Hardware & Tools Middle East 2007 will be the biggest ever and will reflect the impact that Dubai’s burgeoning construction boom is having on the demand for professional building equipment and services. With dates set for 13-15 May, plans and preparations for the event are well under way and floor space has already been increased to accommodate the rise in exhibitor enquiries.
Melanie Beese, Exhibition Manager Hardware & Tools Middle East, said; “We are anticipating a huge demand from both visitors and exhibitors. At this year’s event held in May, we registered a 30% increase in participants from the last show. The 2007 exhibition looks set to be even bigger, judging by the overwhelmingly positive response and feedback we received from both exhibitors and visitors this year.”
The construction industry in the Gulf region is estimated to be worth $750 billion with some media estimates putting the figure at around $1 trillion. The UAE alone accounts for $300 billion of this with the hardware and tools sector estimated at 20% of this figure, bringing the total industry size throughout the GCC to $150 billion.
And it’s not just the construction industry that is fuelling the boom in tools and hardware. The large and increasing expatriate population of the UAE have traditionally had an interest in home improvement and DIY. “Recently, Emaar Properties handed over their 10,000th property in UAE and it is estimated that about 60 per cent of the occupants are expats. This has resulted in an exponential growth in the DIY market in the UAE where Europeans and other Arab expats are more inclined towards DIY solutions”, says Beese. “The exhibition has all the latest home improvement products under one roof and is a DIY enthusiasts dream”, she adds.
The total number of participants at last year’s show amounted to over 250 from 18 countries; including China, Egypt, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Poland Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA. Austrian and the Ukrainian companies also exhibited for the first time this year. The event proved to be extremely well attended, with independently verified statistics showing that almost 4,000 people visited the exhibition over the three days.
Hardware and Tools 2006 saw the whole range of industry equipment and services being demonstrated, with many well-known brands either displaying for the first time or taking the opportunity to showcase recently launched products. 3M Gulf Ltd. attended as a new exhibitor and presented their diverse array of adhesives, tapes and abrasives. Dewalt, the widely regarded number one brand of professional power tools in the United States, demonstrated three new power hammers, each with a revolutionary new system to reduce vibration. The appliances incorporate a floating handle that provides suspension from the main unit, allowing users to use the tools safely over a significantly longer period without compromising performance.
SMTCL, the Chinese manufacturer, had a very successful show. Their leading products are cutting machines and this year they launched their computer control numerical turning centre for the region. The machine is used for manufacturing complex parts from metal or other material and can cut curves and complex 3-D structures as easily as straight lines, while at the same time reducing the number of steps requiring human action. The company, who exhibited the largest machine at the event, sold out of their Vertical Machine Center Series products on the first day and was so impressed by the business opportunities presented to them that they are now considering opening a specialized sales and service centre in Jebel Ali free zone.
This years event will run in conjunction with five other shows; ISH Kitchen and Bathroom, Light Middle East, Hometech Middle East, Design Lifestyle and Garden, Landscaping and Outdoor Living. More than 18,000 visitors are expected to visit the six shows combined, making it the leading event of its kind in the region. “Next year’s Hardware and Tools exhibition will be the best yet”, said Beese. “We are already expanding our exhibition space to accommodate the increasing number of exhibitors making enquiries and the higher than ever number of expected visitors to the event,” she concluded.
Hardware+Tools is the Middle East’s only dedicated event for power tools, hand tools, hardware, ironmongery, workshop and woodworking machinery. As an industry professional involved in the supply of equipment to or the design, construction, build or specification of commercial or residential developments, you understand the importance of staying updated with new products, services and technology in your field. Hardware+Tools is the perfect platform to meet new contacts, discuss new trends and technological developments, keep up to date with industry knowledge and source new products and solutions.
Company profile:
The Messe Frankfurt Dubai team has over 20 years experience of organising international trade fairs throughout the world. The successful portfolio of events they organise in Dubai include Intersec Middle East, Materials Handling & Logistics, Hardware + Tools Middle East, Garden, Landscaping & Outdoor Living, ISH – Kitchen + Bath, Light Middle East, Beautyworld Middle East, Wellness & Spas Middle East, Design Lifestyle Middle East, Hometech Middle East, Emirates Today Ideal Home Show, Automechanika Middle East and the Middle East Toy Fair. Messe Frankfurt is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt, the world’s second largest trade fair organiser conducting over 100 events worldwide with 15 subsidiaries across Europe, Asia, America, Africa and the Middle East.
