AIMEX 2011 – Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition – attracted record trade visitor numbers of more than 17,000. This was an increase of over 40% on those for the previous 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 m2. Highlights have been widely reported on this website and can be found in the archives.According to Paul Baker, Exhibition Director with organiser Reed Mining Events, 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 New South Wales, with substantial increases in visitors from interstate, which were up nearly 60%,” he said. “In particular, visitors from Queensland increased 33% to 1,164.”AIMEX also attracted significant numbers of international visitors, totalling 1,288 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. Reed Mining Events 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.
AIMEX will return to Sydney in September 1-4, 2015.
