by H. E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr Bin Hamad Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Public Works Department – Sharjah and it will run until Thursday, January 14. Present at the opening ceremony were Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah, and industry representatives. “SteelFab is the largest exhibition of its kind in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Sub-continent, catering to the region’s metal-working, metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry,” said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa. “It serves as the foremost sourcing platform for steel fabrication, pipeline construction, plant engineering, rig building, machining & oilfield steel contracting needs,” said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa. “With the favourable market dynamics ensuring the presence of top decisionmakers of leading companies and manufacturers, the fair offers huge potential for networking, future joint ventures and tie-ups,” said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa. “The government support for infrastructure projects also augurs well for the industry,” added Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa. The UAE, in its budget for 2010, decided to massively increase infrastructure spending for this fiscal year. It earmarked Dh2.15 billion, or 5.1 per cent of the Dh42.2bn budget, for infrastructure in 2009. However, for 2010 about Dh7.6bn, or 17.5 per cent of the Dh43.6bn budget, has been devoted to infrastructure projects. At SteelFab 2010, more than 150 direct exhibitors are showcasing over 500 brands in a total exhibition area of 16,000 square metres, featuring the Middle East’s largest display of machinery, machine tools, welding equipment, supplies, consumables and ancillary equipment used in the pre- and post-treatment of steel. “As in the previous years, participation from overseas association will be strong for SteelFab 2010. Bayern International is leading a pavilion of German companies from the region of Bavaria to SteelFab 2010,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa. This will be the third successive edition of SteelFab to obtain the official participation from Bavaria. The Italian Institute of Foreign Trade (ICE) is also having a pavilion at SteelFab 2010. Visitors to the show will also get the opportunity to meet members of UCIMU - Sistemi per Produrre (Italy). “Apart from regular exhibitors, participants have also come from several new countries and new companies that are keen to explore the regional markets,” added Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa. “Recognising the requirements of the industry and the feedback from trade visitors, SteelFab used to have special focus areas for its editions. This year too we will have special focus areas -- ‘Tube & Pipe Machinery’ will be one of the key segments,” said Mr Fasahat Ali Khan. The Tube & Pipe Machinery segment will be of great benefit to visitors from the process, oil & gas, shipbuilding, MEP, pipelines and other pipe & tube user industries. “Metal-cutting machine tools will continue to be a key attraction, under the banner ‘Machine Tools Middle East’,” said Mr Khan. This segment will feature lathes, milling, drilling, grinding, EDMs, work centres, tool room machinery, high-precision machine tools, machining centres and affiliated machine tools. “SteelFab has always showcased a large and complete segment for welding and cutting. The welding and cutting segment at SteelFab 2010 is expected to continue this trend,” added Mr Khan. CNC cutting systems with plasma, oxy-fuel and waterjet are expected to be a major attraction at SteelFab 2010. A unique attraction at the show, the live machinery display is featuring shears, press brakes, punch presses, CNC profile cutting, beveling, grinding, oxy-fuel cutting, water-jet cutting, plate drilling/cutting, beam drilling/sawing, blasting/painting, cut-to-length, slit-to length, welding displays and stud welding. Exhibitors and brands have come from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan (ROC), Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US. Product presentations and seminars will be organised alongside the show and are expected to attract good attendance. The show will be open from 10am to 7pm daily for trade and professional visitors only. SteelFab 2010 is organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
