Leading experts and regional steel fabricators will showcase their latest offerings at the upcoming 13th edition of SteelFab, the Middle East´s largest trade show for the metal working industry, to be held next year, in Sharjah, UAE.

The event will take place from January 16 to 19.

The UAE’s flourishing manufacturing industry has not only contributed to the economic growth of the country but has also helped its steel fabricators become globally competitive and take up prime projects outside the country.

While the UAE is looking at attracting more investments to further enhance its industrial sector, the steel fabricators, who have become the backbone of the sector, are literally going places due to their expertise in precision manufacturing and delivering optimal designs.

Some of the major projects spearheaded by UAE steel fabricators abroad include building aluminium crew boats for US-based yacht brokerage firm Global Marine, constructing the largest ever rig for North Sea, energy-related projects in Germany, the US, the UK and Australia, and the recent win of a $141 million contract to replace 10 wellhead platform topsides at India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, among others, said a statement from the organisers.

Abdalla Sultan Mohamed Al Owais, chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry & Expo Centre Sharjah, said: “UAE fabricators are on par with the best in the world. They strive to exceed expectations by providing on-time deliveries, quality and precision craftsmanship on every part, and exemplary customer service. This has helped them win work across the globe.”

Al Owais further added that SteelFab has played a key role in equipping the country’s fabricators with cutting-edge equipment, advanced technologies and new products that helped them take up such projects.

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, said: “Our fabricators, who have established themselves in the Middle East for over a decade now and have introduced industry best practices, use the best machinery and equipment to replicate their fabrication yards at other locations.”

“Through these projects, they also demonstrate the country’s potential to be a global leader in high-end technology processes,” he added.

The UAE fabrication industry includes well established big players as well as industrial houses that have invested in fabrication facilities over the time and mid and small-size fabricators who take up smaller works and sub-contract on major projects.

Industry observers point out that country’s fabricators are in demand since they are equipped with the latest technology from top global manufacturers, have the best talent available in the world and prefer to grow organically.

Providing them a comprehensive sourcing platform, SteelFab offers an exclusive glimpse of the most extensive range of products, thanks to its special segments, foreign pavilions, specific focus areas, live displays, and technical presentations and seminars, it stated.

The 13th SteelFab 2017 will be organised and hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry from January 16 to 19, 2017 and the opening timings will be from 10 am to 7 pm daily.

It will showcase machinery and equipment in metal forming, surface preparation & finishing, grinding & cutting, machining & other allied engineering disciplines. The 12th SteelFab 2016 was held from January 17 to 20, 2016, featuring more than 370 exhibitors and attracting 8,176 visitors from 83 countries.