TPi September 2019

Business & market news

Pipe and sewer technology trade fair More exhibitors, more visitors and the best atmosphere both inside and outside: the review of this year’s RO-KA-TECH in Kassel, Germany, was positive. “We are extremely satisfied,” said Ralph Sluke, managing director of the organiser of the trade fair, the Association of Pipe and Sewer Technology Companies (VDRK – Verband der Rohr- und Kanal-Technik- Unternehmen eV). A total of 8,565 trade visitors went to Kassel in May to find out about the latest developments and technologies in the field of pipe and sewer technology. “Including the exhibitors and their employees, who traditionally use RO-KA-TECH to maintain contacts with each other, there were more than 11,000,” said Mr Sluke. Two years earlier, the VDRK registered 7,689

visitors who came to the fair at the invitation of exhibitors or as paying guests. With additional space outside and inside, the VDRK had already expected growth. Instead of the almost 2,000 square metres that had previously been available, the Kassel Exhibition Centre had almost 3,000 square metres of outdoor space at its disposal, which was used extensively on all three days of the fair. Compared to the last RO-KA-TECH, the number of exhibitors rose from 286 to 297. “We were fully booked, so growth was limited,” explained Mr Sluke. Visitor numbers, on the other hand, showed a strong increase of 11.4 per cent. A quarter of visitors came from abroad, from a total of 59 different nations, continuing the trend that had already become apparent at the last two events. The next RO-KA-TECH will take place from 19 to 25 April 2021. VDRK – Germany

More than 8,500 visitors attended this year’s RO-KA-TECH in Kassel

info@vdrk.de www.vdrk.de

International trade fairs wire and Tube sponsor first CRU conference in Johannesburg, South Africa

to discuss future joint investment and ventures. The current investment climate as well as the political framework and economic conditions will be illustrated and discussed by local and international experts and serve as a decision-making tool for potential foreign investors interested in Africa’s industries. CRU – UK conferences@crugroup.com www.africawirecabletubeconference.com Messe Düsseldorf GmbH – Germany

and tubes are required in mining and the energy sector and in infrastructure. Messe Düsseldorf, the organiser of the wire and Tube trade fairs, is taking part as a sponsor in the Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, held for the first time by the British organiser CRU in cooperation with AHK, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Southern Africa, in South Africa from 11 to 13 November 2019. The inaugural conference will be held at the Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. The conference aims to bring together local suppliers and international experts

The African continent is full of economic challenges. Its enormous oil and gas reserves, numerous copper mines, large aluminium deposits and expanding regional steel industry have moved the continent into the focus of international investors. Ambitious infrastructure projects fuel the local economy which, in turn, seeks foreign know-how for implementing these measures. International manufac- turers of machinery and equipment for the wire and cable industries and the producers of tube making and finishing machines are therefore highly sought- after partners for industry. Wires, cables

info@messe-duesseldorf.de www.messe-duesseldorf.de

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL September 2019

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