Page 12 - Energize October 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

Electra Mining Africa event draws

enormous crowds, stimulates industry

Information from Specialised Exhibitions

elebrating 50 years this year, Electra Mining Africa saw and an award like this makes the last 16 years worthwhile.”
thousands of buyers and sellers coming together at The Awards were presented in partnership between Electra
Cthe Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg from 5 to 9 Mining Africa and the South African Capital Equipment Export
September to meet in-person and see the latest innovations and Council (SACEEC). Recognising the high levels of innovation
new products, services and technologies that were on display at at the show, this year’s Electra Mining had 21 entries that
the show. were adjudicated with 18 winners and runners-up named,
During the five days of the event, over 30 000 people including the overall winner. These were across various local
connected across industries, thousands of products were and international manufacturing categories. The awards were
on display and thousands of face-to-face interactions took adjudicated by SACEEC’s CEO Eric Bruggeman.
place. Live demonstrations and competitions also kept visitors The new forklift driver competition organised in conjunction
enthralled. Buyers were able to get up close to the products, see with Lifting Africa and the Lifting Equipment Engineering
and feel the quality and speak to technical experts. The show Association of SA (LEEASA) saw many forklift operators, all in
also offered visitors the opportunity to compare products and possession of a valid forklift license, competing for the coveted
brands together under one roof. title of Forklift Driver Champion. Exceptional forklift driver skills
“It was amazing to be back after four years and we were were put to the test with the competition aiming to recognise
blown away,” says Gary Corin, the managing director of and reward highly skilled and safety conscious operators. The
Specialised Exhibitions, a division of the Montgomery Group. winner of the competition was Ian Roux who received the
“The industry came out in full force in support of the show Champions trophy and a cash prize of fifteen thousand rand.
with over 650 exhibitors occupying just less than 30 000 square The automation technology hall was a big addition to
metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space, and with over the show and as expected drew a lot of interest with the
30 000 visitors through the gates. Although we’ve come out automation-focussed free-to-attend seminars also popular
of a very tough period following the pandemic, the sense of amongst visitors. The seminars were hosted by the Society for
anticipation and the positivity that has been expressed on the Automation Instrumentation Mechatronics and Control (SAIMC).
floor of the exhibition throughout the show has been enormous. Also well received were the South African Institute of
It was back to meeting face-to-face, making connections, facing Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE) free-to-attend seminars
clients– people loving the exhibition environment that has been which saw over forty speakers presenting a variety of content-
missed. It’s been great to welcome people to Electra Mining rich topics aligned with the show’s theme days of automation,
Africa again from all parts of the globe including many visitors innovation, safety, future skills and South African Day.
from neighbouring African countries.” Connections were made and knowledge gained at the Women
“The quality of stands has been outstanding with exhibitors in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) Workshop and at the LEEASA
representing large and medium companies as well as start-ups Conference, both of which took place at the show.
and SMMEs, each wanting a chance to be at this year’s Electra International participation included the Austrian, German
Mining Africa. Some of the companies have exhibited with us and Italian Pavilions as well as exhibitors from India, Chile,
for the 50 years of Electra Mining Africa, many starting with a France, Australia, USA, Taiwan, Turkey, Switzerland, UK, Poland
9 m2 stand and some of them now having a couple of hundred and Canada.
square metre designer stands,” says Corin. “What better way “We are so thankful that exhibitions are taking place again,”
to bring a brand to life, on the floor of an exhibition where you says Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions,
are engaging with your target market and your potential target a division of the Montgomery Group. “We are grateful for all
market. It’s really a unique, value-proposition to come to an the effort our exhibitors have put into their stands which are
event like this, to bring your brand to life.” of a very high quality, and to all of the visitors who took the
There were many innovative new products, services and time to come to the show. As a 5-in-1 trade show experience, it
technologies launched at Electra Mining Africa. Congratulations covered everything from mining, electrical and automation to
went to ABC Ventilation Systems, overall winners of the Electra manufacturing, power and transport. The feedback that we’ve
Mining Africa 2022 Innovation and New Products Awards for been getting is so positive, with the message that ‘business
their latest innovation. They were also winners of the ‘Local is back’. The energy that we’ve seen – exhibitors and visitors,
Manufacturing Innovation: New Product Mining category Award’. everyone involved - was palpable. The exhibition stands, the
On receiving the awards, Terry Pearce, MD of ABC Ventilation halls, the outside exhibit areas were pumping the whole week!
Systems said that “running a business in South Africa is tough We had high expectations, but we were also mindful that we

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