By John Miller, Australian Editor
For more than 35 years, the Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) has linked mining companies with providers of mineral equipment, technology and services (METS). Despite the global mining downturn, which has hit Australia particularly hard, AIMEX 2015 will again be a one-stop shop for the industry through the showcasing of the latest trends, innovative solutions and new technologies.
With companies in the mining space seeking to optimize operations and maximize productivity in the most cost-effective manner, the focus of AIMEX 2015 at Sydney Showground from September 1-4 will be on innovation and technology in mining. Most exhibitors will focus on achieving these aims through operational and cost efficiencies, automation, technology and innovations.
AIMEX organizers Reed Mining Events said that by June 30 more than 400 exhibitors had confirmed their participation, utilizing about 25,000 square meters of floor space. Company Director Robbie Clark said, “Although the mining industry has tightened considerably, we are pleased with the initial response and this goes to show that AIMEX is still considered to be a significant industry event.
“The downturn has seen most companies involved in the mining industry cut-back on spending and as a result, a number of the major mining OEMs, such as Caterpillar, Komatsu and Joy will not be represented this year, but there will still be many large OEMs and METS companies present with very impressive displays.”
These include Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., Cummins, Caltex, Eaton, Mobile Conveying Systems and Putzmeister, Flexco, Altra Industrial Motion, Duratray International, Haver & Boecker, Herrenknecht, SEW EURODRIVE, Hexagon Mining, SIEMAG TECBERG, ThyssenKrupp, TOMRA Sorting and Voith Turbo.
Other exhibitors include Anshan Heavy Duty Mining Machinery Co., ASGCO conveyor solutions, Banlaw, Becker Mining Systems, BMT WBM, Cavotec Australia, Chemgrout, Enerpac, Hofmann Engineering, Kal Tire, KAMAG, LONGI Magnet, Manitou, marco, Modular Mining Systems, Panalytical, Scheuerle, SKF Australia, THIELE, Transmin and Vayeron.
Clark said early interest from attendees had also been strong with more than 1,100 pre-registered by the end of June, which was tracking somewhere between the pre-interest shown in 2011 and that in 2013. Reed Mining Events is aiming for 10,000 attendees in 2015, slightly down from the attendance in 2013.
“As well as the exhibition, there will be an educational aspect through a series of seminars presented by industry experts who will also focus on optimization and productivity,” Clark said. “There will also be informative demonstrations by many of the exhibitors, while the event will also feature an industry dinner and the previously popular Meet the Buyer program returns this year.
“As in previous events, there will again be a strong international presence with companies from Germany, China, USA, Canada, Spain, Chile, Denmark, Poland, France and South Africa in attendance on the exhibition floor. Their presence indicates that AIMEX is still recognized overseas as an important event for the mining industry in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” he added.
Technology is the Focus
Attendees will have an opportunity to take the wheel of Hitachi’s largest rigid-body hauler, the EH5000AC-3, in a highly realistic simulator at the company’s large exhibit space.
The global mining industry continues to be challenged by lower commodity prices, increased economic volatility and rising production costs, with finding improvements and cost-savings in production even more pertinent.
Global suppliers of conveyor solutions and mechanical power transmission systems, Flexco (stand 1711) and the SEW-EURODRIVE Group (stand 1311) understand the impact of utilizing innovative products and services to enhance the production performance of mine sites and will be exhibiting a number of these at AIMEX 2015.
Flexco said its new H-Type Service Advantage Cartridge Primary Cleaner is acknowledgment of this reality, incorporating the H-Type Primary Cleaner with the Service Advantage Cartridge System that already features in three secondary cleaners across the Flexco range.
Flexco National Sales Manager Mark Colburn said, “By combining the reliable and popular H-Type with the tried and tested cartridge system, Flexco can now offer a complete easy-removal cartridge system for both the primary and secondary positions on the conveyor.
“AIMEX is the biggest show on our calendar and a great place to officially launch new products and show our conveyor solutions to a domestic and international audience,” he said.
Similarly, the SEW-EURODRIVE Group offers mining customers extensive know-how and product adaptations for their mechanical power transmission systems and motor control electronics. Industrial Gears Product Manager Ian Tribe suggested the effectiveness of their product ranges for mining applications is evident in their record of supplying the Australian mining industry, “Recently, we successfully supplied four 1.25-megawatt drives for an iron ore project in Western Australia bringing our total installations in Australia with gearboxes larger than 1 megawatt to 36.
“SEW-EURODRIVE is preparing to launch a number of new products at AIMEX 2015, suited for different mining applications, including the X Series Mixer/Agitator Gear Unit, PX Series of Planetary—Bevel Helical Gear Units and the Australian assembled XS Range, which is suited for conveyor drives in the 20 to 100 kW ranges,” Tribe stated.
Hitachi Truck Simulator
A high-tech, rigid dump truck simulator will be a feature of the Hitachi Construction Machinery Stand (0301) at AIMEX 2015. Visitors will have the chance to take Hitachi’s EH5000AC-3 rigid dump truck for a virtual spin on center stage at the company’s stand.
Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia’s Eric Green said the truck simulator would be just one of many innovative features of the stand, which is designed to showcase the full breadth of integrated solutions Hitachi and its partners offer the mining industry. “It is more important than ever for mining customers to partner with suppliers who have the proven capacity to work with them on their business goals.”
The EH5000AC-3 is Hitachi’s largest rigid dump truck, with a payload class of 300 tons. Green said that with a reputation for superior hauling capabilities in surface mining, the machine featured advanced drive control systems, a high-powered engine and a strong-structured body. The simulator will be set up to replicate an RDT plus trailer configuration.
“We’re excited to be heading back to AIMEX this year to talk with visitors about how our business can support theirs,” Green said. “Our offering in the mining sector includes not only market leading equipment, but also exceptional parts, service and ongoing product support. Through our Mine Performance Analytics, we use comprehensive data to optimize and sustain productivity across mine sites.
“We’re looking forward to talking with visitors at AIMEX about how this whole package fits together to deliver the best productivity at the lowest cost. It’s vital for mine operators to choose equipment partners who can help them boost productivity, manage costs and run their operations in the most cost effective, streamlined ways possible.”
In April, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia became the exclusive distributor of Wenco International Mining Systems throughout Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. Wenco delivers fleet management software and hardware to accurately record equipment activity, location, time, production and possible maintenance information.
“We’re very excited about this partnership, which brings together the products and services of Hitachi Construction Machinery with Wenco’s expertise in production optimization, asset health, safety and systems connectivity for mining operations. This combination delivers a genuinely scalable fleet management model for any size or type of mine and quarry,” Green said. “We’re looking forward to talking about this new partnership at AIMEX, where our team will also be on hand to discuss our specialist finance through Marubeni Equipment Finance.”
Green said specialists from across the Hitachi Group would be on hand at AIMEX to talk everything from equipment to parts, fleet planning and technology, and “pit to port” solutions.
Visitors to Hitachi’s futuristic stand will not only get the chance to put the EH5000AC-3 rigid dump truck simulator through its paces—there’ll also be a theater space featuring the brand’s latest innovations, meeting space for visitors to chat with the team, and some fun giveaways.
The Hitachi Theatre will feature footage of Hitachi gear in action, including the EX8000-6 backhoe excavator. This huge, sophisticated and powerful piece of machinery is Hitachi’s flagship excavator, weighing in at more than 800 tons, with the ability to load a 300-ton payload in a Hitachi EH5000AC-3 truck with just four passes. The monstrous EX8000-6 is transported to site by many large floats and semi-trailers and assembled on-site with the assistance of large cranes.
Putzmeister’s Telebelt TB200, billed as the world’s largest mobile conveyor, is heading to Sydney in September for display at AIMEX.
Largest Mobile Conveyor
The world’s largest mobile conveyor is headed to Sydney in September, with the Putzmeister Telebelt TB200 to be displayed at AIMEX 2015. Featuring a 62-m placement conveyor, 22-m feed conveyor and a maximum throughput of 7.65 m3 or one and a quarter Olympic-sized swimming pools per day, the TB200 will be exhibited by Australian industrial supplier Mobile Conveying Services on stand 0108.
Suited to a range of industrial bulk material applications beyond mining, Mobile Conveying Services said the TB200 provides greater production efficiency by eliminating frequent relocation, the need for multiple machines and conveyor loading systems. The independent slew of the feed conveyor and placement belt also provide productivity advantages, with the telescoping of the placement belt allowing larger areas to be processed.
“The TB200 on show is the only one in the world available for wet hire and project work, and is available for regional work as well as work in Australia. It suits large scale bulk handling work such as backfilling tailings dams, mine reclamation, port development and work on large scale hard stands,” said Mobile Conveying Services’ Managing Director Graeme Cooney.
“With cost savings an ever-present challenge for mining companies throughout the Asia-Pacific region, particularly with reduced commodity prices and global economic volatility, the TB200 provides significant cost advantages as placement or setup ground preparation is not required, which makes it suitable for projects involving sensitive or unstable ground and backfilling.
“Compared to dump trucks dumping at the face, there is no need to build, maintain and move a haul road. There are no safety and congestion issues with dump trucks backing up to a face on ground that may cause stability issues with the dump body raised. On one job the TB200 backfilled caissons [water-tight retaining structures for foundations] for a port development from land, where the alternative would have been to do this from a barge, at considerably greater expense,” Cooney explained.
He described AIMEX as being “Nationally and internationally important in bringing together the suppliers and users of equipment and services for the mining and resources sector.”
Reed Mining Events said that having the TB200 on display highlighted the innovative equipment, technology and services that were characteristic of the biennial mining trade exhibition. Clark said, “AIMEX has historically always provided mining professionals, from front-liners to executives, with access to suppliers from throughout the world, who have the latest technology and innovations. Having Mobile Conveying Services showcasing the world’s largest mobile conveyor is testament to this tradition and the innovations that will be showcased in 2015.”
First Time for Kal Tire
Canada-based mining tire specialist Kal Tire is exhibiting for the first time at AIMEX.
Mining tire specialist Kal Tire Mining Tire Group is exhibiting for the first time at AIMEX. The Canadian-based company will showcase its Total Tire Solutions for mining tire service and supply, and how this program can effectively decrease costs and improve productivity.
“Kal Tire has been operating in Western Australia for many years,” said Kal Tire Australia Managing Director Darren Flint. “We’re expanding our reach to bring our best-in-class mining tyre solutions to mines across Australia’s east and west.”
Kal Tire has spent more than 40 years delivering tire solutions to more than 150 mines across five continents. Due to having more than 1,600 team members worldwide, the company is able to mobilize quickly and efficiently to new projects. Flint said Kal Tire team members were qualified to a global standard and together had amassed a wealth of knowledge. “The constant goal is to provide mining customers innovative tire solutions that improve productivity at every step of the mining process, from sourcing, maintenance and reporting, to on-site custom solutions and safety programs.
“We’re considered a trusted partner to many leading mining companies because we’re capable of handling all of the tire requirements, every day,” said Flint. “We’re on the mine sites, bringing our global experience and knowledge to deliver tire supply and services that are really tailored to our customers’ needs. We don’t work for manufacturers. We work for miners.”
Kal Tire, a company founded in the mountains of British Columbia more than 60 years ago, has been delivering local tire solutions to mine sites around the world and at every extreme—from 14,000-ft-high sites in the Andes to the -30°C oil sands of Alberta, and the scorching rainforests of Ghana to the remote red earth of the Pilbara.
“Safety is a number one priority, like it is with any mining customer, and we’re proud to be showcasing Journey to Zero at AIMEX,” said Flint. “At Kal Tire, our goal is zero harm for every team member, every day. Like our training, we have global standards when it comes to operating safely.”
There will be an interactive display of Kal Tire’s capabilities, services, products and portfolio at AIMEX stand 2216, Hall 3.
AIMEX on the Road
In the lead-up to AIMEX 2015, organizers have taken to the road to establish a more personal and emotive industry connection, and help embed AIMEX within the mining community.
For a tradeshow with a 35-year history, firsts are hard to come by. However, faced with volatile commodity prices and cost reductions throughout Australia’s mining industry, the Reed Mining Events team decided to take their AIMEX 2015 marketing campaign to the coalface.
Reed Mining Events marketing manager Tony Richens said during May members of the team spent four days on the road visiting mine sites and mining towns three to four hours outside of Sydney. “The AIMEX Roadshow provided industry engagement and connections with the target audience. It also gave the team a first-hand experience of a mine site (conditions, workforce, machinery, process, sheer size) and met with those who will visit AIMEX, such as mine managers, production managers and engineers.
“As part of documenting the visit, a series of special video stories have been produced to be shown in the lead-up to AIMEX to highlight the mining industry and its people. These include a two-minute video entitled ‘Faces of Mining… making it personal,’ which shows a day in the life of a miner where the team visits a coal mine alongside multiskilled mine worker Michael Cowan as he explains what being a coal miner means to him.”
