The upcoming edition of SteelFab, the Middle East’s leading trade show for the metal-working, metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry, will be one of the largest showcases of German engineering technology in the region. SteelFab will be staged at Expo Centre Sharjah from 17th to 20th January 2011.
For the first time, Germany will have an official pavilion at SteelFab, featuring German manufacturers who will be looking to utilise the platform to market their products across the whole Middle East region.
The German Engineering Federation (<link _top>VDMA), along with AUMA – the Federation of German Trade Fair Industry -- and the Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology will organise the official German joint companies’ exhibition at SteelFab 2011.
“A substantial number of German manufacturers have taken advantage of the previous editions of SteelFab to promote their products in the region. So, it was prudent for them to bring in more exhibitors under the umbrella of the German Engineering Federation and take advantage of the high-potential regional market,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah.
“The increasing foreign participation proves that business opportunities are a plenty for those taking part in the show,” added Mr Midfa.
“The UAE is an important trade partner of Germany. We have excellent ties with the UAE, which have been growing steadily over the years. This bigger and better participation by German manufacturers will bring the country’s [Germany’s] developmental experiences, especially in the areas of technology and industry, to the UAE,” said Dr. Martin Riester of <link _top>VDMA.
Mr Riester also pointed out the importance and relevance of the recent visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the UAE and the signing of deals worth billions of dirhams.
Germany is UAE’s fifth-largest trade partner as well as the largest from continental Europe (EU).
Germany had good presence at the previous editions of SteelFab. Bayern International – Bavarian Bureau for International Business Relations along with VDMA – Bavaria Section had jointly organised a pavilion of German companies from the region of Bavaria for three consecutive editions of SteelFab from 2008 to 2010.
The value of non-oil trade between the two countries has gone up from US$ 6.188 billion in 2006 to US$ 8.448 billion in 2009, registering a 36.5 per cent increase, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade figures.
It also revealed that there are currently close to 157 German companies in the UAE, placing Germany at third place in the list of countries with the most companies in the UAE, after the United Kingdom and the United States.
German engineering technology is strong in the fields of surface treatment, metal-working machines, machine tools, material handling systems and all related technologies.
The <link _top>VDMA represents 3,000 mainly small/medium-size member companies in the engineering industry, making it one of the largest and most important industrial associations in Europe.
The <link _top>VDMA covers the entire process chain -- everything from components and plant manufacturers, system suppliers and system integrators through to service providers. It reflects the varied customer-supplier relations all along the value-adding chain, permitting both industry-specific and intra-industry co-operation.
The upcoming show will be SteelFab’s seventh edition and will feature 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 past years, SteelFab 2011 will feature special focus areas taking into consideration industry requirements and visitor feedback. One of the new focus areas in the upcoming show will be welding consumables, which will help increase productivity and improve weld quality.
Product presentation seminars will be organised alongside the show and are targeted at professionals in the field and industry representatives.
SteelFab 2011 will be organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
About the show:
SteelFab is the region’s most comprehensive and highly anticipated trade event for the metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry. It will be hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah from January 17th to 20th, 2011. The last edition of SteelFab held in January 2010 attracted 6,014 trade visitors from the metal-working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry and related segments. More than 150 direct exhibitors showcased over 500 brands in a total exhibition area of 16,000 square metres.
