By Sharyn Macnamara, editor African Mining, incorporating Mining Mirror
Mining and Technical Exhibitions’ (MTE’s) traditional three expos – with a day in-between to travel the distances – in Zambia, were once again a resounding success, breaking MTE records this year. This is precisely why the over-border MTE combo and trilogy tradeshows in SADC are a confirmed favourite for exhibiting suppliers into Africa. March 2024 saw the travelling expo company host a highly successful annual trilogy showcase in Botswana, while July and August saw the company add a Zimbabwe combo tradeshow back into its calendar for the first time since 2015 – and the popular MTE annual trilogy tour hit Zambia in September.
The recipe for success in these specific show combinations lies in several major factors, says Andrew Macnamara, operations director at the company. “One, our chosen destinations are seeing major movement in global investment in mining; two, the governments in these countries are pushing mining hard as an investment case and are offering flexible policy therein; and three, the MTE combo and trilogy concept makes sense for MTE’s valued partners – the suppliers of innovation to the sector.”
September showstoppers
MTE’s Zambian tour has grown to include three showstoppers in the thriving copper belt. The travelling exhibition company hosted three consecutive expos within a week, starting with the Kalumbila Expo on 16 September, stopping off at Solwezi on 18 September and ending the tour on 20 September in Kitwe.
Kalumbila
The Kalumbila Expo this year saw 65 exhibitors engage with 380 visitors. It was the biggest MTE show in this area ever. Feedback from both suppliers and visitors to the MTE team was very positive, with great support from the Enterprise Project and the mine in the area. “The vibe was good, and quality interaction was the order of the day,” says Macnamara.
Strong networking opportunities were had at the MTE Kulumbila Expo 2024 on 16 September. © Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE)
Solwezi
MTE’s tents made their traditional yellow and orange mark on Solwezi’s fertile-business soil on 18 September.
MTE had invited key employees from the Kansanshi Mine – from mining, commercial and engineering management to supervisors from all disciplines within the mine. Decision maker priorities were focused on plant maintenance and efficiencies. Automation and innovations to promote safety on moving parts within the operations were also a recurring theme in discussions with 69 exhibiting companies and the 228 key visitors.
Mining decision-makers registering to enter the biggest MTE Solwezi Mining Exhibition to date.
Kitwe
MTE’s Zambian tour ended on a high note with 463 visitors and 81 exhibitors networking on 20 September. This is always the busiest expo of the week, and this year’s show saw representation from Mopani, KCM, Chibuluma, NFC Africa as well as Limestone Resources in Ndola. Management in all disciplines were present.
MTE Kitwe Expo 2023.
The combo/trilogy concept
Running two or three shows in a week over border makes absolute sense, as it involves one trip annually, to a destination eager to discuss the innovations that have emerged over the past year, explains Macnamara. The distances travelled only happens once a year, so accommodation, logistics and additional costs are budgeted for once annually and the ROI is high as the areas are hungry for new solutions. The exhibiting suppliers also get the benefit of economies of scale over two and three expos with the resultant reductions in pricing for their stand packages.
Over the past 30 plus years, MTE has made its mark in the travelling exhibition industry in SADC. The company’s customised high impact exhibitions are well-known across many industries – mining, power, cement, sugar, logistics (port and harbour), and paper and pulp industries – for bringing buyer and supplier together, creating worthwhile networking opportunities where challenges, solutions and opportunities for all parties in the value chain can be shared.
For more information about upcoming shows and how to get registered, contact the MTE sales team:
Sheldon Greybe: +27 (0) 84 569 3516 | sheldong@interactmedia.co.za
Cathylene Labuschagne: +27 (0) 11 579 4940 | cathylene@interactmedia.co.za