Joburg to host consolidated industrial fair in 2013

Ten trade events targeting different sectors of industry will be combined at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, from May 14 to May 16 next year.

“Designed as an umbrella event for African industrialists, the South African Industry and Technology Fair (Indutec) will include Pumps Valves and Pipes Africa, Watertec Africa, Petro.t.ex Africa, Intermac Africa, Manutec Africa, Smart Automation Africa, Afriplast Expo, Energex Africa, Industrial GreenTec Africa and Empowertec Africa,” says event management company Exhibition Management Services (EMS).

“By running Pumps Valves and Pipes Africa, Watertec Africa, Petro.t.ex Africa and Energex Africa in one venue in 2011, we proved that trade fairs in South Africa and their participants could benefit from the critical mass and synergy generated by this co-location,” says EMS MD John Thomson.

“Indutec 2013 will be boosted by government initiatives, such as the new R5.75-billion Manufacturing Competitive Enhancement Programme,” adds Thomson.

“The exhibition will also see benefits from the recently announced National Development Plan (NDP) that aims to improve manufacturing capability across all industrial and manufacturing sectors. Indutec provides an excellent platform to bridge the gap between policy and implementation of the NDP. One of the NDP’s targets is to increase exports and expand manufacturing,” he says.

Further, South Africa is well positioned to exploit opportunities for low-carbon energy from hydroelectric and other clean energy sources – one of the focus areas of the Energex Africa expo, adds Thomson.

The launch of this European-style trade event is based on research that EMS has been conducting for the last three years, he notes.

“German trade fair organiser Hannover Fairs International, a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, is supporting Intermac Africa, Manutec Africa and Smart Automation Africa as suitable platforms for their international clients to access the South African market,” concludes Hannover Fairs International MD Gotz Dormann.

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