Digital, automation, sensing and other technologies are driving improved efficiency and safety outcomes in mining. They are also increasingly influencing mine design and the industry’s recruitment and training focus. Nowhere will these trends be more apparent than at this year’s International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC) at ICC Sydney in October.
The major event will bring mine owners, operators and contractors together with an impressive line-up of the industry’s leading technology and equipment suppliers, including fast-growing startups from around the world.
Eddy Zhang, a mining engineer and business development manager at Evolution Mining speaking at IMARC 2025, said underground operations, where he has spent his career, are going deeper and becoming increasingly complex.
“These growing challenges demand smarter, more adaptive mine designs as the decisions we make today will shape our operations for decades to come,” said Eddy.
“IMARC brings together a diverse mix of industry leaders, innovators and decision-makers. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from peers, challenge assumptions and collaborate across disciplines – exactly what we need to drive meaningful progress in mine design.”
From technology and innovation themed conference streams to an exhibitor floor featuring mining’s major brands – FLS, Sandvik, Epiroc, IMDEX, Hexagon, BP, Schneider Electric, Thiess, Continental and Wabtec among them – IMARC will offer attendees exceptional access to leaders and experts at the centre of transformative technology deployments across the industry as well as the mining and contracting professionals steering vital workflow, process and cultural change.
“I truly think the future is not only about machines and technology but also how we train our people to be open-minded, with more creative thinking and with energy to solve problems in new ways,” said first-time IMARC speaker Barbara Santana, Brazil-based innovation leader at mining giant, Vale.
Josh Savit, principal advisor safety at mining automation and software leader Hexagon, said: “The industry is growing massively. We have a massive opportunity, but we also have a massive duty to work, not just as technology providers, not just as engineers, but as people – to be there for our people who are in the mines to make sure that they come home on a daily basis.”
Heavyweight miners such as BHP, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Vale, South32, Evolution and PLS will share the innovation spotlight with leading suppliers and service companies at IMARC 2025.
BHP group procurement officer Rashpal Bhatti, a keynote speaker, said the company is working closely with technology frontrunners to advance towards its decarbonisation, sustainability, and safety goals.
“We are seeking solutions to help shape a more productive and more sustainable resources industry of the future,” he said.
Showcasing game-changing technology at the centre of mining’s future, IMARC’s Innovation & Investment Alley is a dedicated zone showcasing innovators, startups, research teams and technology developers. It will no doubt be a prime meeting point for investors, miners, venture capital providers and industry leaders at this year’s show.
IMARC 2025 is also presenting for the first time its uniquely curated Mining Operators Series, created specifically for professionals working at the frontline of mining operations. The series is designed to help on-the-ground workers in mining companies and contract miners elevate their skills, expand their networks and explore the latest advancements in mining technology and operations.
Attendees can earn CPD points, hear technical presentations, participate in exclusive networking events for miners and enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition floor.
Mine site operators and procurement teams from mining companies can take advantage of a free Mining Guest Pass, giving access to the full conference program, daily networking receptions, delegate lounges and the Traxys IMARC Connect Platform.
| Readers can register for IMARC 2025 at imarcglobal.com |
