SteelFab 2026 will focus on the latest cutting-edge technologies transforming the global iron and steel industries.

Expo Centre Sharjah is set to host the 21st edition of SteelFab, the Middle East’s leading event for the metalworking, metal manufacturing, and steel fabrication industry, from 12-15 January, 2026

The exhibition is expected to see strong participation from regional and international companies and manufacturers, featuring more than 650 major global brands from 38 countries showcasing their latest technologies, machinery, and innovations in the metalworking sector.

Active international participation and strong local presence

SteelFab 2026 will bring together top local and international players in the iron and steel industry to present state-of-the-art machinery, equipment, and tools related to Sheet metal industries, welding and cutting, pipe manufacturing, robotics, and other advanced technologies.

Participants will include leading companies from the UK, Germany, India, Taiwan, China, Italy, Turkey, and the UAE, in addition to the most prominent local manufacturers and distributors.

Strengthening Sharjah’s role as a regional metal production hub

H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, emphasised that SteelFab remains the region’s premier platform for the metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry. He noted that the exhibition continues to play a pivotal role in enabling manufacturers and companies to showcase their latest products and services, while connecting with potential clients and strategic partners.

He added that SteelFab’s remarkable success over the past two decades is reflected in consistently high participation levels. The 2026 edition is expected to draw over 300+ international companies and 180 local firms, marking an increase compared to previous editions. A surge in visitor turnout is also anticipated, with attendees representing a wide range of industrial sectors.

Advanced Modern Technologies

SteelFab 2026 will focus on the latest cutting-edge technologies transforming the global iron and steel industries. This edition will once again feature metal cutting, metal forming, welding, power tools, innovation trends, market analysis, automation, 3D printing and the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on manufacturing processes.

To foster greater connectivity, SteelFab 2026 will host an expanded Buyers Program, providing exclusive networking opportunities between exhibitors and more than 250 key industry leaders.

The exhibition will also spotlight the newest technologies in laser cutting, welding, robotics, CNC machining, machine tools, plate and pipe bending and cutting, 3D printing and precision metal fabrication. In addition, it will feature the 5th edition of the Best Welder Competition, offering a platform to showcase talent, recognise excellence, and celebrate innovation in welding practices.

Hydrogen and helium may be made up of small molecules but have a big role to play in the technology innovations of the future

From the natural gas that underpins power generation to the carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis, there is no denying gases have a significant impact on modern life, according to Eve Pope, senior technology analyst at IDTechEx.

The two lightest gases - hydrogen and helium - may be made up of small molecules but have a big role to play in the technology innovations of the future. Key application areas include mobility, power generation, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Hydrogen power

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that could replace fossil fuels to power the future. Fuel cells can convert hydrogen gas into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen. Because solid oxide fuel cells have a long operating lifetime and fuel flexibility, they are well-suited to the continuous power generation required for sustainable data centres. As the AI boom continues, some data centres are already using solid oxide fuel cells running on natural gas, with plans to transition over to low-carbon hydrogen once economics and infrastructure can make this commercially feasible.

For cars, fuel cell electric vehicles can also be powered by the reactions between stored hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Markets for fuel cell electric vehicles will depend upon national investments in green hydrogen projects and rollouts of hydrogen refueling stations.

Industrial decarbonisation of iron and steel enabled by hydrogen

For iron and steel, natural gas direct reduced iron (DRI) production using shaft furnaces is already mature. Hydrogen-based DRI (H2-DRI) processes represent the next logical evolution toward greener steel production. Midrex and Energiron shaft furnace plants have successfully demonstrated the use of hydrogen or hydrogen-rich gases, as evidenced in projects like HYBRIT by SSAB in Sweden and HBIS Group in China.

The success of hydrogen-based green steel production will depend heavily upon the availability of green and blue hydrogen and supporting infrastructure, with IDTechEx’s “Green Steel 2025-2035: Technologies, Players, Markets, Forecasts” report forecasting that 46 million tonnes of steel will be produced enabled by hydrogen in 2035.

Hydrogen isotopes for nuclear fusion

Even the heavier isotopes of hydrogen have a role to play. Deuterium and tritium are essential fuels for nuclear fusion technologies, hoped to provide energy-dense, continuous sources of green energy with no risk of meltdown. According to IDTechEx’s “Fusion Energy Market 2025-2045: Technologies, Players, Timelines” report, commercial fusion companies have raised over US$9bn to date, while an increasing number of governments see fusion as the modern day 'space race'. Players are pursuing different reactor designs and fuels, leading to various materials opportunities and supply chain challenges.

Helium required for semiconductor manufacturing

Helium is widely used in manufacturing processes due to its cooling and inert properties. It is crucial for thermal management during semiconductor production. As semiconductor manufacturing advances towards smaller nodes (essential for AI, autonomous vehicles, etc.), reliance on helium will continue to grow. Helium is a finite resource, so technologies for helium production and helium substitutes covered in IDTechEx’s “Helium for Semiconductors and Beyond 2025-2035: Market, Trends, and Forecasts” report will become increasingly essential.

Materials key to hydrogen and helium production

From the ion exchange membranes in electrolyzers for green hydrogen generation to the gas separation membranes used in helium and hydrogen production, the applications explored in this article represent significant opportunities for chemicals and materials companies. Materials for green hydrogen are needed for components such as catalysts, electrodes, porous transport layers, gas diffusion layers, bipolar plates, and gaskets. Innovations include new catalysts with less iridium content to cut costs. For gas separation membranes, the development of new palladium-alloy metallic membranes could unlock ultra-pure H2 separation.

Life cycle analysis confirms Luminy PLA’s sustainability credentials. (Image source: Total Energies)

TotalEnergies Corbion, a global leader in bioplastics innovation, has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Multi Trade Group, naming it the main distributor for Luminy PLA across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Middle East.

Luminy PLA (polylactic acid) combines strength and durability for reusable applications with sustainable end-of-life options for disposable products.

Unlike conventional plastics, it can be reused, mechanically and chemically recycled, or industrially composted, breaking down faster than banana or orange peels.

The portfolio includes high-heat, standard, and low-heat grades, PDLA for stereocomplex compounds, and recycled PLA with 30% or 100% content.

Life cycle analysis confirms Luminy PLA’s sustainability credentials. Virgin PLA has a cradle-to-gate footprint of 0.29 kg CO₂-eq per kg—an 85% reduction compared to conventional plastics. With 30% recycled content, it achieves near carbon neutrality, and 100% recycled PLA delivers a negative footprint of -0.65 kg CO₂-eq per kg.

By leveraging Multi Trade Group’s regional presence and expertise, the partnership aims to expand access to Luminy PLA for converters, compounders, and brand owners, supporting Middle East government and industry sustainability goals.

TotalEnergies Corbion operates a 75,000 tons-per-year PLA facility in Rayong, Thailand, and pioneers chemical recycling of PLA via hydrolysis depolymerization, producing recycled PLA (rPLA) with food-contact approval and performance equivalent to virgin material.

With the Middle East increasingly prioritising sustainability and reducing reliance on conventional plastics, the agreement positions Luminy PLA as a scalable, high-performance alternative for industries balancing functionality with environmental responsibility.

“As a company, we are committed to delivering sustainability, recyclability, and solutions that reduce our carbon footprint and waste impact,” said Asif Iftekhar, CEO of Multi Trade Group. “This partnership with TotalEnergies Corbion reflects our mission and our responsibility to help build a sustainable future. Today’s signing ceremony at our headquarters in Sharjah marks an important step forward for the region’s polymer industry.”

“Multi Trade Group’s local expertise and market reach make them an ideal partner to expand Luminy PLA in the Middle East,” added Derek Atkinson, vice president of sales at TotalEnergies Corbion. “Together, we can help customers reduce environmental impact, achieve ambitious sustainability goals, and accelerate the shift toward a regenerative circular economy.”

The project centred on the installation of a third ball mill. (Image source: EGA)

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE’s largest industrial company and the world’s biggest producer of “premium aluminium”, has completed a debottlenecking expansion at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery, boosting production capacity by up to 50,000 tonnes of alumina per year.

The project centred on the installation of a third ball mill, strengthening operational resilience and paving the way for future output growth at the UAE’s only alumina refinery. Ball mills grind bauxite ore into fine particles for chemical processing into alumina. The additional unit enhances throughput, reduces the risk of unplanned outages, and improves overall availability alongside the two existing mills.

Executed entirely by EGA’s in-house teams, from engineering and project management to construction and commissioning, the project was completed in under two and a half years, recording over 650,000 work hours without a single Lost Time Injury.

Since its commissioning in 2019, Al Taweelah alumina refinery has consistently operated above its nameplate capacity of 2mn tonnes per year. In 2024, the facility supplied 49% of EGA’s total alumina needs, underscoring its strategic role in the company’s integrated value chain.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “This expansion is a key step forward for Al Taweelah alumina refinery, unlocking additional production capacity as we reorient our bauxite supply chain beyond Guinea. It further strengthens our operational resilience and unlocks capacity growth. I thank every member of the team who contributed to this success.”