Plumbing Africa July 2017 | Page 12

10 NEWS Protecting the trade By By Dineo Phoshoko The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), together with DPI Plastics, hosted the Gauteng plumbers evening at DPI’s new HDPE factory adjacent to the original manufacturing facility in Roodekop, Gauteng. It was an evening for plumbers to network and learn more about the industry and the manufacturer. The vice chair of IOPSA Gauteng region, Dean Cane, said the event was the first of its kind and provided an opportunity for plumbers to share ideas. “It’s an educational and networking event,” explained Cane. The event was also a way of IOPSA finding ways to assist plumbers with tools and information to improve their businesses. The event started with a tour of the new DPI Plastics high-density polyethylene (HDPE) factory, where attendees, mostly plumbers, got to see how the pipes are made. The factory manufactures durothene- branded HDPE pressures pipes, which can be used in civil engineering, building, and mining, among others. Products manufactured at DPI’s factories adhere to the South African National Standards (SANS) and internationally recognised standards, such as ISO 9001. DPI Plastics also has a manufacturing facility in Bellville, Cape Town. During the tour, attendees saw the entire manufacturing process of HDPE pipes, from the raw materials to processing and the end product. The HDPE pipes come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 16mm to 1 000mm. Attendees were also treated to a PVC extrusion and injection moulding tour. After the tours, IOPSA hosted a session where several presentations relevant to the plumbing industry were held. DPI Plastics technical and product manager Renier Snyman started off the proceedings with a presentation on the benefits of using quality PVC sewer products. One of the points that Snyman touched on was the Acts, regulations, and standards related to the products. Emphasis was placed on always ensuring that all installations adhere to industry standards. Debbie Donaldson, a leadership consultant from ‘Because you’re worth it’, followed with a presentation on skills development and opportunities within the industry. Her presentation highlighted the importance of mentoring and upskilling young up-and-coming plumbers. “IOPSA will provide shared support services and they will access governance — they’ll show you how to do it, what to do, A few of the IOPSA members who attended the plumbers evening event. July 2017 Volume 23 I Number 5 www.plumbingafrica.co.za