Modern Mining August 2016

ELECTRA MINING AFRICA

A preview of Electra Mining

Taking place from 12-16 September at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg in an economic climate that is anything but favourable for the mining industry, Electra Mining Africa (EMA) 2016 is nevertheless expected to have over 850 local and international exhibitors who will collectively occupy 38 000 m 2 of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Modern Mining looks at what visitors to the show can expect to see.

E lectra Mining is reputedly the larg- est trade show in Africa and is certainly one of the largest mining shows in the world. Although in recent years some of the ‘big name’ suppliers of mining equipment to the mining industry have been absent, the total number of exhibitors has increased and Electra Min- ing remains one of the most important events in the mining calendar. Given the recession in mining, it will be interesting to see how many visitors it attracts this year but the organisers are hoping for around 40 000 – a figure that has been achieved in the past (although not in 2014, when the last Electra Mining was held). The show has the support of leading indus- try associations including the Southern African

Right: Visitors crowd the aisles at the 2014 event. The organisers are expecting up to 40 000 visitors at this year’s show. Below: Outdoor stands at Electra Mining Africa 2014. EMA is regarded as the largest trade show in Africa.

Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers (SAIMechE), the Engineering

44  MODERN MINING  August 2016