The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) and the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of their joint industry conference, held on Thursday, 14 August 2025 at the NH Johannesburg Hotel in Sandton.

With the overarching theme “PVC Transformation: Driving Progress in a Changing World,” the event attracted more than 150 delegates and 16 exhibitors from across the PVC value chain, the thermoplastic pipe industry (HDPE and PVC), government, academia, media, and related sectors.

This one-day conference provided a high-level platform for strategic dialogue, technical knowledge sharing, and industry networking. The strong attendance and quality of engagement underscored the relevance of the topics addressed and the importance of fostering closer collaboration across the plastics and pipe industries.

High-profile keynote addresses
The opening address was delivered by economist Dr Roelof Botha, who analysed the outlook for South Africa’s property sector, assessed the impact of restrictive monetary policy, and presented a cautiously optimistic view of the country’s macro-economic resilience.

Additional keynote contributions included:

• Rashmee Ragavan, Director: Advanced Manufacturing, DTIC
• Dr Mark Everard: Pundamilia Ltd, a visiting Professor at Bournemouth University and Associate Professor at UWE Bristol, on “Seeking societal symbiosis for sustainably meeting human needs”
• Jonathan Davies, Head of Global PVC Sales and Sourcing, Vinmar International (UK)
• Andres Vargas, Principal Plasticizer Technology, ExxonMobil (Belgium)
• Tibor Hajsz, Technical Sales, Anton Paar (Germany)

Parallel technical sessions offered further specialist insights. The PVC-focused programme included presentations from Jerrie Vermeulen (Sasol), Theunis Post (About Air Pollution) and Tertius Ness (South Ocean Electric Wire), while SAPPMA’s sessions, held under the theme “Pipelines of Progress: Building Southern Africa’s Future with Reliable Thermoplastic Pipe Infrastructure,” addressed industry standards, certification, installation practices, and infrastructure solutions. Contributions were made by Jacques van Eck (SAPPMA), Mike Schutte, Renier Snyman (Sun Ace SA), Kirtida Bhana (Plastics SA), Mike Smart (Genesis Consulting), and Justin Marsberg (CEISLAB).

Industry leadership perspectives

Reflecting on the success of the conference, Monique Hinds, CEO of SAVA, commented:

“This year’s programme successfully highlighted the innovation and resilience within the vinyls sector. By convening such a diverse audience of stakeholders, we were able to showcase technological progress, foster collaboration and reaffirm the critical role that PVC continues to play in delivering sustainable solutions.”

Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA, added: “The conference demonstrated the increasing strategic importance of thermoplastic pipe systems in South Africa’s infrastructure development. It provided a valuable forum for aligning local industry practices with international benchmarks, while reinforcing the need for quality, reliability and long-term performance.”

Exhibitions and networking
The event featured an exhibition hall with 16 leading companies – including Alprene Plastic Products, Anadolou Mikronize, Anton Paar, Astore Keymak, Dika Plastic Pipes, Infrastructure News, Isegen SA, Media in Africa, Pipestar Africa, Plastic & Chemical Trading, Plastics SA, Rare Plastics, SA Polymer Technology, Sizabantu, ZA Machinery, and Zerma Africa – showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and services available to the local industry.

Delegates were also afforded multiple networking opportunities, culminating in a cocktail reception that facilitated further dialogue and relationship-building.

SAVA and SAPPMA expressed their appreciation to the event sponsors, namely Alpha Plast, Continental Compounders, Isegen, Van Ryn Rubber Holdings, Anton Paar, Wega Thermo Fusion, Arrant Wise, Sun Ace SA, and Sasol, whose support was instrumental in the conference’s success.

Looking ahead
Feedback from participants confirmed the value of the joint format and indicated strong demand for similar high-level industry events in the future. Both associations remain committed to advancing the competitiveness, sustainability, and reputation of their respective industries.