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TheInternational Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation(IWSH) and theWorld Plumbing Council(WPC) will host 12 young plumbers from seven different countries at ISH 2023 inFrankfurt, Germany, to showcase the job skills needed by today's plumbing professionals.
In the latest edition of the WPC-IWSH Plumbing Champions program, the plumbers will assemble pre-wall frame systems and internal plumbing during the first three days of the ISH show. The systems will then be transported to and installed in bathrooms at Niddahalle, part of the Eintracht Frankfurt sports club in the west of the city, which is undergoing modernization retrofits.
The showcase demonstration will run fromMarch 13-17.
Eintracht弗兰克furt sports club is the social partner for this new Plumbing Champions initiative at ISH 2023, the world's leading trade fair for the HVAC and plumbing industries held biennially in the city. "Plumbing Champions is a first for ISH Frankfurt 2023," saidStefan Seitz, Messe Frankfurt's director of Brand Management for ISH 2023. "Our theme for this year's show is 'Solutions for a Sustainable Future,' and we are pleased to work with the WPC and IWSH to give something back to our host city while simultaneously bringing our theme to life."
The bathrooms in Niddahalle are more than 40 years old, built before today's high-efficiency plumbing solutions that use less water. "Frankfurtis a water-stressed area. Drought conditions threatened significant economic damage last year when water on the Rhine got so low it impeded barge traffic," saidDave Viola, CEO of IAPMO and IWSH (IAPMO's philanthropic arm) and deputy chair of the WPC. "The plumbing industry can alleviate water stress through improved water technology and a skilled workforce. We're here to demonstrate it in real life."
The WPC will bring Plumbing Champions toFrankfurtfrom the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry ofthe United StatesandCanada(UA), the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (Australia), Apprenticeship Training Trust (New Zealand) and the Connect Trade Union (Ireland); all hosted and working together alongside peers from theFrankfurtbranch of Innung Sanitär Heizung Klima (SHK), the master craftsperson's guild for sanitation, heating and air conditioning in the city ofFrankfurtam Main,Germany.
"Plumbing Champions provides a unique international learning and networking experience for up-and-coming plumbers from across the WPC membership," WPC Chair and UA Director of Plumbing ServicesTom Bigleysaid. "Plumbing Champions celebrates youth, diversity, and new approaches shaping the future of our industry."
The following Plumbing Champions are scheduled to participate:Patrick Howorka, Alexander Tödter andColin Cubr(Germany);Danny Hoekstra(Australia);Sam Madgin(New Zealand); Veronika Schächle (Liechtenstein);Alex Svetz(United States);Elijah Sommers(Canada); andJamie BerminghamandJames Stenson(Ireland).
This new Plumbing Champions initiative will showcase retrofit approaches that advance energy-efficient goals for the built environment: critical industry requirements set out in modern-day, international agendas such as the European Green Deal. The team will perform tasks including joining and bending hot and cold water piping systems, installing cisterns and brackets for water closets and basins, and joining HDPE waste pipe. Participants will install plumbing systems designed by Geberit, a European leader in sanitary products working in partnership with theFrankfurtbranch of Innung SHK.
"We are grateful to the World Plumbing Council for creating Plumbing Champions to increase awareness and understanding of the essential roles and responsibilities of plumbers — installing and maintaining advanced technologies to build stronger and more resilient communities," saidPeter Paul Thoma, chairman of the plumbers guild ofFrankfurt.