Las Vegas, Nev. -The world’s biggest mining equipment, products and services exhibition – four years in the making – officially got underway this morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
MINExpo INTERNATIONAL ® 2012, a sprawling 860,000-foot showcase of the latest mining equipment and technology from around the world, began a three-day run with mining industry and Nevada state officials welcoming more than 1860 exhibitors and an anticipated 50,000-plus attendees from 36 countries, including the U.S.
Greg Boyce, chairman and CEO of Peabody and chairman of the National Mining Association (NMA), the Washington, D.C. national trade group sponsoring the quadrennial show, joined Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki; Joy Global President and CEO Mike Sutherlin, chairman of MINExpo® 2012; and Hal Quinn, president and CEO of NMA, at this morning’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
Lt. Gov. Krolicki welcomed “the thousands who will view this magnificent exhibition,” and noted “Nevada is proud to lead the nation in gold production and ranks among the world’s leaders in the use of state-of-the-art mining technology.” He added, “Mining has also led all industry sectors in hiring new employees in our state during the first half of the year.”
“The growth in international attendance, from 16 countries in 2008 to 36 represented today, mirrors the global presence of the mining industry,” said Sutherlin. “With record expected attendance and exhibition space, by every measure, this show is historic,” he added.
Concluding the opening ceremony, Peabody’s Boyce said, “This is the largest single assembly of mining equipment in history and the sheer scale of this showcase is a testament to the state-of-the-art technologies being used right across the industry. The world’s energy and industrial supply chain begins with mining, and the equipment and products on display at MINExpo show why mining is safer, more productive and more efficient than ever before.”
This morning at 10:00 a.m., the Opening Session will feature top mining executives discussing the global outlook for mining equipment and coal and minerals production.
At an awards luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 21 U.S. mining operations will be recognized as winners of the annual Sentinels of Safety for outstanding safety operation in 2011, and three companies will be recognized for achievements in mine safety and health technology innovations. At the luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 26, eight U.S. mineral and coal mines will be awarded the annual Environmental and Reclamation Awards sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior for exemplary sustainable mining practices in 2011.
For more information about MINExpo 2012, visit our website at www.minexpo.com