Valve manufacturers’ cluster supports Indutec

10th May 2013

By: Yolandi Booyens

  

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The eighth Pumps, Valves and Pipes Africa (PVPA) trade exhibition will help create and strengthen relation- ships between the valves industry and State-owned enterprises, which have several high-profile projects under way, states Exhibition Management Services (EMS) MD and show organiser John Thomson.

State-owned power utility Eskom will spend about R1.47-billion over the next five years on valves and valve spares and about R2-billion over the next 15 years on ongoing operations, new-build projects and maintenance projects at existing power plants, he estimates.

“Eskom’s approved capacity expansion budget is forecast to grow to well over R1-trillion by 2025; key products that will be in demand include control valves, multi- turn valves, quarter-turn valves and electric and pneumatic actuators, so local valve manufacturers are certain to benefit from this massive build programme,” says Thomson.

The 2013 PVPA expo is one of ten indus- trial and technology trade shows that make up the South African Industry and Technology (Indutec) Fair taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, from May 14 to 16.

PVPA is supported by the Valve and Actuator Manufacturers’ Cluster of South Africa (Vamcosa). The association was formed in June 2011 by two local valve manufacturers; Gunric Valves marketing director Mark Wilson and RGR Technologies director and Vamcosa chief spokesperson Ross Hunter.

Vamcosa’s aim is to increase awareness of the South African valve and actuator manufacturing industry, and encourage market growth both in the stagnant local sector and in expanding markets in Africa and other parts of the world.

Vamcosa will be exhibiting at Indutec, showcasing some of its members’ valve design and manufacturing capabilities to thousands of industry visitors from around the world.

Valve manufacturing in South Africa has declined by 60% since 1994, Hunter stated in a media release in March. “We persuaded a number of local companies to come together as a cluster to help combat the shrinking industry, and that resulted in the formation of Vamcosa.” It now has 14 members, comprising 90% of all local valve manu- facturers.

“The valve-manufacturing industry is now well organised, with a strong code of ethics, and manufactures high-quality valves, so it is fully capable of competing with imported products,” Wilson said in the statement.

Thomson tells Engineering News that Exhibition Management Services is delighted to welcome Vamcosa to the PVPA event at Indutec. “It’s important for local manufacturers to support these events and be exposed to world markets and trends, especially as a key element of the government’s National Develop- ment Plan (NDP) focus on increasing exports. PVPA offers an unparalleled opportunity for the local valve and actuator industry to achieve that.”

Thomson says Indutec’s ten component exhibitions have significantly expanded the fair’s reach across different industrial and technology sectors, attracting even more visitors to the exhibitions and providing exhibitors with value for money.

Besides PVPA, the other nine components of Indutec include the process auto- mation exhibition, Smart Automation Africa, the international plastics indus- try exhibition Afriplast Expo Africa, the machinery and engineering expo Intermac Africa, the manufacturing tech- nologies expo Manutec Africa, the small business opportunities expo Empowertec Africa and the energy and environmental technologies show IndustrialGreentec Africa.

The remaining shows featured at Indutec 2013 comprise the third inter- national exhibition for energy-saving technologies Energex Africa, the fourth definitive African petrochemicals industry exhibition and conference Petro.t.ex Africa, and the fifth international water-technology exhibition Watertec Africa.

Indutec is also endorsed by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa), which will host its yearly conference at the expo.

Indutec Focus

“Our focus for 2013 is on the NDP, which is intended to encourage economic growth and job creation for businesses in South Africa. The metal and engineering industry has a vital role and contribution in this regard,” Thomson points out.

He highlights that Indutec 2013 aims to provide some traction for government policies such as the NDP 2030; the R5.75-billion Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme, and the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act.

“The private sector has to be involved and take action if any good is to be achieved by these initiatives. The NDP is the focus of Seifsa’s conference which aims to encourage private-sector action,” says Thomson.

He highlights that the NDP 2030 aims to increase the country’s gross domestic product by 5.4% a year, growing it almost threefold by 2030. “It will also remove most constraints to economic growth and expand water and energy infrastructure. For example, the NDP is expected to increase water supply to agriculture and industry, and build 40 000 MW of new power-generation capacity.”

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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