AIMEX 2011 breaks all records
AIMEX – Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition 2011 attracted record trade visitor numbers of more than 17,000 – up over 40% on those for the previous edition of the event in 2007.The exhibition, which was held at Sydney Olympic Park from September 6-9, was the largest mining exhibition ever held in Australia, with more than 600 exhibitors across over 50,000 square metres.
According to Paul Baker, Exhibition Director with organiser REEDMININGEVENTS, initial unaudited figures show that AIMEX 2011 attracted a total of 17,382 visits over the four days.
"Just over 75% of our visitors – 12,188 – were from NSW, with substantial increases in visitors from interstate, which were up nearly 60%," he said. "In particular, visitors from Queensland increased 33% to 1164.
"AIMEX also attracted significant numbers of international visitors, totalling 1288 from 49 countries, a 40% increase on our 2007 numbers."
Baker attributed the substantial increase in visitor numbers to a number of factors.
"Certainly the fact that the mining industry in Australia is booming, with massive ongoing investment over the next five to 10 years, contributed to a very strong show.
"AIMEX provided an ideal venue for a large number of suppliers of mining equipment and services to get in front of a substantial mining industry audience that is keen to see the latest technology and industry developments first hand," he said.
"Feedback from the great majority of our exhibitors was that AIMEX 2011 delivered a high-quality audience that was there to engage with them, find out about new technology, organise quotes and even place orders.
"REEDMININGEVENTS developed a marketing program designed to take advantage of a booming mining industry, positioning AIMEX so as to appeal to the widest possible audience within the industry," said Baker.
"This included marketing to the industry throughout Australia – not just within NSW – and also working with mining companies to encourage their ‘frontline’ workers, as well as senior mining management, to attend AIMEX.
"Through our AIMEX Frontliner program – aimed at mine equipment operators, fitters, tradespeople, supervisors and pit managers – we attracted significant additional attendance from these key purchasing influencers.
"Another element of AIMEX that worked very well was our theme days, particularly Women in Mining, and our Recruitment and Training day.
"These significantly raised the event’s profile, and have also given us a strong platform to further develop all shows within the REEDMININGEVENTS structured program of mining exhibitions in the years to come," Baker said.
AIMEX will return to Sydney in September 1-4, 2015.
Forthcoming REEDMININGEVENTS over the next two years are:
Queensland Mining & Engineering (QME) exhibition in Mackay (July 24-26, 2012)
Mining & Engineering NSW (M&E NSW) in Newcastle (August 28-30, 2012)
Goldfields Mining Expo (GME) in Kalgoorlie, WA (October 30-November 1, 2012)
Mining & Engineering WA (M&E WA) in Perth (July 2-4, 2013).
