Exhibitors, their associates, together with potential and existing clients are excited about the forthcoming Electra Mining Africa 2022. The event is the first “Live, In-person“event after a three-year hiatus when the world shut down to cope with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MBA: The conference and exhibitions sector has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and lately the economic impact of the Ukraine War, events relating to construction and mining being no exception. Despite this situation, what opportunities do ‘Live in-person’ events present to suppliers of various technologies to the mining sector? What about organisations like Specialised Exhibitions?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Covid-19 effects
The Covid-19 pandemic had disastrous consequences on the exhibitions and events industry, with the impact of the last two years having decimated many of the smaller industry players. However, the core of the industry has survived and the bigger organisers and shows have survived. Exhibitions and events are now successfully re-opening globally and the good news for local industry is that Electra Mining Africa will be going ahead as a live in-person event this year.
Since February, several B2B exhibitions have taken place successfully with excellent results being reported by all involved. In general, there have been fewer people – both exhibitors and visitors – but the quality of both is high. Those involved in shows that have already taken place, such as the KZN Industrial Show, Propak Africa, A-OSH, Securex and Frigair say that while the shows may have been smaller and visitor numbers less, the quality of both is higher. These were world-class shows that provided an excellent platform for buyers and sellers to connect and for business trade to take place.
The economic impact of the Ukraine war
The war in Ukraine has critically threatened the world’s energy supplies, disrupted global supply chains and caused significant price inflation and rising fuel prices. According to Yvonne Mhango, head of African Research at Renaissance Capital, heightened energy prices will be felt most severely in skyrocketing transport and utility costs.
Opportunities for live in-person events for suppliers
However, despite this situation, industries have been celebrating being back at in-person trade events in South Africa. Shows offer access to fresh new thinking and provide a platform to showcase the latest cutting-edge machinery, products, consumables, systems and services. Both local visitors and international visitors are visiting the shows; the internationals mainly being from across the west, east, south-central and southern African countries.
These events have provided a much-needed platform for buyers and sellers to connect face-to-face again after two years of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They provide an opportunity for industry networking to take place again, for the onsite sales of machinery and products or services, to build business partnerships and to launch new products and services. The top reasons for visiting include the sourcing of products and solutions, finding out about the latest industry trends and developments, and networking with peers.
Trends identified since this year’s re-opening of exhibitions: fewer visitors but the quality of visitors has been excellent; quality visitors from Africa; the exhibitions are smaller but this has allowed for local innovation and technology to shine through; provide a valuable platform for marketing and business/trade; also a good platform to reconnect with existing customers that may not have been seen over the past two years; and seen as a good platform to find and interact with new potential customers, to build awareness and to showcase new products and innovations.
Opportunities for organisations, such as Specialised Exhibitions
The two-year hiatus of exhibitions and business events highlighted the importance of these events. It was apparent that they were missed and had an important role to play. The exhibition and business events industry believes that they will bounce back stronger than they were before with innovation and technology being embraced to enhance them even further.
An initiative of UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the seventh edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) took place on 1 June 2022. GED events were held around the world to celebrate and promote the role of face-to-face business events in driving the global economy. Exhibitions have always played a role in bolstering and growing economic sectors – and this year has been no exception. This year’s GED campaign focused on the irreplaceable value of physical exhibitions and face-to-face business events in creating platforms for economic growth and recovery and the vital role they play.
MBA: How has been the response of stakeholders in the mining sector to the Mining Indaba 2022 – the first physical Mining Indaba – after the lull that the COVID-19 pandemic occasioned?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
According to Hyve, organisers of Investing in African Mining Indaba 2022, the event was a “reunion like no other” with the mining community back together all under one roof. This year’s overarching theme was ‘Evolution of African Mining: Investing in the Energy Transition, ESG, and the Economies.” *
The event was initially expected to attract around 4,000 delegates on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas the final number of delegates was over 6,500 according to Simon Ford, Portfolio Director for the Mining Indaba. The event also hosted three heads of state from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia as well as the Prime Minister from the DRC and forty government ministers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed
delegates on the second morning of the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2022, highlighted that the event was taking place at an important time in the globe’s recovery from the impact of Covid-19, saying that “Across the world, almost every industry is having to adapt to new circumstances, confront new challenges and be prepared to seize new opportunities.”
After a virtual event in 2021, the support from stakeholders in the mining sector to the Mining Indaba 2022 to get back to a physical event in 2022 was exceptional and demonstrated the need and value of these types of events where face-to-face interaction is so important.
*source: www.miningindaba.com
MBA: What specific changes have you introduced to add more value to the event for participants and patrons?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Electra Mining Africa will be taking place from 5-9 September at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, in Johannesburg. Specialised Exhibitions, organisers of the show, are promising an exciting interactive event with many activities planned by exhibitors and industry partners, and to also celebrate Electra Mining Africa’s 50th anniversary.
For example:
To promote the importance of Forklift operations and operators in the Supply Chain & Logistics industry, Lifting Africa and LEEASA (Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA) will be hosting a Forklift Driver competition during Electra Mining Africa. The event will provide forklift operators with an opportunity to prove their driving skills, compete with others around Johannesburg, win prize money, as well as achieve recognition as a champion. Entries are open for all operators who have a valid Forklift license and can drive either a reach truck or a counterbalance Forklift Truck in racking. The focus of the competition is on accurate, safe driving skills and knowledge, not on speed. The first round of heats for counterbalanced forklift operation will be an online test to assess entrants’ practical skills, theoretical knowledge, attitude and efficiency. Lifting Africa and LEEASA want to assist in promoting the importance of inspection, safety and training and to reward the safest forklift drivers at Electra Mining Africa.
Electra Mining Africa and co-located shows Elenex Africa, Powerex, Transport Expo and Automation Expo will be supported by a programme of content-rich conferences and free-to-attend seminars with industry experts speaking on a range of topical and important issues. The SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE) seminars will be live-streamed to enable a wider audience to participate in the learning experience.
The Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA (LEEASA), Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA), and the Society for Automation Instrumentation Mechatronics and Control (SAIMC) will be running conferences alongside Electra Mining Africa.
The new ‘Theme Days’ concept launched at Electra Mining Africa 2018 was enjoyed by both exhibitors and visitors. The ‘every day a theme day’ experience will again be part of this year’s event with Automation Day, Innovation Day, Safety Day, Future Skills Day and South African Day confirmed. The topics for the free-to-attend seminars will align with the theme days.
Day 1: Automation Day | Connecting with the future
Day 2: Innovation Day | All that’s new in machinery, products & technology
Day 3: Safety Day | A focus on Occupational Health & Safety
Day 4: Future Skills Day | Training & Skills Advancement trends
Day 5: South African Day | Celebrating 50 years and all things local
A business matchmaking programme will enhance the event through the pre-matching of visitors and exhibitors and the making and management of business meetings on-site at the event.
MBA: What about measures to cope with the changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Without compromising on the visitors’ ability to effectively interact with the exhibitors, several measures will be in place to ensure that Electra Mining Africa (and all our exhibitions) complies with the government’s regulations for safe social exchanges.
Our industry is so well regulated and safety is a prerequisite to any event plan. This was the case even before the global pandemic. Exhibition organisers and venues involved are more than capable of putting together a public event that falls within the World Health Organisation and local government COVID-19 regulations.
According to the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), as the pandemic recedes, the exhibitions industry has made a remarkable comeback thanks to its resilience, innovation, and strength. Exhibition organisers and associations have managed to quickly bring live event platforms back. Indeed, events are seeing levels of attendance similar to those before the pandemic driven by pent-up demand especially from small and medium-sized businesses to meet and do business face-to-face.
The industry has been united to bring safe, successful events back to life.
MBA: Can you tell our readers in mining about the relevance of physical events like Electra Mining Africa 2022 in the face of the growing niche of virtual events?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Following global trends, exhibitions are adopting more technology and moving to hybrid events. Whereas exhibitions remain a face-to-face, in-person event, technology can make the exhibition experience even more enjoyable, driving many aspects of the exhibition from registration to live stream of events. What is clear from the February 2022 UFI Global Exhibition Barometer Report is that the majority of respondents agree that virtual events will not be replacing physical events.
The Report also indicates an optimistic outlook for the exhibition industry; data from the barometer backs this up. Says Monica Lee Muller, President of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry: “the Barometer results highlight the accelerating pace of the industry’s recovery in 2022, following the severe impact of COVID still felt on activities in 2021. There is strong anticipation that the sector, primarily driven by physical exhibitions and business events, will bounce back quickly.”
UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf added that “in most parts of the world, this year is seeing the exhibition and business events industry busier than ever. Shows are back and calendars are tight.” He confirms the importance of live in-person events, saying that “business events drive the recovery and re-connection of industries, sectors, and economies”, and their importance cannot be underestimated.
Exhibitions that have already taken place this year reinforce the power of face-to-face connection and the value of our services. Exhibitors and visitors are returning to the show floor with urgency and enthusiasm. With the addition of digital and data services complementary to our in-person platforms, we are enhancing and evolving our event experiences to do even more for the markets we serve.
MBA: Can a virtual event for suppliers be as effective as a physical one?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Face-to-face interaction has been greatly missed in the exhibitions and events industry. Although online events and virtual exhibitions filled the void and created an environment where buyers and sellers could engage remotely, these fell short of the in-person, face-to-face experience.
Exhibitions in the modern world remain incredibly relevant. Even with the growth of the digital age, human beings are gregarious and social by nature, they need personal contact. Face-to-face interaction facilitates the building of relationships and trust; live demonstrations engage the senses, and networking and collaboration between industry professionals can take place.
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) advocates for the irreplaceable value of physical exhibitions and face-to-face business events in bringing people together and driving the global economy; there is power in face-to-face events that create platforms for economic growth and recovery.
As per the answer above, following global trends, exhibitions are adopting more technology and moving to hybrid events. What is clear from the February 2022 UFI Global Exhibition Barometer Report is that the majority of respondents agree that virtual events will not be replacing physical events.
MBA: Last but not least, what is your message to companies that could be thinking about participating in future Electra Mining events on the values they can get?
Specialised Exhibitions’ Response:
Electra Mining Africa is a much-needed platform for buyers and sellers to connect face-to-face again. It presents an opportunity for industry networking to take place, to build business partnerships and new connections, and for new products and services to be launched.
Electra Mining Africa and its line-up of conferences and free-to-attend seminars will be taking place from 5-9 September at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, in Johannesburg. Hundreds of exhibitors are ready to showcase their latest innovations, technology, products and services at Southern Africa’s biggest mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing, power and transport trade exhibition. 550 exhibitors are currently confirmed; more are expected.
Industry stakeholders were disappointed that the opportunity to interact face-to-face at Electra Mining Africa in 2020 was not possible, due to the Covid-19 hiatus. It’s an exhibition viewed by industry as one of the most important events on the calendar.
Exhibitors are eager to get back to the face-to-face environment and to the business and trade opportunities that Electra Mining Africa offers. For the past five decades, Electra Mining Africa has built a strong reputation for its ability to effectively connect people and industries, buyers and sellers.
As in previous years, many respected Associations and industry organisations will be partnering with Electra Mining Africa. Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions, has confirmed that the Society for Automation Instrumentation Mechatronics and Control (SAIMC), the SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE), Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA), the South African Mineral Processing Equipment Cluster (SAMPEC), South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) and the Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA (LEEASA) are on board as partners.
Companies exhibiting at Electra Mining Africa will have the opportunity to generate on-site sales and pre-qualified sales leads, connect with quality buyers and decision-makers, build new and existing relationships, launch new products and services to the industry, increase their product and brand awareness, strengthen business growth and invigorate connections with industry.
Thousands of local and international purchasing decision-makers and influencers will be attending Electra Mining Africa. With its proven track record for driving sales and increasing sales leads, it’s the ultimate platform to showcase the latest products, services, technologies and innovation; a chance to experience the power of live, face-to-face marketing.
