The variety and range of products and services to be showcased at this year's International Pump, Valves and Pipes Africa exhibition in Midrand, Johannesburg, has received a massive boost with increased participation from major international manufacturers.
In particular, companies from India and Italy are to be represented directly at the expo, in addition to locally represented manufacturers from Europe, Brazil and the US.
"International events such as this are not only about attracting visitors from throughout the sub-continent as a platform for widening markets for participating exhibitors. They are also about increasing international representation, so that local buyers get increased product choice," says John Thomson, managing director of exhibition organisers, Exhibition Management Services (EMS).
This year's exhibition has achieved this. So far we have three Indian companies making their debut at the show, with French and Italian firms also featuring for the first time, whilst other overseas enquiries are still being received and processed.
The third International Pumps, Valves and Pipes Africa 2003 (PVP 2003) exhibition is to be held at the Kyalami Exhibition Centre, Midrand, Gauteng from 3 to 5 June.
At the last event, held in 2001, the exhibition hosted nearly 80 exhibitors and attracted visitors from 16 countries - mostly Africa.
Making their debut at PVP 2003 from India are Krishna Engineering Industries, manufacturers of corrugated flexible hose, rotary pressure joints, carbon filled teflon rings and syphon elbows. Lubi Submersibles, with its range of pumps, and valve manufacturer Sant Valves.
In addition to the Italian-SA Chamber of Trade, Italy is being represented by Coverco, which supplies submersible motors for borehole pumps, and Tecnosint Fluid Control Srl, with its pump range and dosing, measurement and control instruments and reverse osmosis equipment.
A wide range of motors from Brazilian manufacturer, Weg, will be featured on the Zest Electric Motors stand, catering for the wide needs of pumping applications. Of specific interest for buyers looking for greater control over pump running costs will be its variable speed drive units, according to Zest sales manager, Chris Chryssoulis.
Another company making its debut at this year's PVP expo is the new French-owned Salmson Pumps SA. Although it is not the first time that Salmson brand pumps have been on show in South Africa, it will be the company's first appearance since its French parent took direct control of local distribution.
"Since starting operations in 2002 we have increased our market share by about 350% primarily because of a wider product range and greatly improved off-the-shelf product availability," says Errol Cornelius, managing director of Salmson Pumps SA.
The company will be showcasing an impressive cross-section of industrial pumps for a wide range of applications, particularly for the building services industry. However, since taking direct control of local distribution, the availability of pumps for industries such as fire protection, agriculture and sewage and effluent management, has increased dramatically - to the great satisfaction of engineers and specifiers.
While foreign participants and their local representatives will provide added interest to visiting buyers, the local manufacturers have a wealth of innovative options to exhibit.
"South Africa has become one of the world's foremost resources of pump technology and is capable of addressing a wide range of needs from domestic and agricultural pumps and valves to sophisticated and very specialist mining and petrochemical applications," says EMS' Thomson.
"There is tremendous demand for pumps, pipes and valves throughout Africa as massive petrochemical, water supply, electrical and mining projects get underway. We're expecting to attract buyers from all these sectors."
One South African pump manufacturer planning to use PVP 2003 as a platform for meeting such buyers is Sulzer Pumps SA. It is the third time this South African manufacturer of custom pumps for the mining, water, electricity, process and petrochemical sectors has exhibited at this specialised event.
"This exhibition attracts the decision-makers we want to address and the people that visit us are the people we really want to see," says Janet Homes-Smith, marketing coordinator, Sulzer South Africa.
The third International Pumps, Valves and Pipes Africa 2003 (PVP 2003) exhibition is to be held at the Kyalami Exhibition Centre, Midrand, Gauteng from 3 to 5 June.
For more information contact John Thomson, MD, Exhibition Management Services, 011 783 7250, [email protected]
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