Plumbing Indaba organiser interview (Part 1): Plumbing’s Travelling Exhibitions

By Megan O’Connor

For more than a decade, Plumbing’s Travelling Exhibitions (PTE) has been bringing the latest plumbing products, technologies and technical expertise directly to professionals across South Africa. On 22–23 July 2026, PTE will join forces with the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) to present the flagship Plumbing Indaba 2026 at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia, Johannesburg.

© Plumbing’s Travelling Exhibitions

Ahead of the event, Plumbing Africa spoke to the PTE team about the vision behind the Plumbing Indaba, what visitors can expect, and why collaboration across the industry is key to its success.

What is your vision for the Plumbing Indaba, and what do you hope it will achieve for the plumbing industry? 

Our exhibitions are designed to create a relaxed outdoor environment where everyone involved in the water and plumbing sectors – including engineers, town planners, building control officers, building inspectors, plumbers, merchants, wholesalers, students and even those considering a career in plumbing – can come together to learn, network and share ideas.

That same philosophy underpins the Plumbing Indaba.

By bringing suppliers and exhibitors from across South Africa to one central location, we aim to connect the Johannesburg plumbing community with the latest products, technologies and solutions. We hope visitors will leave having found practical answers to their plumbing challenges, built valuable industry connections, and discovered new opportunities.

What can attendees expect from this year’s event that sets it apart from other industry gatherings? 

Our traditional PTE exhibitions typically take place over a single afternoon in one region, attracting high-quality visitors and exhibitors. The Plumbing Indaba expands on that successful format by extending the exhibition across two full days, allowing attendees more time to engage with exhibitors and attend educational sessions. This also allows for more visitors, as we understand that not everyone who wants to attend the exhibition may be available on just one day.

This year, we have also partnered with the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) to create a more comprehensive industry event.

IOPSA will host the Plumbing Olympics, where eight plumber-and-learner teams will compete in a series of practical technical challenges that showcase their skills and professionalism. Meanwhile, PIRB will present the Plumbing Conference, featuring discussions on topics that are directly relevant to today’s plumbing industry in South Africa.

How have you designed the programme and exhibition to deliver real value for visitors? 

Everything we do at PTE is driven by the needs of the industry. We engage directly with plumbing professionals to understand the challenges they face and the topics they want to learn more about.

Working alongside IOPSA – who host the PTE workshops – we develop a programme of CPD-accredited workshops that address current industry issues. This year’s programme includes presentations on the risk of reconditioned geysers, the effects of non-compliant geysers, and mental health within the trades.

We have also liaised with our exhibitors to find out what it is that they are bringing to the Plumbing Indaba, and published it before the exhibition so that visitors are aware of who and what they can expect to see on the two days of the events. You can find those articles here. 

What do you hope delegates will take away after attending the Plumbing Indaba? 

We hope every visitor leaves the Plumbing Indaba having experienced meaningful networking opportunities, gained fresh insights and developed a better understanding of the products, technologies and services available within the South African plumbing industry today.

One of the unique aspects of a PTE exhibition is the opportunity to see, feel and touch the latest plumbing innovations, while speaking directly with the people behind them. Whether visitors arrive looking for solutions to a specific challenge or simply wanting to stay up to date with industry developments, we hope everyone leaves having learned something new and feeling more informed than when they arrived.

Why is collaboration with IOPSA and PIRB so important to the success of this event?

PTE, together with our media partner Plumbing Africa, has always been committed to promoting professionalism within the plumbing industry. That means encouraging qualifications, continuous learning, compliance with national standards and ongoing skills development.

By partnering with industry bodies such as IOPSA and PIRB, we are able to reinforce those values while bringing together the technical, educational and regulatory expertise needed to create an event that benefits the entire plumbing community.

We look forward to seeing you on 22 and 23 July 2026 in Marks Park.

MEET THE TEAM