Steel fabrication sector to fare well

The fabrication industry in the region will continue to do much better compared to the rest of the world, said an industry source

Pradeep Shoran, Marketing Manager, Kuka Robotics, a Germany-based company supplying industrial robots and robot systems – mainly used for welding and cutting and handling, said: "The fabrication market for the region looks very promising. At present we are handling sales in the region from India. But if things go well we are hoping to open a subsidiary here in the region and our option would be Dubai."

He was speaking on the sidelines of SteelFab 2009, which was opened by Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports Authority.

More than 250 companies are participating in the event, which will run till Thursday.

"We started to service the region three years ago and business has been growing constantly – almost doubling every year. Whatever little investment is happening is happening here. There is large volume of steel in the market and we are getting positive enquiries from various companies here," he said.

The event has come at the right time, said Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "SteelFab 2009 has come at the right time for the steel fabrication industry. The industry, along with the construction sector, is seeking a new direction in the wake of the global financial crisis and its fallout," said Midfa.

The global crisis has its negative and positive effects, according to him. "But we should also look at the positive outcome of the impact. A downturn in their home markets has forced many foreign manufacturers to look to the Middle East to explore business opportunities here. If such companies have to gain a foothold here, they will have to be extremely competitive, apart from providing top-quality products. That means we stand to gain – we will have a better choice and the best pricing," he said.

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