By Rory Macnamara
Plumbing Travelling Exhibitions (PTE), now entering its third year and a great deal wiser, has shown its raison d’etre.
We hope to welcome you to our exhibitions.
The acceptance by visitors in outlying areas has been great and shows the need to reach out to plumbers and other disciplines, exposing them to the plumbing technology that is forever changing.
The fact that some exhibitors are returning to the exhibitions that suit their needs and others commit fully to all the exhibitions, shows this acceptance as well. The idea to host exhibitions at Technical High Schools (THSs) has great value, as the learners gain a broader benefit of the size of the industry. This in turn assists the teachers. Unfortunately, we cannot get THSs everywhere we go but this does not deter the plumbers, who not only engage with exhibitors, but IOPSA and other industry-relevant speakers that we invite as well.
At PTE, as with Plumbing Africa Journal, we only allow exhibitors and advertisers who are compliant to the compulsory standards as this puts out the right message. Sadly, it will not be the last time we will ask certain exhibitors to remove non-compliant products. It is sad that the manufacturer who had the SANS spec does not hold it anymore but insists on claiming the product is as good as when it held the SANS spec. Nonetheless, we will continue to press for compliance in the industry and not place plumbers, engineers and consumers at risk.
For 2024 we will – wherever possible – have a dedicated demonstration area and invite exhibitors who prefer to demo from their stands. Here, we will provide a slot and announce the demo to fit in with the IOPSA talks as well as the outside demos, such as clearing blocked drains and short-duration competitions like ‘Tossing the Toilet’.
More of this before each exhibition.
We look forward to the 2024 PTEs as we continue to learn and grow and recognise the outer areas of country and the plumbing fraternity.
