News

International interest in new mining technology trade fair exceeds expectations

Posted on 18 Jun 2013

Arranged for the first time this autumn, EuroMining 2013 has attracted widespread interest in Finland and abroad. Due to the very high advance reservation rate, the exhibition area of the trade fair has been expanded. The number of international visitors is also going to be larger than expected. EuroMining 2013 will take place in Tampere, September 11–12. The event will be opened by Mari Pantsar-Kallio, Strategic Director from the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The international opening seminar will also feature a new award – the industry’s Environmental Deed of the Year 2013 award. EuroMining 2013 is the first event to take place in the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre’s new E Hall, which will be completed just before the event in September.

“The popularity of EuroMining 2013 has been a great positive surprise for us. The advance demand has been bigger than we expected, so we decided to expand the area reserved for the event by a couple of thousand square metres. Now, the exhibition area of EuroMining is over 5,000 m2, which is 25% more than we initially planned. Major industry players are visibly present at the trade fair. For example, Metso and Sandvik Mining and Construction are investing heavily in the event. The stands of these two companies alone occupy over 1,200 m2,” says Project Manager Mikael Wänskä from Tampere Trade Fairs Ltd.

Tampere Trade Fairs Ltd will organize the event in co-operation with Vuorimiesyhdistys ry (Finnish Association of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers) and the Tekes Green Mining program. EuroMining 2013 is one of the most anticipated mining technology events in Europe. According to The Fraser Institute’s new study, Finland is now the world’s most interesting country for mining operations, and this is also reflected in the global interest shown towards EuroMining.

“Interest in visiting the fair has been expressed, for example, in India, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Latin America and Sweden. Based on the current reservation status, exhibitors are expected from six countries, in addition to Finland. We aim to develop EuroMining into the leading European trade fair for mining technology,” says Sales Director Ville Keskinen from Tampere Trade Fairs.

“EuroMining will offer a unique opportunity to see large mining machines and devices never showcased in a trade fair setting in Tampere before. With EuroMining and other similar future events in mind, the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre decided to make additional investments on reinforcing the floor of the new E Hall. Now we can have several machines weighing 60 t or more on display,” Tampere Trade Fairs’ Managing Director Hannu Vähätalo tells us.

EuroMining 2013 is the first event to use the new E Hall of the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre. Hall E comprises a total of 11,223 square metres, including 5,263 m2 of exhibition space and a 3,103 m2 logistics centre to serve as a storage and production facility for event contractors. In addition, the new exhibition hall has restaurant premises. It will be the primary venue for trade fairs and events in the future. In line with international practice, the hall will be referred to as Exhibition Hall E in conjunction with trade fairs, but for other events, its name is TähtiAreena (Star Arena).

Topical themes of discussion in the fair seminars will include mining technology, finance, security, reputation management, social responsibility, environmental issues and sustainable development. The international EuroMining Opening Seminar on Wednesday, September 11, will feature an opening speech by Mari Pantsar-Kallio, Strategic Director from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland. Further seminar speakers include Pekka Perä, CEO and Executive Director, Talvivaara Mining Co, Finland, Alp Malazgirt, CEO, Yildirim Holding, Metals and Mining, Turkey, Robin Batterham, Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia, Tim Lilley, Vice President (water treatment) Pall Corp, Great Britain, and Taina Heimonen, Business Development Manager, Sandvik Mining and Construction, Finland. The seminar also features the presentation of the Environmental Deed of the Year 2013 award. This is a new recognition awarded for a mining-industry representative that shows exemplary care for the environment in its activities. The winner is selected by a jury that comprises Elias Ekdahl, Director General of GTK, Tarmo Tuominen, Chairman, The Finnish Association of Extractive Resources Industry, and Harri Natunen, Chairman of the Board, Finnish Association of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.

Improving environmental friendliness and sustainable development are key objectives of companies in the mining industry. EuroMining offers a good opportunity to raise awareness of Green Mining thinking and inspire companies to take part in the strong growth of the mining industry. The fair program also includes a Green Mining workshop for SMEs, which contains a brief introduction of the Green Mining program and ways in which Tekes,  the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, can support companies with the development of green activities.

The Green Mining Seminar introduces Tekes’s Green Mining program that aims to develop Finland into an industry pioneer in eco-efficiency by the year 2020. The main themes of the program are mineral resources and discreet and intelligent mining production. In the Green Mining program, new business requiring special knowledge is created alongside that of growth and traditional mining areas. The main goal is to increase the amount of export-oriented SMEs in the mineral cluster and raise the standard of research in selected sectors to be the best in the world.

EuroMining brings the mining and quarrying industry, geology, beneficiation and processing industry and metallurgical professionals together under one roof.  This event will provide a forum where the players in strongly booming industries can create international contacts, present new products and discuss solutions for the future.  The fair provides an overview of the key prospects of the entire production chain. For the program, see www.euromining.fi (Ohjelma).

The product groups featured at EuroMining 2013 are automation and reporting systems, automation project and expert services, life cycle services, energy supply and efficiency , Green Mining, mining geology, rock mechanics, transportation/logistics, maintenance: parts/components, maintenance, maintenance: condition monitoring, quarrying methods, excavation, metal processing, mineral separation, ”Mining contractor”/outsourced services, measurement, crushing, sampling and analysing, charging, drilling, processing & automation, financing services, recruitment and training, enriching and processing, filter fabrics, planning, supporting, health and safety at work, filling, storage, drainage, communications and environmental protection.