SAPPMA holds successful Pipes IX Conference 2015

A successful Pipes IX conference was attended by close to 200 delegates on 8 September. The event, hosted by the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) at the Bytes Conference Centre in Midrand was participated by consulting engineers, pipe manufacturers, installers, international delegates, students and members of the media.

Aside from the keynote addresses, two plenary sessions centered on HDPE and PVC pipe quality, production and manufacturing trends, installation standards, challenges and new international application trends.

“Despite the economic downturn and busy end of the year pace, we were very fortunate to once again have a capacity crowd in attendance and received with terrific support from sponsors and exhibitors alike,” said SAPPMA Chairman, Jan Venter. He added that many of South Africa’s leading pipe manufacturers used the opportunity display some of their products on their stands and to network and share information about their solutions and services offered with the delegates in attendance.

SAPPMA represents more than 80 % of the plastic pipe produced in South Africa, and focuses its efforts on ensuring pipe systems that are leak-free and durable for long-term use. It also focuses on the rehabilitation of old pipelines.  As in the past conferences, this latest event attracted international attention and had foreign delegates and speakers from as far as Germany and Thailand, Mr. Venter said.
Economist Mike Schüssler kicked off the day’s presentations as keynote speaker and offered insight into the current global economic situation and what the expected impacts and ripple effects will be on the plastic pipe industry, as well as on other manufacturing industries over the next few years to come.  He said that despite economic crashes and recessions, the average person is still better off today than a century ago.

Mr. Schüssler showed that growth was picking up in advanced countries, whilst slowing down in developing countries. He also explained that the quality of South Africa’s workforce is slowing improving, and with it also  productivity. However, this will make it harder for pipe manufacturers and other similar industries to employ people without skills in the future. Although he predicts that the falling oil price will ultimately benefit South Africa in the long run, other challenges that will continue to have a direct impact on the industry in the next few years, include a growing lack of business confidence, South Africa’s energy crisis, weakening Rand and a diminishing return on investments.

Other presenters also reported on the negative impact South Africa’s failing infrastructure, deficiencies in investments by municipalities and governments, and vested interests continued to on the industry, echoing  Mr. Schüssler's sentiments.