Hamriyah Free Zone stand at SteelFab.

Standalone trade shows will be held alongside SteelFab from next year in a significant move aimed at fully tapping the buoyancy of the industry, it was revealed.

“SteelFab is now an established regional show, and over the years we have introduced certain verticals within the show which we are now looking to develop into concurrent and standalone shows,” Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah said at the 11th edition of the region’s premier metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication trade show held in January (26 to 29) at Expo Centre Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.

“Fasteners and stainless steel are two such segments and we are launching Fastener World Middle East alongside SteelFab next year,” he said.

Fastener World Middle East will be a dedicated trade fair for the fastener and fixing industry, and provide an opportunity for international manufacturers to demonstrate both typical and specialised fasteners to regional buyers.

“SteelFab now encompasses a trade fair, a series of special focus areas, special pavilions, new segments, live displays, technical seminars and product presentations. The addition of Fastener World Middle East will help it cover more segments and increase its profile, said Midfa.

As a prelude to the launch, SteelFab introduced the fasteners pavilion this time. The special focus areas included welding and cutting, material handling, machine tools, pipe and tube machinery, apart from live display, and technical seminars and product presentations.

The 11th edition hosted 350 exhibitors who represented nearly 900 brands from across the world.