The event will feature more than 600 major global brands from 33 countries. (Image source: Expo Centre Sharjah)

Expo Centre Sharjah is set to host the 20th edition of SteelFab, the Middle East’s leading event for metalworking, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry, from 13-16 January 2025

The exhibition is expected to see extensive participation from local and international companies and manufacturers, featuring more than 600 major global brands from 33 countries showcasing their latest technologies and innovations in the metalworking field. The SteelFab trade show brings together eminent local and international players in the iron and steel industry to showcase state-of-the-art machinery, equipment, and tools pertinent to the metal industries, welding and cutting, pipe manufacturing, and other related sectors. Participants will represent the industry’s largest industrial companies from countries like the UK, Germany, India, Taiwan, China, Italy, and Turkey. The exhibition will also host some of the most prominent UAE-based companies.

Strengthening Sharjah’s position as a regional metal production hub

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, affirmed that SteelFab is the region’s premier event for the metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry. It serves as an important platform for manufacturers and companies operating in the field to showcase their latest products and services and connect with potential clients and partners. This will consequently enhance Sharjah’s status as a central hub for the metal industry in the Middle East.

He further noted that the exhibition has demonstrated remarkable success over the past twenty years, reflected in the high participation rates in previous editions. The new edition is expected to draw over 125 international companies and 170 local firms, indicating an increase in the number of exhibitors compared to previous years. Additionally, there is an anticipated acceleration in the turnout of visitors representing various industrial sectors, promising a successful edition that showcases the latest technologies and advanced equipment in the steel industry.

Advanced modern technologies

The SteelFab 2025 exhibition places special emphasis on the latest technologies and cutting-edge equipment used in the iron and steel industries. The upcoming edition will host a two-day conference dedicated to the latest industry innovations, alongside market analysis and emerging trends in machine innovation and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). To enhance connectivity among steel industry leaders, the exhibition’s 2025 edition features a Buyers Program that offers exclusive networking opportunities between top industry specialists and exhibitors. The program is anticipated to attract over 200 key industry figures.

The exhibition will spotlight the latest trends and advancements in the manufacturing, iron, and steel sectors, featuring extensive displays of state-of-the-art laser equipment and metal cutting systems. It will also witness the 4th edition of the Best Welder competition, which is designed to honor welding talent, offering a platform for professionals to demonstrate their skills and vie for excellence awards.

The joint venture will leverage innovations in AI, smart drilling design, completions engineering and production solutions to accelerate the UAE’s unconventional oil and gas well programme. (Image source: SLB)

SLB, ADNOC Drilling Company and Patterson-UTI are joining forces to create a new joint venture, Turnwell Industries LLC OPC, which will leverage innovations in AI, smart drilling design, completions engineering and production solutions to accelerate the UAE’s unconventional oil and gas programme

This follows the successful and efficient delivery of the first wells in the campaign.

SLB will provide integrated drilling, stimulation and completion services, as well as project management, digital capabilities and subsurface support as part of the venture. ADNOC Drilling, through its wholly owned subsidiary ADH RSC LTD, will hold a 55% majority equity stake, SLB a 30% equity stake and Patterson-UTI the remaining 15% equity stake.

Turnwell was established to be the unconventionals drilling arm of ADNOC Drilling and execute a US$1.7bn contract, awarded to ADNOC Drilling, to provide drilling and associated services to deliver 144 unconventional oil and gas wells. Following Turnwell’s efficient and successful start-up and operational delivery, ADNOC has accelerated the campaign’s completion timeline. The economic impact of the acceleration will benefit ADNOC Drilling’s 2025 earnings as well as its long-term growth through the potential acceleration of phase two with thousands of wells.

Deploying innovative technologies

"We are proud to join forces with ADNOC Drilling in this strategic partnership that demonstrates SLB’s leading position in the region deploying innovative digital, drilling and completion technologies in developing unconventional energy resources,” said Tarek Rizk, SLB’s president for the Middle East and North Africa region. “UAE’s unconventional energy assets hold a promising future, and we are very much looking forward to elevating their performance in a safe and sustainable way.”

“Today marks a defining moment for Turnwell and our key partners SLB, and Patterson-UTI. The acceleration of the well programme is a testament to the innovation, collaboration and pursuit of excellence that will define our joint venture,” said Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari, chief executive officer, ADNOC Drilling. “Turnwell will not only unlock the immense potential of the UAE's world-class unconventional energy resources but will also set new benchmarks for the global energy industry. We are proud to lead the way in responsibly shaping the future of energy, both in the UAE and beyond."

To achieve this accelerated timeline, Turnwell has adopted batch drilling, which improves efficiency and reduces costs. The involvement of Gordon Technologies, a provider of Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technology and an Enersol company, is also set to enhance efficiency. MWD technology reduces drilling time, improves well-bore quality, and increases overall drilling efficiency.

Abu Dhabi holds an estimated 220bn barrels of unconventional oil and 460 TCF of unconventional gas in place.

The company will supply electrochlorination units for the North Field South project. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Italy’s Industrie De Nora, which specialies in sustainable electrochemical technologies and in the emerging green hydrogen industry, has been awarded a contract to supply electrochlorination units for Qatar’s North Field South (NFS) project

The contract to supply electrochlorination units for the onshore LNG facilities in Ras Laffan, was awarded by the T.EN CCC Joint Venture, led by Technip Energies (T.EN) in partnership with Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), for QatarEnergy LNG. This is a continuation of the first phase, North Field East (NFE) Project, which was awarded in June 2021 and is now under construction. Together with the North Field West project, these projects form the North Field LNG expansion programme, the world’s largest LNG expansion project, which will raise Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 to 142 mtpa in 2030.

This contract will include two CECHLO-MS 326 units producing a high-strength, 12.5% sodium hypochlorite solution on site. Spread across two mega LNG generator trains, the units produce 294 kg of sodium hypochlorite per hour, equivalent to seven tons per day – enough to support LNG production capacity of 16 MTPA per train.

The new system will supplement the units awarded for North Field East (NFE) project in 2021, which included units spread across four mega LNG trains with a capacity of 8 MTPA each. Once completed later this year, these units will produce 11 tons per day of chlorine equivalent used to control biofouling as well as disinfect the formation of service water and firewater, and brine management from the desalination plant to the sea.

The Fulkrum team in the new office. (Image source: Fulkrum)

Aberdeen-headquartered Fulkrum, a leader in inspection, expediting, auditing, and technical staffing services, has opened a new regional support centre in Abu Dhabi, anticipating strong growth in its business in the region

The decision to relocate to a larger office space follows a series of significant project wins, including major contracts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and the UAE, and the establishment of an office in Iraq. As a result of these successes, Abu Dhabi has become a critical hub for Fulkrum’s regional operations, and the team in Abu Dhabi has grown to 19 members, with an additional four staff members set to join in October. The new office will support Fulkrum's ongoing regional growth strategy and allow for further expansion over the next five years.

Muhammad Tayyab, regional manager at Fulkrum, said, "Our growth in the Middle East has been tremendous, with a projected 50% increase this year following a 27% rise in 2023. The opening of our new regional support centre in Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to supporting this momentum. With the anticipation of a 200% growth in the Middle East over the next five years, this new office will enable us to expand our capabilities and better serve our clients across the region."