One of Australia’s largest mining exhibitions is ramping up
and Mackay is prepping for the influx as the industry swarms the Queensland
town.
The Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition will
celebrate a milestone as it reaches its 21st year.
The show will held during a tumultuous time for Queensland
mining industry, as the state’s main mining sector – coal – is facing a serious
downturn.
Speaking on the timing of the event, REEDMININGEVENTS
director Paul Baker described the exhibition “as an indicator of where the
Queensland mining industry is currently situated and where it is headed”.
“QME is really a snapshot of where the QLD mining industry
is positioned and where it is heading. QME 2014 is focused on providing
solutions that result in better productivity, better efficiency, and better
optimisation.
“At QME exhibiting suppliers will be offering solutions that
are designed to improve efficiency, increase productivity, and optimise mine
site operations – solutions designed to result in ‘better mining’,” Baker said.
“I would expect that with any ‘realignment’ or ‘shift’ in
the industry the importance of exhibiting and visiting QME is greater as the
necessity of the solutions on display is more pertinent than ever before.”
First held in 1993,
the event has continued its focus on providing attendees with innovative
technological solutions and techniques designed to improve mining efficiency
and productivity.
And this year is no different.
The TechTrails, which featured at Reed Exhibitions’ National
Manufacturing Week, will also be making their appearance at the Queensland
Mining and Engineering Exhibition.
These TechTrails are designed to “filter attendees to stands
based on their product or service categories, maximising their face-to-face
time with suppliers that have solutions to meet their business needs”.
These trails include automation; engineering; environmental
management; materials handling; minerals processing, open cut mining
technology; operational safety; underground mining technology; as well as one
highlighting new exhibitors to the show.
“Pioneered at AIMEX 2013, the TechTrails initiative will act
as a filtering system that navigates attendees to suppliers who have the
solutions that relate to their business needs,” Baker said.
It has also developed a standalone QME mobile app, which can
be used offline, and allows users to create a profile, preselect suppliers to
visit, and engage with others users at the show.
“This year at QME we have incorporated various strategies to
ensure that visitors’ time onsite is as efficient as possible, by connecting
them with the suppliers of their choice, to maximise their experience. As a
result decision-makers and attendees will be afforded an unrivalled platform to
source the latest ground-breaking solutions that stem from technological
advances and innovation,” he said.
‘The TechLab’ is also a key feature of the show.
It will showcase new step change technology and supports the
focus of the exhibition to be a platform for mining companies to source new
innovations for mining processes.
As part of this hub within QME’s Interactive Zone there will
also be a series of TechTalks that will be delivered by a number of exhibitors,
and is just one of a number of free education streams available at the show.
However the event this year is not just about the equipment
and technology.
According to REEDMININGEVENTS it “has introduced a range of
measures aimed at providing attendees and suppliers with the best experience as
possible at QME, with a number of new initiatives being implemented, which
includes a QME mobile app, theme days such as the Women in Mining Day, and a
new mechanism that maximises the time of visitors with suppliers of their
choice and a hub for step change technology”.
In the vein of all of its recent mining events, its Women in
Mining theme day will take precedence during the exhibition and conferences.
On the Wednesday night of the exhibition, QME will partner
with the Bowen Basin Mining Club to present the inaugural Queensland Mining
Contract Awards, which will showcase and celebrate the achievements of the QLD
mining sector, and recognise the success of the METS sector in the region.
QME will run from the 22nd to the 24th
of July.