MINExpo 2021 Lighting Up Vegas Once Again

The Global Event Returns As An In-Person Event After COVID Pause In 2020.

By Donna Schmidt

It is hard to argue that MINExpo International is one of the globe’s largest exhibition events for the mining industry. The last event in 2016 attracted tens of thousands of attendees and more than 1,900 related companies from across the world and across all commodities and phases of mining.

At lot has changed in the time since, from adjustments in the mining market to a new U.S. presidential administration to, of course, a global pandemic that has – at least at this time – changed the way we interact with one another.

For many, returning to person-to-person business is a significant element of moving forward past the pandemic, and that is just one reason there is already much buzz around MINExpo 2021, set for Sept. 13-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Eleven total halls will be put into use for this year’s show, and in long tradition, all elements of the mining cycle will have representation: exploration, development, open-pit and underground mining, preparation and processing, smelting and refining, environmental compliance, safety reclamation, mine closure, and more.

At press time, show organizer the National Mining Association (NMA) was expecting more than 1,100 exhibitors from 30 countries to set up in the halls’ more than 660,000 square feet. With safety in mind, the floor will have handwashing and sanitizing stations, rapid response protocols for skilled health and safety professionals, and there are plans to strictly enforce social distancing and masks (NMA also notes the Las Vegas Convention Center is a Global Biorisk Advisory Council Star facility).

Data from organizers of the event have revealed that 37% are personnel from the production, operational and maintenance sectors, followed by 25% that are managers, engineers or geologists. Another 22%, it said, are considered general managers, vice presidents, owners and presidents, and 8% are purchasing, sales and marketing personnel.

The exhibit halls (North, Central and South 1 and 2) at the convention center open on Monday, Sept. 13, at 9:30 a.m., though a ribbon cutting will be held at 8:30 a.m. to officially welcome everyone to the long-awaited exposition. The halls will be open all three days, and while they have not been finalized, educational sessions are being planned.

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