Water, Sewage & Effluent July-August 2017 | Page 35

I am still waiting for the responses. In fairness, a couple did reply and for you I am appreciative, but this is a really poor showing given that of the people I contacted, 40-odd agreed to participate. By no level of the imagination can this result in a survey, debate, or even a mere conversation. Going by the interactions I had at the INDUTEC 2017, the large Chinese presence made many of the exhibitors jittery, commenting that this was why the footfall was down at the show. The consensus was that inferior products are flooding the market, many of which are laid at the door of the Chinese manufacturers. According to the industry specialists in attendance, the pipe and valves sector specifically is going through a ‘tough time’, with competition rife among suppliers and manufacturers, as companies offering inferior products undercut local suppliers, while not offering adequate after-sales service. It would therefore make sense that the (free, gratis, mahala) opportunity to showcase their products would have been met with open arms, wouldn’t it? I still think this is a perfect opportunity in which to participate, so please see the questions I sent out and I encourage you to participate. Send your information to [email protected] — and please don’t keep me waiting … u