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Electra Mining Africa – showcasing a world class industry

4th October 2016

  

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Electra Mining Africa  (0.02 MB)

It has been 44 years since the inaugural Electra Mining Africa was held at the Milner Show grounds in 1972. Today the show is Southern Africa’s largest trade show and one of the world’s largest mining exhibitions. Taking place from 12-16 September at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg, over 850 local and international exhibitors showcased latest technologies, products and services across 34,000m² net space of indoor/outdoor exhibition area and attracted just over 29,000 visitors.

It is a show that enjoys substantial support from the government as well as various organisations, says Gary Corin, Managing Director of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, organisers of the exhibition. “The show is a key platform for government to engage with the private sector and to stimulate trade and grow Gauteng as the industrial economic hub of the country with the export of South African technology and products into Africa and globally.”

Visiting Electra Mining Africa, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, expressed his support of the engineering and mining industry, calling Gauteng the industrial and manufacturing capital of the country, with Electra Mining Africa fulfilling an important function in showcasing the industry. “It is important to see first-hand the capacity of our industry and Electra Mining Africa gives us this opportunity. It is a great place for us to demonstrate our manufacturing capacity.”

According to the Premier, supporting and growing the local manufacturing sector and its exporting capabilities will empower and employ more people. “Meeting with these manufacturers is important as it gives us a window into these industries and their needs - needs that we as government can address to support and grow this sector.”

He spent some time engaging with exhibitors following his attendance at the Expo’s official lunch, visiting a number of the exhibition stands, most of whom are members of the South African Capital Equipment Export Council and all of which produce locally designed and manufactured goods.

Eric Bruggman, the CEO of the South African Capital Equipment Export Council, says their main focus is to assist local companies to export their products across the world and to further develop our own manufacturing industries. “To achieve this we need the support of the government to grow this sector. A strong local industry is necessary if we are to export our goods. Africa is a strong market for us as is the rest of the world. South African technology in mining is by far the best in the world - we are world class and do not have to hide from anyone. We can compete against the best.” 

The feedback from the exhibitors has been very positive with 40% re-booked for the next show. This is despite tough times resulting in companies cutting on their marketing budgets. Expos are still a great channel offering face-to-face exposure that very few other channels can offer says Leatitia van Straten, marketing director for the show. “They allow for expo demos, technical expertise to be shared, gathering of sales leads and meeting new and existing customers, to mention but a few.”

She adds that Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery understands the expo platform and so they work to maximise the benefit for exhibitors and visitors through a number of different offerings such as pre and post show analysis of who they have seen, what the market is looking like and what customers are buying and spending on.

Also positive this year were the visitor numbers to the show. Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director, Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, says: “What is most pleasing is the feedback we are getting from exhibitors on the high quality of this year’s visitor.”

Added to this is the visitor numbers from the continent. “We put in a massive effort to bring African visitors to the show. It was also very pleasing to have the CEO of the Botswana Chamber of Mines, Charles Siwawa and the Zimbabwean Chamber of Mines President, Isaac Kwesu.”

Attending the official lunch as well as being part of a panel at the SADC Africa Mining conference which was co-located with Electra Mining Africa, Siwawa, says that mining is an industry that requires intensive capital. “To ensure that the mining industry in Southern Africa receives direct foreign investment both the public and private sectors need to invest.”

For example, he says, the region has to have a steady supply of power that is reliable. “Power is a challenge in the SADC and this is not good for the region, and has meant that there has been lower profitability for the industry.”

All the seminars offered this year were immensely popular. So much so, that they will continue to build on these for the next show. “Our free seminars were very well attended and we have received excellent feedback on all of them,” Hefer says.

Visitors were also positive about this year’s Electra Mining Africa. Jaco du Preez, director at Khanyaled said he was “blown away by the quality of the stalls. The exhibitors have really gone all out. The technology on show is also amazing”. Martina Mohoje of Accelor Mittal says that “this year the new technology on display is just fantastic’, and Thapelo Maepa also of Accelor Mittal, says that “this is my first time at the show and I have learnt a lot – it was very worth my while coming here’.

“We would like to thank all our media partners and associations for their support at this year’s show. We very much appreciate and value their contribution. Thanks also to our sponsors Altech Netstar, FESTO, Dromex and Multotec,” concludes Corin.

Show organisers Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery is a member of the prestigious Montgomery Group, one of the most widely respected exhibition companies in the world with trade shows, consumer shows and specialist projects currently spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

For information on Electra Mining Africa 2018, go to www.electramining.co.za or contact Leigh Miller at email leighm@specialised.com

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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