GENERAL NEWS
SteelFab 2026 embraces new innovation
The 21st edition of SteelFab, the Middle East and North Africa’ s largest exhibition for the metalworking and steel fabrication industries, was held in Sharjah( UAE) from 12-15 January 2026.
Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah, with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry( SCCI), the exhibition brought together more than 600 local and international brands, with 350 exhibitors from 35 countries. Spanning 25,000 square metres, SteelFab 2026 showcased innovations and technologies shaping the future of the steel and metalworking sector.
“ The exhibition saw strong participation from major global steel fabrication and metalforming companies, alongside industry leaders, suppliers and investors based in the UAE; Germany; the United Kingdom; China; Turkey; India; Taiwan; Thailand and Egypt. Prominent participation from global companies with export reach exceeding
70 countries highlighted the exhibition’ s international scope,” said the show organiser.
SteelFab 2026 also hosted a series of specialised events and activities, including the annual welding competition and a series of structured B2B meetings and expertled discussions involving leading local and international industry stakeholders.
“ SteelFab 2026 also marked a major milestone as the first exhibition in the UAE, and the region, to adopt fully integrated, AI-powered digital exhibition technologies.
This year’ s edition introduced AetherEx, a digital twin platform that allows exhibitors to maintain their market visibility, showcase their products and stay connected with global audiences long after the physical show ends,” it added.
SteelFab 2026 featured live demonstrations that highlighted the latest technological advances shaping the steel and metalworking sector. Exhibits included next-generation steel production equipment, low-cost laser cutting systems and AIpowered manufacturing robots for complex steel production processes. The showcase also included heavy-duty CNC machinery for oil, gas and aerospace applications as well as metal forming equipment; press brakes; automation solutions; powder coating technologies; quality control solutions and advanced welding and laser marking technologies. n
www. steelfabme. com /
Adaptability is key for German MT sector
After two years of decline, the German machine tool( MT) industry expects production to grow by one per cent to 13.7 billion euros in 2026.
“ The fundamental basis for this is the expected recovery of domestic demand,” said Franz-Xaver Bernhard, Chairman of the VDW( German Machine Tool Builders’ Association).
“ In 2025, investments were stifled by high costs, insufficient planning security and the absence of economic reform to revitalise Germany as a manufacturing location. In the current year, positive effects are expected from the‘ special assets’ of the German federal government which have been set up for investments in infrastructure; defence; climate protection; digitalisation and mobility; and could provide at least a small boost,” added the VDW.
In 2025, German exports to its largest markets declined sharply due to U. S. tariffs and falling imports to China.
“ We are making intensive use of all options available to us to adapt to structural change,” commented Bernhard. This also ultimately requires capacity adjustments. Up until October 2025, confirmed the VDW, the workforce in corporations with more than 50 employees dropped, compared to the previous year, by 3.9 per cent to 63,300 men and women.
“ For the industry to regain momentum, it
Franz-Xaver Bernhard, Chairman of the VDW.
must exhaust all available options. In addition to capacity adjustments, these include overseas production; market diversification; expansion of technological leadership; intensification of research activities and the recruitment of excellent employees,” highlighted the VDW.
Bernhard stressed that companies who produce overseas“ have a better chance of participating more strongly in local market growth, despite existing trade barriers, and also seeing cost advantages.”
“ The top sales region for German manufacturers is the European home market, which accounts for around half of its exports. Add the German market to this and more than 60 per cent of machine tool sales are made in the region. Customer sectors such as defence; aircraft construction; electronics; energy or medical engineering hold a great deal of promise. The expansion and consolidation of critical infrastructure for batteries and chips, for establishing hydrogen technology, digitalisation and for building data centres are freeing up investments in Europe. These will not be able to surpass the automotive industry in its importance, but they will soften the pressure of the transformation,” confirmed the VDW.
Bernhard also suggested improvements to Germany’ s Research Allowance. The need for specialists and engineers, he said, will remain high in the medium term and suggested various labour market reforms, as well as improved education and training, to help retain jobs and boost the recovery.
With an international export share of 17 per cent, Germany plays an important global role. Germany’ s R & D rate in mechanical engineering is more than four per cent of revenue. Internationally, German patent applications rank fourth. The country has access to scientific resources and offers service and retrofitting which are gaining in importance. Advances such as e-mobility, digital transformation and artificial intelligence also offer opportunities.
In 2025, approximately 64,500 employees in the German machine tool industry( companies with more than 50 employees) produced machines and services to the value of around 13.6 billion euros. n
https
:// vdw. de / en / vdw /
ISMR February 2026 | ismr. net | 7