Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition (QME) 2018 saw more than 4,000 attendees visiting the event to explore the latest strategies and technologies driving productivity, profitability and protection of the industry.
More than 230 exhibitors attended this year’s event, an impressive 41 per cent increase on QME 2016. Industry heavyweights included Downer Group, Flender, Flexco, FLSmidth, Puma Energy, SMW Group, thyssenkrupp and Valley Longwall International.
Representation from key mining companies Adani, Anglo American, BHP, Glencore and Yancoal reaffirmed QME as a must-attend event for the Queensland mining industry. Collaboration was an underlying theme in the QME Seminar series sponsored by March IT.
With Australia’s mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector contributing $86 billion to the Australian economy and supporting half-a-million jobs, QME 2018 also welcomed Australian Government representatives, Senator Michaelia Cash (Minister for Jobs and Innovation), Senator Matt Canavan (Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) and Mr George Christensen MP (member for Dawson).
Brandon Ward, director of QME 2018, said the success of this year’s exhibition reaffirmed the strength of the industry and its continued importance to the Queensland economy, with initial reports indicating a multi-million-dollar boost to the region during QME.
“With the sector playing such a significant role in the nation’s prosperity, it’s important that leading companies, decision makers, and personnel in mining and engineering have a major calendar event to come together to network and source the latest products and services,” said Ward.
“We would like to thank our supporters and all of the attendees, exhibitors, and speakers who chose QME 2018 to be that event, and Mackay to be that location.”
Ian Macfarlane, chief executive of supporting partner Queensland Resources Council (QRC), said the popularity of QME 2018 represented tremendous opportunity for businesses in the region.
“QME has been a fixture in Mackay for the last 25 years and remains the most important trade show for the region’s mining industry. It is truly a festival of innovation – brimming with ideas, energy and pavilions of all the latest products,” said Macfarlane.
“The exhibition provided a great opportunity for industry to come face-to-face with the best innovators the country, and find new opportunities that will safeguard the industry for generations to come in Australia.”
QRC figures show that last financial year, minerals and energy companies injected almost $14 billion into Mackay and Fitzroy regional economies. A survey of QRC’s chief executive officers (CEOs) showed that more than half were looking to increase their spending with local businesses this year.
QME also played host to the 2018 Queensland Mining Awards, celebrating the spirit of innovation, excellence and collaboration that is fostered within the highly competitive industry. QME sponsored this year’s Best Product Launch Award, won by Control Systems Technology for its IntelliRoll an autonomous ‘plug-and-play’ conveyor belt weigher.
QME will return to Mackay in July 2020 but the next major event for engineers, mining personnel, production managers and other professionals in mining and engineering will be the Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) set to be held August 2019 in Sydney.