The most important mining exhibition in Australia, Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition – AIMEX, is returning to Sydney in late August, showcasing the latest mining equipment, products and services.To be held at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, from August 20-23, AIMEX 2013 will have more than 600 exhibitors covering an area of over 45,000 sq m.Paul Baker, Exhibition Director with organiser Reed Mining Events, said that AIMEX is recognised as the pre-eminent mining exhibition in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, with the previous edition in 2011 attracting more than 17,300 visits ¬– a 40% increase on visitor numbers compared with the previous exhibition.

“The mining industry is going through a very rapid rate of change and innovation, with a correspondingly fast pace of product development. “In the two years since our last AIMEX, the industry has also really focused on productivity and efficiency, particularly with the softening in resources prices globally, and the need to reduce costs,” he said. “In response to this, the emphasis among exhibitors and displays at AIMEX 2013 will really be all about innovation; how the very latest processes, systems, services and products can really meet miners’ demands for productivity and efficiency gains. “Our exhibitors include a wide range of suppliers of innovative equipment, products and services aimed at lowering costs per tonne and increasing production and mining efficiency,” said Baker. “These include suppliers of large items of capital equipment, such as ultra-class dump trucks, underground loaders and trucks, longwall equipment and drill rigs, through processing equipment and systems, as well as training, safety and information management solutions.

“It is very much a national exhibition; we will have new products and services covering metalliferous and hard-rock mining, as well as coal mining – in both surface and underground applications.” Baker said the high rate of change and product development among suppliers to the mining industry meant that visitors to AIMEX 2013 were guaranteed to learn about innovative products, services, processes and solutions that they had not previously encountered. “This exhibition will truly offer something for everyone who is involved in the mining industry across all regions of Australia – whether they are from the central Queensland coalfields, the Far North Queensland hard rock mines, the Pilbara iron ore operations or WA’s Eastern Goldfields, or whether they are closer to home in the NSW Hunter and Illawarra coalfields, or the gold, coal and other operations in the NSW Central West,” he said.

"For long-term participants in the industry, there will definitely be new products and services they have not seen before, as well as the chance to network and catch up with colleagues and suppliers, and make new contacts. “For new entrants to the industry – at any level – it is an unmatched opportunity to very quickly get up to speed on what makes the industry tick, and what are the key products, trends and developments.” Baker said there had been unprecedented levels of interest in AIMEX 2013 from visitors. “As a result of the demand from those looking to visit the exhibition, we have opened our online registration (through www.aimex.com.au) a month ahead of schedule. We do strongly encourage visitors to pre-register, as a way of speeding their entry to the exhibition – rather than having to queue to register on the day,” he said.

AIMEX is part of Reed Mining Events’ structured calendar including:
• Mining & Engineering Western Australia (M&E WA), Perth, May 6-8, 2014
• Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME), Mackay, July 22-24, 2014
• Mining & Engineering Indonesia (M&E Indo), Jakarta, September 26-24, 2014
• Mining & Engineering New South Wales (M&E NSW), Newcastle, October 7-9, 2014