Quarry Southern Africa March 2017 | Page 12

Aspasa attends Chinese aggregates conferences
The 17th SMOPYC International Show of Public Works , Construction and Mining Machinery is returning to Spain ’ s Zaragoza Exhibition Centre from 25 to 29 April 2017 . Over 450 brands will be in attendance , displaying machinery , equipment , and technology . The show serves as a meeting point for professionals and leading brands , and organisers have designed an ambitious programme to run alongside it . One of the highlights will be SMOPYCDEMO , a demonstration area outfitted to enable companies to exhibit the full potential of their machinery . Zaragoza Exhibition Centre will offer a unique doorway into Europe for businesses from Spain , Portugal and North Africa .
Volvo Construction Equipment ( Volvo CE ) will be moving its global headquarters from Brussels , Belgium , where it has been since the 1980s , to Gothenburg , Sweden . The relocation will facilitate closer co-operation with the Group ’ s other business areas and allow for better usage of the competence and resources of the whole Volvo Group . According to Martin Weissburg , president of Volvo CE and member of the Executive Board of the Volvo Group , Sweden is home to around 4 000 Volvo CE employees and is where some of the company ’ s largest manufacturing , commercial , and technology sites are located . The new headquarters will be operational in Q3 2017 .
Powerscreen announced its intention to enter the Chinese market at bauma China in December 2016 . The first machines will enter the Chinese market in 2017 . “ We see a requirement for Powerscreen products working in the small recycling business , medium-size contractors , and mine sites in China ,” said Willie Yin , business development director at Powerscreen China . “ While the Chinese market has traditionally used static crushing and screening equipment , we believe there is an expanding market for the mobile concept .” According to Yin , the company plans to replicate its global distribution network in China . An applications department has also been established to provide the necessary guidance to Chinese customers .
Aspasa attends Chinese aggregates conferences
The Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa ( Aspasa ), directed by South African representative and Aspasa director Nico Pienaar , attended the China International Aggregates Conference and the China Recycled Aggregate Associations from 13 to 14 December 2016 .
According to Pienaar , recycling is a current focus area for the association and it was included in discussions by the Department of Environmental Affairs at the end of 2016 . The department has started focusing on the correct handling of rubble , and Aspasa will also be paying attention to this issue .
South Africa has an abundance of minerals , whereas China has little and has to purchase its
minerals , but it does mine its own aggregate , with volumes in the region of 20 billion tonnes per annum ( tpa ), compared to South Africa ’ s 120 million tpa .
Pienaar says that suppliers to the aggregate industry in China have realised that they need to work with the Aggregate Association , and they are heavily aligned with and involved in the industry body . Chinese suppliers were also very interested in what Aspasa ’ s function in South Africa is . Aspasa will be focusing on supplier membership in South Africa .
“ It also became clear that the sharing of information in the aggregate industry in China as well as other countries is essential . Aspasa has been reasonably successful in this , but needs to expand ,” says Pienaar .
“ A further issue that was raised at the Global Aggregate Information Network ( GAIN ) meeting last year was again raised : illegal aggregate and sand mining . The Chinese association has convinced the country ’ s government to act , and serious steps are being taken to stop illegal aggregate and sand mining in China .”
The China Aggregate Association is eager to work with other international aggregate producer bodies , and GAIN is an ideal vehicle for co-operation . Roads and infrastructure development were highlighted as essential to growing a country ’ s economy .
At the China Aggregates Conference , Jim O ’ Brien , GAIN co-ordinator and honorary president of the European Aggregates Association ( UEPG ),
delivered a presentation and shared global production trends . The presentation covered Europe ’ s recession from 2007 to 2013 , with a 30 % decline in production during that period and subsequent signs of slow economic recovery , with a production increase of approximately 1 % per year since 2013 .
Also covered were national production levels for 2015 , which have Germany as the largest producer ( 545 million tpa ) and Malta as the smallest ( two million tpa ). According to O ’ Brien , globally , aggregate production comprises 47 % crushed stone , 41 % sand and gravel , 8 % recycled , and the remaining 4 % split between manufactured and marine aggregates .
Some of the GAIN key industry ambitions identified by O ’ Brien were : eliminating fatalities and accidents ; ensuring employee health ; minimising water impacts ; nurturing biodiversity ; increasing recycling ; planning for future demand ; ensuring future access to resources ; campaigning against illegal quarrying ; preparing for upscaling ; lobbying for the future ; continuing to promote the sector and its benefits to society ; and attracting excellent people .
Aspasa
A huge delegation from China and around the world was present at the recent China International Aggregates Conference and China Recycled Aggregate Associations , which took place in China from 13 to 14 December 2016 .
10 _ QUARRY SA | March 2017