MTE EXHIBITIONS •
TRAVERSING THE YEAR AHEAD WITH MTE
By Sharyn Macnamara
Mining and Technical Exhibitions ( MTE ) shares its vision for planned tradeshows in 2025 and the benefits these expos offer to exhibiting companies and the visiting mining professionals eagerly awaiting MTE ’ s next stop .
The MTE calendar was launched in September 2024 and boasts 27 well planned events , including 6 local combo shows and 3 over-border experiences , with customary trilogy shows in Botswana and Zambia and a combo show in Ngezi and Gweru , Zimbabwe . Operations director Andrew Macnamara says that Zimbabwe will be an area of interest the company plans to drive and build on in 2025 . The combo and trilogy shows are always favourites because they offer an economic annual route to SADC markets for South African and in-country , local innovators .
The combo and trilogy shows run a day apart over border to reach as many mining professionals as possible in these SADC countries . The benefits have been well documented and are clear . Macnamara homes in on the difference in benefit to exhibitors between the local , smaller on-site shows – like a Moab Khotsong ( with around 35 stands ) – and those that cater to an area , like the larger Emalahleni expo ( with around 120 stands ).
The intimate shows , although smaller and more focussed , are likely to get a new exhibitor / supplier listed on the mine house group procurement vendor list , which opens doors for further interaction across the group ; while exhibitors at the area , commodity-specific or general industry shows might meet operators from different mines and can leverage multiple “ touch points ” at that particular expo .
Gold – a firm favourite MTE has included several onsite mining expos in a gold-commodity focussed drive for 2025 . Five of the local South African expos are focused on gold mining , following the global trend of a more than 30 % gold price increase in 2024 . “ With the gold mining sector riding the crest of this wave , it made sense that we increased our presence in this sector in 2025 , as gold miners set their sights on safely increasing productivity and efficiencies ,” says Macnamara . MTE plans to grow the intimate Doornkop show and Odendaaalsrus area expo , which debuted in November 2024 .
New Brits expo supporting PGM drive Despite the challenges faced by the PGMs business in 2024 – with deficits driven by robust demand and ongoing supply vulnerabilities and the PGMs price not responding to supply / demand fundamentals – Macnamara pointed out that word on the ground is that “ all is not quiet on the PGMs front ”.
The relevance of platinum ' s growing role in the hydrogen economy remains strong , per the World Platinum Investment Council , with the ongoing allocation and deployment of over USD300-billion in tax incentives and subsidies from governments worldwide continuing to support and potentially accelerate platinum demand in the hydrogen sector .
Furthermore , with trends in thrifting , vehicle mix and stagnating emission legislation , despite reducing its average 2025f to 2028f platinum automotive demand forecasts by 5 %, the council notes that the overarching automotive narrative is that of resilience . “ We only expect platinum automotive demand erosion of -1 % CAGR from
2023 to 2028f which is a far cry from the sentiment of the last three years where many market participants had expected sharp demand destruction due to drivetrain electrification . Instead , battery electric vehicle ( BEV ) sales growth has slowed drastically in 2024 , while hybrid internal combustion engine ( ICE ) demand has proven robust .” 1
Macnamara emphasises , “ We will continue to drive our expos focussed on this commodity , and in fact we have created a new expo in Brits to support our PGMs focussed Rustenburg show , which hit all time highs in 2024 with incoming visitors from surrounding areas , including Mooinooi . We have replaced the customary smaller Mooinooi expo with our new Brits show , which promises to draw visitors from areas further afield – to expand the reach and impact of the innovation showcased by exhibiting companies in the sector .”
Macnamara points out that the different MTE expo-types and interactions with the market – from intense annual over border combos and trilogies ; to onsite , extremely focussed experiences ; to the area , commodity and industrial tradeshows – have all played a role in MTE ’ s 30-plus year SADC success and growth precisely because the philosophy is malleable and answers the call of a cross spectrum of operations and suppliers .
“ Our agile philosophy involves taking solutions to the mines to improve safety and efficiencies , ultimately to promote sustainability for our entire mining ecosystem ,” says Macnamara .
Herbert van Rensburg , mine manager at Lomoteng Mine in the Northern Cape attests to this in a letter in which he expressed his gratitude to the company ’ s team for the exceptional experiences the mine ’ s operational teams have had at the MTE Kathu Mining and Industrial Exhibition in the Northern Cape over the past six years . He noted that the mine had “ witnessed remarkable improvements , particularly in the technical advancements showcased . The innovations displayed at the expo are truly impressive and have provided us with valuable insights into the latest trends and techniques in the mining industry . As a manganese mining company , staying informed on the latest developments is crucial for our operations . The information and advancements we have gained through the expo have significantly enhanced our processing capabilities and overall efficiency .”
On the other side of the coin , Kunal Bansi – sales manager for Mining and Minerals at Ronin System Solutions , an exhibiting company , said , “ MTE provides a unique platform to connect directly with key decision makers , stakeholders and the front-line employees within the mining and industrial sector . The trade shows give us the opportunity to showcase our solutions in a hands-on environment . The expos enable Ronin to build brand visibility , foster relationships and stay ahead of industry trends by engaging with both customers and competitors in real time . The MTE platform offers meaningful interaction and helps us generate potential leads in a more focussed and localised way .” •
References : 1 . https :// platinuminvestment . com / supply-and-demand / 2-to-5- year-view
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