Over 1,000 brands from 28 countries around the world are participating at the SteelFab 2018, the region’s leading metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication trade show, being held in Sharjah, UAE, said a report.

Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Department of Government Relations, yesterday (January 15) inaugurated the show which will run until January 18, at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

The inauguration of the trade show was attended by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and chairman of Expo Centre Sharjah, a number of board members of the chamber, Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, as well as several government officials and representatives from the industry sector in the country, businessmen and industrial investors, reported state news agency Wam.

Sheikh Fahim, accompanied by the Al Owais and a number of dignitaries and officials, toured the trade show, which is the largest trade event held for the Middle East's metal and steel industry.

It is organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the SCCI and covers an area of 24,000 square metres.

Sheikh Fahim praised the success of Expo Centre Sharjah in attracting a remarkable number of brands and leading international companies from the metal and steel industry.

He added that this success reflects Sharjah's position as a significant centre within the global exhibition industry, as well as the importance of the trade show as a growing international and regional event for the world's leading manufacturers.

Al Owais stressed the prominence of Expo Centre Sharjah as one of the strategic institutions, operating under the umbrella of SCCI, that enhances Sharjah's reputation as a global and regional centre for industrial, commercial and cultural exhibitions.

This is due to the conviction of the importance of the exhibitions and conferences industry and its positive impact in accelerating the economy towards achieving sustainable growth according to the vision of the wise leadership.

Al Owais pointed out that Expo Centre Sharjah seeks to strengthen its international relations network, within the framework of its new strategic plan from 2018 to 2022, in order to attract a number of the world's leading exhibitions, manufacturers, suppliers, and associations to participate in its various annual events.

A number of leading countries in the fields of welding and manufacturing of steel and metals are participating in the event, including Germany, Italy, Turkey, Taiwan, India, China and the UAE.

The trade show will also host Schweissen & Schneiden fair, one of Europe’s largest gatherings of welding, cutting, and finishing industry professionals, as well as the International Tube Association.

SteelFab 2018 will host several exhibitors for the first time including Birla Precision Technologies, Metachem Chemical Trading, Red Bud Industries, Hartmetall, Jyoti CNC Gabella Macchine, Halcon Systems and Konum.

The first day of the trade show witnessed the announcement of the launch of "SteelFab – Middle East Fabricators Awards 2019", which will be awarded to manufacturers in recognition of their efforts to adopt the best practices, added the report. – TradeArabia News Service