SteelFab, a premier regional trade fair in Sharjah, will have a special focus area on welding and cutting equipment and devices at its next edition in January 2013.

The growth in demand for welding and cutting equipment in the Arab economies is driven by the fast-expanding industrial sector, which has made this segment an essential component of the regional steel fabrication, metal working and metal manufacturing industry, said a statement.

According to latest figures, the industrial sector in the UAE grew by 11 per cent in 2011. From $35 billion in 2010, the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the UAE’s overall GDP swelled to an all-time high of $39 billion in 2011.

In Qatar, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the industrial sector is expect to post 18 per cent yearly growth between 2011 and 2012, with more than $125 billion expected to be spent on projects between 2011 and 2016.

Manufacturing sector was Saudi Arabia’s fastest growing industry in the first half of 2011, rising 22.5 per cent, driven by a 38 per cent increase in petroleum refining. Non-refining manufacturing expanded by 14.8 per cent, the statement said.

This exponential growth in the regional industrial sector is fuelling demand for a wide variety of welding and cutting equipment, it said.

“Every country has its own industrial characteristics. In Arabia, the welding and cutting segment essentially involves not just welding shops but fabrication yards and engineering workshops, fuelling demand for not just welding machines but a diverse and complete range of equipment and a substantial variety of brands. And, regional buyers always have one comprehensive sourcing platform to rely on – SteelFab,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general of Expo Centre Sharjah.

Midfa was speaking during the launch of the ninth edition of SteelFab, which will be held from January 14 to 17, 2013, at Expo Centre Sharjah.

“Right from the launch edition, SteelFab was intended to cater to the complete requirements of the steel fabrication industry, where metal forming and welding & cutting section was one of the major elements,” he pointed out.

The welding & cutting segment at SteelFab has grown with the show. From about 1,200 sq m of exhibition space and 48 companies in its first edition in 2004, SteelFab has expanded fast to feature about 16,000 sq m of space and nearly 225 exhibitors and 600 brands for its previous edition in 2012.

The special section on welding and cutting will showcase machines/power sources - conventional, arc, plasma, tig & mig/mag; welding & cutting - consumables, electrodes, wire & flux; accessories - torches, guns, tips, holders; gas cutting & welding, brazing - equipment, spares, consumables; welding - robots, positioners, rotators, manipulators & tables; weld preparation, heat treatment & weld finishing; stud welding equipment, fasteners, studs & fastening systems; automation, resistance & capacitor discharge; beam welding systems, seam welding lines & special purpose welding systems; cutting systems –  cnc plasma, oxyfuel, laser & waterjet; pipe construction, orbital welding, cutting and beveling. - TradeArabia News Service