Electra Mining Africa 2024 is set to deliver an an unrivalled experience, says event organiser Specialised Exhibitions, a division of Montgomery Group, which has pulled out all the stops for the biggest event in mining and manufacturing.
Taking place at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 2-6 September 2024, the event has already attracted a flurry of interest with a 30% increase in exhibitors compared to Electra Mining Africa 2022, Specialised Exhibitions, Charlene Hefer, tells Modern Mining.
“This year’s Electra Mining Africa is going to be one of our biggest and best shows in our 52-year history. There is a significant 30% increase in the number of exhibitors from the last show, exhibitors who will be promoting an array of cutting-edge products, machinery, equipment, software, services, and solutions to streamline operations and help business growth.”
Ninety three percent of the exhibitors who have committed to participating at Electra Mining Africa 2024 are South African companies, “which means that this is very much a South African show for the South African market”.
The international contingent, with participation from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Turkey, Taiwan, India and China, makes up the remaining seven percent of the exhibitors.
In a bid to court more African and international companies, Electra Mining Africa 2024’s Inward Buying Mission, organised in partnership with the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), is assisting delegates from neighbouring African countries, Europe and South America to attend the show by subsidising some of their travel costs. Buyers keen to visit Electra Mining Africa and potentially procure South African products and services, have already been screened.
“Even though there are fewer international participants, those that have confirmed their presence are focused on the South African market and keen to find traction for possible partnerships for product supply with agencies or local office set-ups,” Hefer explains.
She adds that visitors will have the opportunity to connect with over 850 exhibitors across six halls and extensive outside exhibition areas, which have access to big brands, and the latest innovations, technologies and products.
“Given that Electra Mining is all about connecting, the overall theme for the show is: Connect with Your Future in the areas of mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, power and transport.”
Why attend Electra Mining Africa?
“From drones to the Cloud to AI, the world is progressing at the speed of light. It’s not always easy to stay on top of the latest innovations in your field. But at Electra Mining Africa 2024, you’ll find all the latest cutting-edge technology on display, hear talks from trailblazers in the industry and meet hundreds of exhibitors across the areas of mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, power and transport all in one place,” says Hefer.
According to Hefer, Electra Mining Africa has a reputation as a platform for trade; its focus as a B2B event means that the organisers understand the importance of markets and connecting buyers and sellers.
“Every two years,” she says, “industry comes together for five days to trade and do business at one venue. Buyers and sellers connect. Deals are made and partnerships formed. This stimulates trade in the industrial, manufacturing and mining sectors of the South African economy. In support of this, there could be no better endorsement of the show than the almost 50% of exhibitors who, before the gates had closed on the 2022 show, had already booked their stands for the 2024 show. Moreover, the quality of the audience is a priority for exhibitors, which means we work closely with our exhibitors to attract the correct audience. Exhibitors get to connect with existing customers and potential new customers to radically increase their brand awareness, generate sales enquiries with sales made post show and, more often than not, sales made from the exhibition floor.”
Electra Mining Africa offers a 5-in-1 trade expo experience embracing all interconnected industries related to the areas of mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, power and transport.
Hefer notes that the mining industry, which plays an important role in the South African economy, remains a strong focus for Electra Mining Africa.
Other key sectors represented at the show are manufacturing and beneficiation, electronics, electrical and electro-mechanical, automation, power generation, power transmission and renewable energy, transport and ancillary services, as well as software and other technologies that facilitate a streamlined AI-leaning type manufacturing environment.
“With that in mind, Electra Mining Africa presents a platform for bringing together a plethora of industrial sectors under one roof, which is attractive to both exhibitors and visitors. The allure of Electra Mining 2024 is certainly the introduction of the latest innovations, products and technologies that will be on display across the full exhibition, along with loads of live product and software demonstrations.”
For Electra Mining Africa 2022, the organisers have received an excellent response to the New Products and Innovation Awards competition, which was organised in partnership with SACEEC. It was introduced in 2018 on a small scale and, on the back of many additional entries, grew significantly in 2022. With exhibitors now more familiar with the competition, the organisers are expecting an even higher number of entries this year. The awards recognise the outstanding levels of innovation presented at the show across local and international exhibitors.
“Organised in partnership with the SACEEC, we’re going bigger and better with the New Products and Innovation Awards competition this year. (The winners will be announced on the evening of 4 September at an exhibitor’s event with the winners displaying their awards at the show on Thursday to coincide with Innovation Day.) The Forklift Driver competition, organised in conjunction with Lifting Africa and LEEASA, is back this year on a much bigger scale. This is where exceptional forklift driver skills will be put to the test with forklift operators competing for the coveted title of Forklift Driver Champion.”
Hefer adds that Electra Mining 2024 will again offer conferences: The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) will hold a conference; Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) will hold a half-day workshop with a lifting conference hosted by the Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA (LEEASA) also on the cards.
A full programme of theme day related free-to-attend seminars hosted by the SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE) will take place with industry speakers sharing their knowledge and expertise.
The theme days are: Day 1: Sustainability Day; Day 2: Women’s Day/Skills Development Day; Day 3: Safety & Lifting Day; Day 4: Innovation Day; and Day 5: South Africa Day. (The WiMSA half-day workshop will take place on Day 2 to coincide with Women’s Day/Skills Development Day).
New on the agenda
Participating at the show for the first time is WiMBIZ, which represents 500 female owned companies in the mining industry. WiMBIZ will be creating a networking space where visitors and exhibitors can engage around beneficial business partnering opportunities. There will also be a hosted networking function to facilitate conversations.
Making its return this year is the Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo, which will be incorporated within the Electra Mining Africa event for the first time.
According to Hefer, the organisers will also be launching a new Platinum Guest visitor campaign.
For a reasonable cost, visitors to the show can elevate their visitor experience by opting for the paid-for Platinum Guest option and benefit from exclusive convenient parking, exclusive registration area and a welcoming air-conditioned lounge with complementary refreshments and workstation facilities and wi-fi availability, amongst other benefits. We are limiting Platinum Guests to 100 per day. The purchase of Platinum Guest access will be on a firstcome first served basis and will be available shortly.”
New exhibitors to Electra Mining Africa
New exhibitors at this year’s EMA are: MAS POWER GROUP, the official dealers in South Africa for Zega Drills Rigs, Think Generators, Emiliana Diesel Tanks, Think Light Towers and Think Air Compressors; Scania (which provides transport solutions for use in a wide range of applications); Sky Jacks (leading supplier in hiring and selling of powered access equipment); Bovu Pumps (comprehensive pump range ); Komatsu (a global leader in the supply of Japanese-engineered mining, construction, earthmoving and utility equipment in South and Southern Africa); BAOFN Compressor South Africa (industry leading provider of compressed air systems in South Africa); Phillips Global (manufacture, repair, rebuild and remanufacturing of underground mining equipment); AQS Liquid Transfer (importer and distributor of pumps in Southern Africa); BKT Tyres (leading manufacturer in the off-highway tyre market); VEGA Controls SA (innovative measurement technology) and Rockwell Automation (industrial automation and advanced enabling technologies for harnessing information).
“We are also thrilled that Bell Equipment will again exhibit this year,” says Hefer.
Mitigating challenges
Given that putting on a show of this magnitude is no mean feat, Modern Mining spoke to Specialised Exhibitions about some of the challenges such an event would encounter and how these challenges are managed and/or mitigated.
One of the key challenges the country currently faces is the massive backlog at the ports, with Hefer anticipating that clients might possibly encounter some delays in getting new products into the country on time.
“This is an issue we will have to navigate with our exhibitors,” she explains. “At a recent exhibition, there were some delays at the ports and some of the machinery came in late. This did make show build-up a bit tricky as the show had a high number of large and heavy machines being exhibited, but everybody involved was incredibly professional and all was ready when the doors of the show opened.”
Further to this, owing to global economic challenges, there is less international exhibitor participation compared to previous shows. However, this has opened space for more local companies to present their products and innovations at the show.
“We work hard to ensure Electra Mining Africa remains current and relevant and survey exhibitors and visitors after the show for feedback on their experiences – including positive aspects about the show – and for recommendations for change and improvements for the next event. We also work closely with the relevant industry associations around what can be added to the show to ensure attendees and exhibitors have an exceptional experience,” concludes Hefer.