Steel Build 2027

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Steel structure (steel frame)

The load-bearing skeleton of a building or industrial facility built from hot-rolled sections, welded plate girders or cold-formed members, bolted or welded on site or assembled from pre-fabricated segments. At the Guangzhou steel building exhibition the term covers the full chain from section rolling and fabrication through erection, protection and connection detailing.

2

Space structure / space frame

A three-dimensional truss grid, usually of tubular steel nodes and members, that carries roof loads in several directions at once. Space structures are used for long-span roofs such as exhibition halls, airport terminals and stadiums, and are one of the product families named in the show title alongside building steel structure and metal materials.

3

Modular integrated construction (MiC)

Volumetric building units fabricated in a factory, including finishes, fittings and often MEP services, then transported and stacked on site. MiC was the theme of the round-table dialogue on 'Modular Integrated Building Empowers Good House Construction' listed in the 2027 show programme, which places the topic at the centre of the Guangzhou conference track.

4

Prefabricated building / prefabrication

Construction in which structural elements or complete units are produced off site and assembled on site, including precast concrete panels, steel frames and modular pods. Prefabrication is the umbrella term linking the steel structure and modular building sections of the exhibition.

5

Light-gauge steel framing

Cold-formed thin-walled steel sections, typically 0.7 mm to 3 mm thick, used for low- and mid-rise walls, floors and roof systems. Often combined with cementitious board or sandwich panels, it is a common product category for exporters and regional builders visiting the Pazhou halls.

6

H-section / H-beam

A hot-rolled or welded steel profile whose cross-section resembles the letter H, widely used for columns, beams and portal frames. Buyers at the show compare flange width, web thickness, steel grade and mill certificates when sourcing H-sections and welded built-up beams.

7

Steel truss

A triangulated assembly of chords, verticals and diagonals that spans large distances efficiently, common in exhibition halls, warehouses and roof systems. Truss design, node fabrication and anti-corrosion treatment are recurring topics for engineers attending the Guangzhou event.

8

Purlin

A horizontal secondary member that carries roof or wall cladding between rafters or frames. Z- and C-shaped cold-formed purlins are among the metal material products shown by Chinese and international suppliers on the exhibition floor.

9

Metal cladding and roofing

Profiled steel sheets, standing-seam roof systems, sandwich panels with insulation cores and accessories that form the weather envelope of a steel building. Suppliers use the show to present fire rating, wind uplift and thermal performance data to contractors and architects.

10

Curtain wall

A non-structural facade system of aluminium or steel framing with glass, stone or metal panels, hung from the building frame. It bridges the steel structure and architectural finishing sections of the exhibition and is relevant to specifiers from commercial and transport projects.

11

Hot-dip galvanizing

Immersion of fabricated steel in molten zinc to form a metallurgical coating that protects against corrosion. Galvanized sections and coating-thickness certification are standard comparison points when buyers evaluate structural steel for humid southern Chinese climates.

12

Intumescent fire-resistive coating

A paint or spray that swells into an insulating char when heated, protecting structural steel and extending its fire resistance period. Fire protection is a recurring technical topic at the show alongside fire-rated cladding and fire engineering approvals.

13

BIM (building information modelling)

Digital coordination of geometry, structure and services before fabrication. For steel and modular work, BIM models drive CNC cutting, bolt-hole setting and clash detection, and software providers and steel detailers use the Guangzhou event to meet fabricators.

14

Steel fabrication equipment

Machinery used to convert plate and section into building components, including CNC plasma and flame cutting, shot blasting, H-beam assembly, straightening and robotic welding lines. This equipment category complements the finished structural and metal products on display.

15

Cable-net and tensile membrane structure

Lightweight structural systems in which cables, masts and tensile membranes (including ETFE and PVC fabrics) carry roof loads, often combined with steel frames. Tensile and space structure systems are typically presented together with metal roofing and node hardware at the show.

16

Welding and connection technology

The processes and consumables that join steel members, including manual and robotic arc welding, high-strength bolting and welded moment connections. Connection detailing is a core subject for fabricators and inspectors who visit the exhibition's equipment and materials zones.