Steelfab 2015 opens at optimistic note

Steelfab 2015, the region's premier metalworking, metal fabrication and metal manufacturing event, held at Expo Centre in the emirate of Sharjah, UAE this January opened to renewed optimism offered by the UAE government at increasing the contribution of the industrial sector to the total GDP in the next five years. This move not only comes as an overall boost to the economy but all offers importance to the non-oil sectors of the local and regional economies.
The 11th edition of the SteelFab exhibition inaugurated by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Sea Ports, and Customs was attended by various dignitaries such as Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, delegates, manufacturers, traders, and industry representatives. Midfa also announced that to tap the region's potential, a new concurrent show will be launched from next year.

“SteelFab is now an established regional show. Over the years, we have introduced certain verticals within the show which we are now looking to develop into concurrent and stand-alone shows. Fasteners and stainless steel are two such segments and we are launching Fastener World Middle East alongside SteelFab next year," said Mr. Midfa. SteelFab 2015 featured almost 350 direct exhibitors representing 900 brands from across the globe with technical seminars covering topics such as Blast process optimisation, operating cost analysis, Software Applications for steel fabrication and Automation in Structural Steel Fabrication.

Jaggi & Jaggi Machine Tools, a machine tool supply company for used European machines and new Indian machines exhibited at the event. Amiet Jaggi, Owner of the firm said that 100 visitors approached the company but only few seem genuinely interested. Regional customers, especially from Saudi Arabia were in prime figures during the last two days of the show while local presence in terms of visitor figures remained at par. Jaggi asserted that the market was picking up and appeared lucrative for traders and manufacturers of capital machines. The company doesn't have a representative office in the region neither is it keen for one. It is hoping to attend future exhibitions too.

Cui Jun Rong, manager at International Trade department for XinXiang Tianfon Machinery Manufacture Company Limited said that the company entertained fifty quality inquiries while the visitors who approached were predominantly from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The company, a professional manufacturer of cold roll forming equipment and full automatic roll forming line, recommended the newest automatic roll forming line for producing varies roofing and wall panels which can alter profiles rapidly. Major advantages include multi-functional, automatic, highly productive, reliable, quick, and fast changeable profiles. Rong felt the region held potential in terms of welcoming new manufacturers and stakeholders but still considers too preemptive to open a ground office here.

T-One-S (MFG) Trading Inc., a professional manufacturer of various valves and pipe fittings, flanges, boiler parts and steam accessories, attended the show for the second time and compared to its previous  visit, Jocelyn Wu, Sales Manager, confirmed that visitors were only one-third. Wu asserted that all visitors who approached them were regional and the company didn't entertain any local approaches. It received two orders from clients so the show proved to be successful for the company. Wu said that lots of visitors from MENA region such as Kuwait and Iraq attended the show. A lot of inquiries were raised on the company's API certification by construction firms. The market has shown positive growth signs and Wu confirmed that the company will look at the inquiries and concerns raised by local visitors here. The company not only supplies standardised products but also researches in offering customised solutions according to customer's needs.

Joceyln Wu, Sales Manager, T-One-S (MFG) Trading

Mohamed Abd El-Ghamy, Service Department Manager at ProMech Engineering confirmed that 50 percent of the visitor footfall was from countries outside UAE, such as India, Pakistan, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia. The company has supplied to clients in the UAE and plans to open up an office here. Ghamy said that the company not only supplies machinery but also CAD/CAM software and scanning material. ProMech is a product development company providing complete solutions cover in gall "Product Life Cycle Management" processes. It covers the cycle with three engineering methodologies: Reverse engineering solutions, 3D virtual product experienced solutions and Rapid prototyping and CNC Manufacturing solutions. Ghamy said that ProMech also attend Mactech Egypt, a premier international exhibition for machine tools and metalworking late 2014. He confirmed that though the exhibition was a tad smaller than SteelFab, it proved quite lucrative too, endorsing that such platforms not only help create an opportunity for all stakeholders to be together and discuss industry prospects but also to learn new market trends and possibilities of growth and customer expansion.

Mohamed Abd El-Ghamy, Service Department Manager at ProMech Engineering

Boldrini Lab is a system integrator in the field of tanks and pressure vessels industry, offering consultancy for manufacturers of Tanks, Pressure Vessels, and related main components. It also supplies equipment custom designed to perform the edge and bevel of the top of the head with grinding units. The company conducts customised study for a specific problem for polishing and grinding and consequently offers a dedicated machine or production line.
Rino Lorenzo Boldrini, Director at BoldriniLab said it remains imperative for governments to offer such platforms for networking and industry awareness. The exhibition fared well but was definitely less than what he expected in terms of response and feedback. The company entertained no guests from Saudi Arabia or Qatar but said that it remains hopeful on the region's overall industry.

Rino Lorenzo Boldrini, Director at BoldriniLab

According to a research report, the value of the UAE construction industry increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.31 percent during 2009–2013, owed to the government's continued focus on infrastructure, commercial construction and World Expo 2020 related bids. According to the UAE National Bureau of Statistics, the gross value add of the construction industry increased from AED96.5 billion (US$26.3 billion) in real terms, in 2012 to AED100.2 billion (US$27.3 billion) in 2013. In 2013, Abu Dhabi announced inves tment plans of AED330 billion (US$89.8 billion) during the 2013–2017 period.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index 2014–2015, UAE stood first globally in terms of road quality. Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in its 2014 proposed budget allocated AED 7 billion. According to research by EC Harris, UAE's construction industry is enjoying resurgence with a total value of US$315 billion in announced projects.

Given the statistics and continued support of regional governments in terms of infrastructure expenditure, commercial and residential construction and the overall bid to accommodate global events, UAE and the region's steel and metalworking industry holds a promising future ahead.