All images: QME.
BY ELIZABETH FABRI
AN uptick in mining activity, advances in automation, and improved collaboration; the industry has many reasons to celebrate at this year’s Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME). The biennial event is set to be one of its biggest to date – more than 35 per cent larger than QME 2016.
Running across three days in July, QME is set to deliver another impactful year of presentations and networking opportunities for the mining industry and its supply chain.
The free-to-attend trade event provides a platform for the industry to engage, interact and experience innovative new mining products and machinery; meet face-to-face with the industry’s leading suppliers; witness live demonstrations; network with peers, and of course, hear from the biggest names in the business.
This year, conference director Brandon Ward said QME celebrates a 25 year presence in Mackay.
The July event will also play an important part in refocusing the mining community’s attention on the adoption of transformative practices to stay relevant over the next decade, particularly around digital technologies and maintenance.
“It is a big milestone to reach 25 years in operation and this is a credit to the customers, visitors and partners that have supported QME over this time,” Mr Ward said.
“Without the support of the industry we serve it would not have been possible to have achieved this milestone.”
Mr Ward said the event has always tracked in parallel with what the industry was seeing in good times and bad, and this year there was a renewed sense of optimism.
“We have felt that the sector is improving and this has so far translated into QME being 35 per cent larger than in 2016,” Mr Ward said.
“The frequency of the event suits the pace of change in the mining industry and hence we have traditionally always run QME every two years.”
This year, the conference will feature more than 200 suppliers on the exhibition floor, including brands such as FLSmidth, FITT Resources, Becker Mining, Marco, Hastings Deering, GE Power, Valley Longwall and CAT Energy Power, to name a few.
Industry heavyweights such as Panasonic, Downer, and Flender (a Siemens company) will also attend.
The speaker lineup is also a drawcard, with 12 sessions across the three days featuring presentations from Queensland Exploration Council (QEC) Minerals and Coal deputy chair Darren Walker; Caterpillar Safety Technology representative Kellen Timboe; Carpentaria Rail chief executive David Fletcher; Austmine chief executive Christine Gibbs-Stewart; Hybrid MicroGrid Systems – Segment Manager Energy Power Systems Australia Ron Hall, and more.
Mr Ward said the QME team spent a lot of time researching and speaking to industry about the type of content they would most like to see at this year’s event.
“The key themes identified focused on maintenance, renewable energy, automation, procurement and supply chain and operational and occupation healthy and safety,” Mr Ward said.
“The event will also feature lots of products on display that the visitors can get up close to.”
QLD Mining Awards
QME is also a proud partner of the Bowen Basin Mining Club and Queensland Resources Council’s QLD Mining Awards, which recognise achievements across the State’s mining sector.
The awards, held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on 25 July, are open to all businesses involved in the QLD minerals and energy resources sector, from mining companies to contractors and suppliers.
“The awards will celebrate the spirit of innovation, excellence and collaboration that is fostered within the Queensland mining sector,” QME event director Brandon Ward said.
The award categories include a Cost Saving, Initiative, Innovation, Safety, Product Launch award, Staff Engagement or Equal Opportunity award, and Mining Contractor of the Year.
This year, a Collaboration award will also be introduced, which aims to put a spotlight on the most outstanding collaborative effort between producers and contractors or suppliers.
Bowen Basin Mining Club director Jodie Currie said the award was introduced to showcase some of the great work in the supply chain to achieve better outcomes in cost and time saving.
“The productivity focus of the last few years has definitely brought on this increase in collaboration as suppliers look for ways to add value and companies look for ways to increase efficiency,” Ms Currie said.
“Collaboration is a natural product of the market conditions, and it’s led to some very creative solutions and long-term efficiencies for both industry and suppliers.”
Tickets to the awards night can be purchased online at www.bbminingclub.com/awards/gala-dinner.
