The tube and pipe section of Steelfab

SteelFab 2019 is scheduled from January 14 to 17, at Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE. It is expected to feature the complete range and requirement of machinery, equipment and tools for metal working, metal forming and steel fabrication


Regional fabricators working with pipes and tubes have seen a steady rise in business irrespective of market conditions.

Demand for machinery and tools used in bending and cutting of pipes and tubes has been on an upswing, thanks to rising usage of pipes and tubes in hundreds of infrastructure, petrochemical, oil and gas and industrial projects across the region.

Pipe and tube machinery is being seen as an interesting growth segment at the next edition of region’s premier trade event for the metal working industry – the 15th SteelFab 2019 – so much so that the International Tube Association, the largest and most influential union of engineers, producers and dealers in the tube and pipe industries worldwide, has come onboard to promote the event globally.

'Rising requirements from industries such as oil and gas, pipelines, refineries, power and water, MEP, food manufacturing, electrical, marine and offshore, furniture, construction and infrastructure, heavy industries and manufacturing has made the Pipe and Tube Machinery segment an indispensable part of SteelFab. The involvement of the International Tube Association will help us bring more machinery, exhibitors, visitors and potential investors from across the world,' says Saif Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

The Pipe and Tube Machinery section formed an integral part of SteelFab 2018, accounting for one-sixth of the total exhibitors at the show. Nearly 60 exhibitors from Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Japan, the US, Germany, Turkey, Finland, Canada, Taiwan, Poland, the UK, Denmark, India and the UAE, showcased machinery, tools and equipment for pipe construction.

'SteelFab and its special focus on Pipe and Tube Machinery could give the nearly 600 members of ITA from more than 70 countries a good opportunity to present equipment, innovations, machines and technology for the regional tubes and pipes industry. Besides, the show will also serve as an entry point to the entire Middle East and North Africa region,' says Dietger Schrörs, executive secretary of ITA.

Since the region has the largest concentration of energy resources, governments are investing continuously in their pipelines network to ensure a high volume to weight ratio, which sustains demand for pipes and tubes.

The MEP industry, another sector that sees heavy pipes and tubes consumption, is expanding fast on the back of new tourism developments and investments flowing into the construction market.

With demand for electricity increasing and regional governments planning to invest billions of dollars for addition of generating capacity, pipes and tubes are finding higher usage in power generation too.

For regional fabricators catering to these industries, SteelFab will be one-stop shop for a wide range of machines and tools, right from hand-operated machine tools for smaller purposes to an entire production line as a complete solution for industry.

The exhibit profile will cover machinery and tools for pipe and tube construction, pipe forming, pipe cutting, roll bending, tube forming, tube bending, orbital welding, pipe and tube straightening, clamps and accessories.

Visitors can expect to see over 1,000 brands from the manufacturing world spread over six halls of Expo Centre Sharjah.