Engineering & Mining Journal

JUL 2013

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AIMEX PREVIEW It is very much a national exhibition. We will have new products and services covering metalliferous and hard rock mining, as well as coal mining—in both surface and underground applications," Baker said. Product development among suppliers to the mining industry means visitors to AIMEX 2013 are guaranteed to learn about innovative products, services, processes and solutions they have not previously encountered. "This exhibition will truly offer something for everyone involved in the mining industry across all regions of Australia— whether they are from the central Queensland coalfields, the Far North Queensland hard rock mines, the Pilbara iron ore operations or WA's Eastern Goldfields, or whether they are closer to home in the NSW Hunter and Illawarra coalfields, or the gold, coal and other operations in the NSW Central West," Baker said. "For long-term participants in the industry, there will definitely be new products and services they have not seen before, as well as the chance to network and catch up with colleagues and suppliers, and make new contacts. For new entrants to the industry—at any level—it is an unmatched opportunity to very quickly get up to speed on what makes the industry tick, and what are the key products, trends and developments." Theme Days Build Industry Engagement AIMEX 2013 will maintain its deep engagement across the mining industry with the return of its industry "theme days", covering the key issues of women in mining, mine site safety and new ways to increase industry productivity. High-profile speakers during the three theme days include the Australian Coal Association's Dr. Nikki Williams and Beaconsfield mine tragedy survivor Brant Webb. The Women in Mining Day will be on Wednesday, August 21, the Mining Safety Day on Thursday, August 22, and the Industry Productivity Day on Friday, August 23. "Across these three days, we will provide information and knowledge-sharing opportunities covering some of the major issues and challenges facing the industry," Baker said. "Increasing female participation in mining is a key issue for both the industry and governments; safety is a major ongoing concern for the mining sector; and ongoing productivity improvements are essential for its ongoing success. Visitors will have unique opportunities for valuable insights into all three of these." www.e-mj.com Starting with a keynote address by Dr. Williams, one of the most influential women in Australia's mining industry, the Women in Mining Day will not only celebrate the increasingly important role women are playing in mining, but also highlight the challenges and opportunities it offers. A highlight of the Mining Safety Day will be a presentation by Brant Webb, survivor of the Beaconsfield Mining tragedy in 2006. He will share his experiences of being trapped underground for 13 days before being rescued, as well as talking about the impact of such an event on himself, his family and his community after he was rescued. Also speaking will be Dean McSporran from Safety or Sorrow, who lost his arm in a mining accident and is now a motivational speaker and industry consultant on safety issues. APEG to Launch BelAZ in Australia Australasian Pacific Engineering Group (APEG) will launch BelAZ, one of the world's largest manufacturers of mining dump trucks, onto the Australian market at stand R090. BelAZ recently began offering its trucks in Australia, with the opening of a new distribution and support facility near Newcastle, gateway to the coal-rich Hunter Valley. Based in Belarus, BelAZ began manufacturing mining equipment in 1948, moving into truck design and manufacturing in the early 1960s. It has supplied more than 130,000 trucks to markets including the former Soviet Union, the CIS and other regions, including Eastern Europe, South America, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China. It manufactures the largest mining trucks outside of the U.S. and during 2013 plans to release a 450-metric ton-capacity truck, which will be the world's largest. In Australia, BelAZ recently appointed APEG as its distribution and support partner. "We see this as a big development for the Australian resources sector," said APEG Director Shane Halliwell. "BelAZ views the Australian market as being very solid in the medium- to long-term, and this move is a key part of a global expansion program by the company." With more than 14,000 employees in operations covering 33 countries, Shane Halliwell said, "Around the globe, one in three operating dump trucks is manufactured by BelAZ—giving an idea of the size and reach of the company." BelAZ trucks are designed and built in a modern manufacturing center in Zhodino, Belarus, which is producing 2,000 units a year. Halliwell said the BelAZ range offers mining companies and contractors a number of benefits. "While the initial purchase price certainly delivers significant savings over better-known brands, independent studies conducted over a 10-year operating cycle have shown that BelAZ trucks are considerably cheaper to operate. "Our delivery times are typically significantly shorter than some other brands. For example, a 240-ton dump truck can be assembled in our factory and be ready to go within four days—giving delivery times between three and five months. For some competitive product there's up to an 18month wait," Halliwell said. APEG recently supplied BelAZ dump trucks to one of Australia's leading mining houses and since April 2013 has had five units operating on a "hire-to-buy" basis while being evaluated against its existing fleet. Halliwell said initially APEG will supply two models in Australia—the 240- and 360-mt-capacity trucks. "These are all built to ISO standards and specced to meet the stringent mine site requirements of our BelAZ haul trucks are now offered in Australia through the Australasian Pacific Engineering Group. JULY 2013 • E&MJ; 55

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