The bauma Africa trade show offers participating companies the opportu- nity to gain experience and obtain invaluable contacts, owing to the international nature of the event, which will have more than 700 companies from 39 countries exhibiting products for the mining and construction industries, says voluntary membership organisation the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) director Nico Pienaar.

“Following the trade show, the mining and construction industries will, hopefully, have learned a great deal from this event. Aspasa has, for the last few years, taken delegates from member companies to the bauma show in Munich, Germany. All these have been great for them in terms of setting up meetings and finding new equipment. The event also emphasises the importance of sustainable growth,” says Pienaar.

He notes that bauma Africa can be seen as the most important show in Africa to date, although it is a smaller version of the bauma event in Germany. “The German trade show attracts people from around the world and there is always much to learn, but the event is expensive and only a few individuals can afford it. “Africa has needed a big show like this for years and it helps bring visitors to South Africa. All companies involved in construction and mining should use this opportunity,” Pienaar adds.

Aspasa is not playing a direct role in bauma Africa, as it is hosting the biannual Institute of Quarrying conference in conjunction with the trade show, which will also allow quarry delegates to attend bauma Africa, he says.

Meanwhile, Pienaar notes that some of the challenges facing the South African mining and construction industries include the lack of local infrastructure development, adding that “more overseas interest in South Africa’s industry means more ideas.”

Pienaar says Aspasa hopes that sand and minerals miners will begin to receive better protection from the relevant government departments, as the abuse of mineral rights and illegal mining is threatening the livelihoods of those in the legitimate industry. “Sand and minerals mining is the sixth-biggest mining type in the country. “Job creation is key and Aspasa looks forward to a better mining industry that is proudly South African.”

Further, he notes, addressing issues such as health and safety, environmental safety and the wellbeing of employees in the sand and minerals mining sector is key to the quarrying sector playing an “important role in the development of infrastructure in South Africa, owing to road and concrete content comprising aggregate and sand”.