Plant Equipment and Hire November 2018 | Page 34

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS ELECTRA MINING 2018 KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK By Ntsako Khosa | All photos by Ntsako Khosa The biennial Electra Mining Expo brought the mining, industrial, construction, and electrical industries together for an energising experience. An Eazi Access engineer taking a visitor through the Maeda MC285 mini crane. H eld at the Nasrec Expo Centre from 10 to 14 September 2018, visitors were treated to a 4-in-1 show that showcased products, services, and technologies from close to 900 exhibitors spread throughout the Expo Centre. Lots to see and do Live demonstrations, conferences, and free-to-attend seminars left attendees spoilt for choice on what to do and see. The seminars focused on various aspects of the industries: Training; Industry 4.0 (also known as the digital industrial revolution); the Mandela Mining Precinct; aligning expertise with the Mining Charter; health and safety; bridging the innovation gap through commercialisation; looking at 32 NOVEMBER 2018 a South African perspective of innovative and technological requirements for the future of mining; mining trends; and economic and social impacts of the mining sector, were just some of the topics covered throughout the week. Associations like the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), the Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of South Africa (LEEASA), and Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) held conferences alongside the exhibition. SAIMM looked at fostering a regional approach to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) transformation in sub-Saharan Africa. The conference explored policy and legislative changes that would optimise the current ASM legislative framework in South Africa in line with the aspirations of the African Mining Vision (AMV) to deliver on the objectives of the 2030 National Development Plan. The Lifting Equipment Conference, hosted by LEEASA in association with Lifting Africa, featured players in the industry discussing topics such as the South African Institute for Non-destructive Testing (SAINT-NDT), mobile cranes, overhead cranes, tower cranes, lifting tackle SANS standards, crane accidents, heavy-lift projects, Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and Lifting Machinery Inspector (LMI) registration, as well as telehandlers. WiMSA hosted a workshop in support of its vision to create an empowering network to inspire, support, and develop www.plantonline.co.za