September is the beginning of our Company year which commences with the recently held Annual Conference where we review the concluding year and establish priorities for the forthcoming one, the theme for the year ahead being 'Finding New Ways' . We live in turbulent times with both international and national events causing considerable concern and, like many companies some of last year's targets will be missed, though there has also been progress in many areas, particularly developments in the International Business Division, the Distribution Centre in Zambia and some growth has been achieved.
Long accepted as the region's central reference for water and energy products and solutions, the latest version of the Product Manual was unveiled in September at the annual Management Conference. Now in its 15th edition and expanded to 400 pages, approximately 100,000 copies have been issued since its inception, the 2024 Manual is the most comprehensive yet and includes over 70 new and updated Datasheets.
As is the tradition at Davis & Shirtliff, great efforts are made to supply partners with the latest, most advanced and most efficient products and solutions available. In this years' 2024 Product Manual, significant product initiatives from Dayliff include the DSmart and DBE ranges of intelligent pumping solutions, the Sunverter 4 smart pumping inverter, the Econo range of quality value items and the revolutionary DSX permanent magnet high frequency borehole pumping range.
Spearheaded by Audit Executive Benard Karimi and his team, the Davis & Shirtliff Group has achieved a major milestone by receiving Integrated Management System (IMS) certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). The certification is a testament to the company's commitment to uphold robust systems for quality, environment, and health and safety for all stakeholders.
Themed 'Finding New Ways', this year's management conference was, as has become the tradition, a hybrid physical/virtual event staged over four days in September. The well-established format offers participants the opportunity to meet, mingle and share experiences with colleagues from across the Group.
July and August are the quiet season at D&S with many staff on holiday and activity generally at a low level before the heightened activities of the 'new term' in September when we prepare for the forthcoming year. This lull has been compounded by reduced national economic activity that has resulted from recent fiscal changes but nevertheless several important initiatives have taken place throughout the D&S Group. A most important one, held a few months ago, was the Strategy Review attended by all senior management staff and our valued non-Executive Directors and advisors when future Group priorities are debated and agreed. It is always a stimulating forum and I appreciate the contributions that everyone makes.
The D&S Technical Division under Director Philip Holi has in recent months completed an impressive array of large scale and complex engineering projects that have provided customized solutions for customers in a wide variety of applications. To raise awareness and concisely document a selection of projects spanning the various product segments, an Engineering Project Portfolio document has been published and is available in both hard and soft versions via the D&S Group website and FLO App.