SteelFab success sets tone for 2015 at Expo Centre

Four-day show sees 15% rise in visitor turnout; exhibitors report good sales, great industry response

Sharjah, 15th February 2015 - The 11th edition of the region’s premier metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication trade fair – SteelFab 2015 – has given a great start for Expo Centre Sharjah in the new year.

SteelFab, which was the first show to be held in 2015 at Expo Centre Sharjah from January 26 to 29, registered nearly 15 per cent rise in the number of visitors -- from 9,022 in 2014 to 10,324 this year.

Visitor pre-registrations before the show had touched 4,042 from 72 countries as against the previous year’s 3,165, recording a surge of 27.7 per cent.

“SteelFab has given us a great start this year. That the show would register impressive growth was ensured when we received a 27.7 per cent rise in visitor pre-registrations. The comprehensive nature of the show, with SteelFab covering every segment of the metal working industry in the region, made sure that there was a robust growth in visitor turnout too,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

During its four days, SteelFab featured 350 exhibitors representing nearly 900 brands from across the world, a series of special focus areas, special pavilions, new segments, live displays, technical seminars and product presentations.

Exhibitors see the rise in visitor numbers, enquiries, business leads and sales of majority of machines on display as a reflection of strong market fundamentals. Industry experts were expecting demand drivers for the steel fabrication and metal working industry to be intact due to the continuing buoyancy of the core sector in the region.

Several regional companies that were in search of innovative solutions for production improvement struck deals at the show. Eversendai Offshore, an established oil & gas EPC contractor specializing in complex fabrication projects, decided to buy a HGG pipe & beam profiling machine, which helps in saving time and providing extreme accuracy in cuts, easy traceability of cut pieces and extensive CAD integration.

“We realize the importance of working with proven technology while at the same time keeping up-to-date with industry innovations,” said Mr. Narish Nathan, CEO of Eversendai Offshore, on the purchase of the HGG machine.

Among others, Kemppi reported great response to their total welding management solutions that were on display at the show. “The unique Kemppi total welding management concept, TWXM, allows welding quality, safety and productivity management according to specific customer needs. Thanks to our new product, many traditional labour-intensive work phases can now become a thing of the past,” said Mr Anssi Rantasalo, CEO, Kemppi Oy.

In response to positive visitor and exhibitor feedback, a decision to expand SteelFab was also announced during the show. “We have expanded and spruced up every edition of the show based on exhibitor and visitor feedback. The special focus areas and pavilions seen today were added over the years, catering to the demands of a growing industry. SteelFab 2015 saw us announcing the launch of a new vertical – Fastener World Middle East,” said Mr Midfa.

Fastener World ME will run alongside SteelFab next year and aim to be a dedicated trade fair for the fastener and fixing industry. “As a precursor, we introduced the Fasteners Pavilion this time, and going by the visitor interest generated by the pavilion, I am sure the Fastener World ME will soon become an important event for the regional fastener and fixing industry,” added Mr Midfa.

The special focus areas at SteelFab 2015 included Welding & Cutting, Material Handling, Machine Tools, Pipe & Tube Machinery.

The Welding & Cutting was one of the most visited sections at SteelFab. Featuring over 250 brands, Welding & Cutting showcased the largest display of welding & cutting equipment and machinery in the region.
 
Foreign participants at the German, Italian and Thai pavilions also reported strong buyer attention. The German Pavilion showcased 22 companies displaying cutting-edge German technology, while the Italian Pavilion saw the participation of more than 30 exhibitors.

While the Taiwan Pavilion had 16 exhibitors, companies from Turkey, India and China too made their presence felt at the show.

The extensive line-up of Technical Seminars was another high point of SteelFab 2015, where topics such as, software applications, automation, dual cutting technology & others were taken up by senior executives and experts from Empire Abrasives, Acecad, Zeman Baulmente, Core Dynamics, Comex, Koike, Celada, Thermacut, Somo, Passtech, 3M, Kaltenback, Midas, Equinox, Oki Bering, Magnatech, Arwani, Kadana, Tyrolit, Abicor, Qsteel & Lion International.

SteelFab 2016 will be held at the Expo Centre Sharjah from 11 – 14 January 2016.