Industrial groups, engineering councils, employer associations and business chambers from across South Africa have lent their backing to the 2013 edition of the South African Industry and Technology Fair (INDUTEC)
The three-day event, which will incorporate 10-shows-in-one, will take place from 14-16 May 2013 and will be held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Showcasing the latest in South Africa's industrial prowess, the event will incorporate a number of dedicated trade shows, including Afriplast Expo 2013, an international plastics industry expo, and Empowertec Africa 2013, a dedicated showcase for small business opportunities.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) will also host its yearly conference at INDUTEC where it hopes to highlight achievements from its 70-year history.
"SEIFSA sees the SA Industry and Technology Fair as an ideal conduit to promote our members and our objectives to the metal and engineering industries at large," said Adelia Pimentel, marketing and communications manager at SEIFSA.
According to Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) strategic services executive Edgar Sabela, the show will provide a way to promote engineering as a career in South Africa in order to help the country compete with developed markets outside the continent.
"We need to produce 10 times more engineers to compete with developed economies," remarked Sabela.
"Involvement with the INDUTEC show will allow us to promote engineering as a career through our Engenius Programme, and showcase our existing engineering excellence. Most importantly, it enables us to network with all key players in the field and even conclude some business."
John Thomson, managing director of EMS, noted that the show would benefit from coinciding with recent government industry initiatives designed to raise competitiveness across a range of economic sectors.
"INDUTEC 2013 will be boosted by government initiatives such as the new US$700mn (R5.75bn) Manufacturing Competitive Enhancement Programme," Thomson stated.
"The National Development Plan and the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act are also all feeding the demand for new technology."
Along with Afriplast Expo 2013, Empowertec Africa 2013 and the annual SEIFSA meeting, other events taking place during INDUTEC will include Watertec Africa, Smart Automation Africa, Industrial GreenTec Africa, Pumps Valves and Pipes, Petro.t.ex Africa and Energex Africa.
"By holding these shows together in one venue in 2011 we proved that trade fairs in South Africa – and their participants – could undoubtedly benefit from the critical mass and synergy generated by this co-location," concluded Thomson.
The exhibitions and conferences to held under the umbrella platform of INDUTEC 2013 will include:
Pumps Valves and Pipes Africa
The eighth version of the international trade exhibition
Watertec Africa
Fifth edition of the international water technology exhibition
Petro.t.ex Africa
African petrochemical industry exhibition and conference
Intermac Africa
Industrial technology, machinery and engineering supplies
Manutec Africa
Manufacturing technologies expo
Smart Automation Africa
Process automation exhibition
Afriplast Expo
International plastics industry exhibition
Energex Africa
Third international energy exhibition
Industrial GreenTec Africa
Global trends in energy and environmental technologies and sustainability in manufacturing
Empowertec Africa
Small business opportunities showcase
