International elemental analysis company Innov-X-Africa is representing technology solutions provider Evident – formerly known as Olympus – at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba – which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 6 to 9.

With an increasing demand for portable X-ray fluorescent (XRF) instruments, owing to more multi-analysis being conducted in mining, the company will showcase the Vanta XRF, BoxScan and detectORE products at its exhibition stand.

The BoxScan was launched in 2020 by UK-based core analysis service provider Geotek, and is used to conduct core analyses, with five built-in sensors that allow for data collection.

“We think that this is going to be a game changer. More people are looking to collect as much data from core samples as possible, and we are expecting to get quite a bit of interest in the BoxScan,” notes Innov-X-Africa sales director Stuart Bateman.

The company will also showcase the detectORE – launched in July 2022 – from Australia-based technology company Portable PPB.

The detectORE comprises a technology system used to analyse low-level gold using proprietary software and the Vanta portable XRF from Evident.

Bateman says the detectORE makes analysing samples in remote areas easier, owing to its being able to yield results within eight hours.

While both products are still at the infancy stage, Bateman expects the exposure at the Mining Indaba will increase demand.

“We were unable to exhibit at last year’s Mining Indaba, so it is good to have a booth again and touch base with existing and new clients. That's what we are looking forward to doing,” he says.

Moreover, considering that the theme of this year’s Mining Indaba emphasises investment in the African mining industry, Innov-X-Africa, as part of an international company, markets its products to global mining majors, minors, midtiers and juniors, which often look to African prospects to enhance their asset portfolios.

This, in turn, enables the company in South Africa to create more local employment opportunities, establish new training initiatives and contribute to the local supply chain.

Bateman adds that Innov-X-Africa is hoping to achieve a better understanding of the African mining market following attendance at the Mining Indaba.

Innov-X-Africa's partners – Evident, Portable PPB and Geotek – are expected to exhibit alongside the company at the Mining Indaba.

“I am looking forward to welcoming our partners to the Indaba and showcasing our products; I think it's going to be a pretty good February!”