A Plastics Manufacturing Conference focusing on solutions to these challenges will be held alongside the Afriplast international plastics industry exhibition, one of 10 trade shows that make up INDUTEC, the South African Industrial and Technology Fair taking place at the Galllagher Convention Centre in Midrand on 14 May. INDUTEC runs from 14 to 16 May, 2013.
The conference is being convened by specialist conference organiser mPAD (Manufacturing Partnerships for African Development) and its theme is "Finding New Solutions for Improved Productivity and Energy Efficiency". The conference features a full panel of specialist speakers from leading polymer and additive manufacturers, as well as equipment and machinery suppliers and energy-efficiency consultants.
The panel includes Bernard Reeksting, director of the Centre for Polymer Technology; Charis Lewis, account manager for additives of BASF South Africa, and Annabé Pretorious, a consultant for Plastix 911, who will identify some of the challenges that lie ahead and give an overview of the many potential new opportunities in the local and international plastics manufacturing sector.
Faith Daba, the regional project manager of the Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Project, will lead a session on how manufacturers can make practical changes to factory plants to reduce energy costs drastically.
Henk Lourens is the technical director of Ampaglas, and author of a new book Drawing a new map - doing the right things well through Strategic Learning and the Strategic Fitness Process, published earlier this year. He will discuss ways to survive and thrive in a competitive market.
Other session topics include opportunities in competitive markets, troubleshooting changeover times and contamination; energy-efficient machinery and equipment and reducing in-plant costs.
David Ashdown, event development director of mPAD, said that the plastics industry contributes 4% to manufacturing in South Africa, worth over R50 billion per annum.
"This is going to increase as Africa's middle-class population booms, creating growing demand for packaged goods," explained Ashdown. "Companies today face intense competition and this conference is intended to create a dialogue around practical methods that will help reduce operational costs, create a motivated workforce and explore how new technologies and materials can revamp the bottom line."
The Afriplast Expo is one of 10 trade shows that make up the South African Industrial and Technology Fair, better known as INDUTEC.
"Afriplast is unique; it's the only dedicated plastics industry event covering the entire manufacturing market, not just the packaging sector - in sub-Saharan Africa," explained John Thomson, MD of Exhibition Management Services, organiser of INDUTEC. "Exhibitors will showcase everything to do with plastics, from raw materials and machinery to control equipment and finished products, as well as the latest trends in materials recycling."
The nine other components of INDUTEC include the process automation exhibition, Smart Automation Africa, the machinery and engineering expo Intermac Africa, the manufacturing technologies expo Manutec Africa, the small business opportunities expo Empowertec Africa and the energy and environmental technologies show IndustrialGreentec Africa. The remaining shows comprise the third international exhibition for energy-saving technologies Energex Africa, the fourth African petrochemicals industry exhibition and conference Petro.t.ex Africa, and the fifth international water-technology exhibition Watertec Africa.
For more information on the mPAD Conference, contact Rose Bundock on + 27 (0)79 994 7483 or email moc.tnegilletnips@kcodnub.esor.
For more information on Afriplast 2013, contact Saki Magoxo on +27 (0)11 783 7250 or email moc.acirfasnoitibihxe@selas
