Coatings for Africa Comes of Age
After two years of planning the opening day of Coatings for Africa (CFA) 2015 finally arrived as we gathered at the prestigious Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Monday 11 May. Waiting outside the conference room along with colleagues from the Local Organising Committee made up of members of OCCA and our partners the South African Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) there was a palpable sense of trepidation mixed with excitement. This was going to be a big step up from the previous event held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand in 2013. Here CFA 2013 had itself been a departure from a series of shows that had been run successfully over many years in the Drakensburg Mountains at a resort located between Durban and Johannesburg – the two major centres of the South African Coatings Industry.
All fears dissolved when the doors opened and delegates and exhibitors took their seats to witness the opening formalities and then hear a keynote address presented by South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training. Even the infamous city traffic snarl-ups couldn’t hold back the audience and most seats were occupied from the start. This served to foretell of the commitment and enthusiasm of all participants that was to follow over the next three days.
Perhaps it had been something of a gamble when we had decided to throw in with our cousins from the Construction Sector. During the week of CFA 2015 and to be hosted at the same venue other functions would take place: The African Construction Expo, The Totally Concrete Expo, African Roads Evolution and The Housing For Africa Conference and Expo. There would be one day when all these elements would be operating simultaneously and it was during this overlap that we were hoping that there would be a significant boost to our attendance numbers at CFA.
As for the CFA Expo this was a much greater show than ever before. The hall was filled with stands and there was little redundant space to be seen. For two days there was a constant stream of visitors and most exhibitors were pleased with the look and feel of the Expo. Some were even confident enough to draw parallels to the recent European Coatings Show that had taken place in Nuremburg only a few weeks earlier in April.
The time flew and amazingly we were seated in the Ball Room on the evening of the last day to enjoy a Gala Dinner sponsored by BASF in celebration of their 150 year Anniversary. OCCA President Jim Bury took to the stage and addressed the audience before making a presentation of the Kekwick Award to a deserving student of SAPMA’s training programme.
It has been a long haul from the early days of Symposia convened by OCCA going back to the 1970’s through into the 21 st Century with jointly hosted Expos and Conferences, made possible with the support and energy of SAPMA, to the arrival of a major event which now borders on World class status. Coatings for Africa has come of age and will only grow in stature as it matures and evolves over the years ahead.
A detailed post event report (PER) is available from the official website: www.coatingsforafrica.org.za and details of the 2017 event are also on-line for those that wish to add these important dates to their calendars and plans.
Danny Grady
Vice President
SA Division