As pump and valve manufacturers and suppliers around the world are looking to grow their market share in Africa, particularly in the mining industry, the Pumps, Valves & Pipes Africa 2015 (PVPA) expo will showcase the latest products, solutions, projects and opportunities available.

PVPA, a component expo of the South African Industry & Technology Fair, is an industrial trade exhibition for suppliers to mining, water utilities, national and local government, industrial and civil engineering, manufacturing, food, beverage, dairy, brewing, agriculture and horticulture, petrochemicals, pulp and paper industries.

“The long-term future of mining in Africa looks bright, with Ghana’s mining industry forecast to grow to $3.8-billion over the next four years, while Tanzania, the fourth largest gold producer in Africa, is expected to grow its mining sector to $1.28-billion in 2015,” says PVPA organiser Exhibition Management Services.

Meanwhile, Angola is expecting its mining industry to grow by 5.3% a year to reach $7.5-billion in 2018. Diamonds will be responsible for most of this growth, however, iron-ore, copper and phosphates are also attracting strong interest from international investors.

Exhibition Management Services states that African mining spawns countless opportunities for ancillary industries, such as pumps, to supply products and services to new mining projects being rolled out on the continent.

“In light of this, the PVPA expo provides a versatile and effective networking platform for industrial companies to showcase their products and services to new customers and explore countless potential business opportunities in Africa,” Exhibition Management Services organiser John Thomson says.

The expo will be held from May 20 to 22 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, Gauteng.

Company Mining Division Uptake
Meanwhile, Exhibition Management Services notes that pumps manufacturer KSB Pumps and Valves, a repeat exhibitor at the PVPA, recently launched its dedicated mining division, which is specifically structured to reduce pump system downtime on mines.

“African mining is an important, rapidly growing market for our complete range of fluid management systems, from ‘off-the-shelf’ products to custom-designed solutions engineered to client requirements, supported by a world-class logistics and support network,” says KSB Pumps and Valves South Africa MD Wolfgang Demmler.

KSB provides a complete line-up of pumps, valves and end-to-end solutions for all mining applications, including assessment, design and rapid response support in the event of failures, he says, noting that the division also collaborates with customers’ technical personnel to solve water supply issues, and manage slurry pumping and processing requirements.

Moreover, initial installations have been well received by several mines in Southern Africa, he points out.

“The PVPA also provides us with a priceless opportunity to meet new customers, build relationships and introduce products and services to a wide, focused audience,” adds Demmler.

International Manufacturer Support
Several international pump manufacturers have already signed up for the 2015 PVPA. These include first-time exhibitor Ferat Dis Ticaret from Turkey, which specialises in submersible and deep-well pumps for agriculture and water supply projects.

The company will exhibit a range of cast iron pumps, stainless steel pumps and submersible motors at the show.

In addition, centrifugal pumps and associated systems manufacturer SPP Pumps, which also provides pump packages, equipment, servicing and repairs to pumps in a wide range of applications, and Performa Pumps, which specialises in sales, repairs and overhauling of pumps and associated equipment in industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural sectors, will also exhibit at the show, the organisers note.