MINExpo International, the largest trade show in the world for mining equipment and technology, returned to Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 24-26. Hosted by the National Mining Association (NMA), MINExpo International 2024 is expected to draw more than 40,000 attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The expo opened on Tuesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the first of three keynote sessions of the week. Rich Nolan, president and chief executive officer of NMA delivered the opening remarks ahead of a presentation from Mike Rowe, Emmy-award winning television host and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation.

Caterpillar Resource Industries’ group president Denise Johnson and chair of MINExpo told Mining Engineering that event like MINExpo gives the mining industry an opportunity to showcase the tools and technologies that drive the industry forward. The event also provides the industry with an opportunity to showcase the industry in a favorable light and perhaps dispel some of the misconceptions about mining.

“Without a doubt the world needs more mined minerals,” Johnson said. “When you think about the energy transition and the need for batteries, data centers, AI, electric vehicles, etc … all of that drives additional need for mined materials. From an environmental, social and governance (ESG) perspective all of that needs to be recyclable and have multiple uses. This all drives mining growth. It also presents the mining industry an opportunity to be viewed differently than it has before.”

Inside the three exhibit halls, attendees will be able to view and interact with some of the largest and most advanced mining equipment in the world. Caterpillar is once again the largest exhibitor with a presence that will immerse visitors into what it calls the mine site of the future.
The North Hall also features massive exhibits by Komatsu, Liebherr, Hitachi, Sandvik and Weir. SME is one of the more than 1,900 exhibitors in attendance at booth 12865 in the West Hall.

Komatsu
One of the overarching themes of MINExpo 2024 was that of automation and sustainability by many of the vendors including Komatsu.
“At this MINExpo we are excited to show our vision for sustainable mining and the optimization of mining for our customers to help them face their key challenges in mining,” said Peter Salditt, president and CEO of Komatsu Mining. “Electrification and decarboninzation are not only a sustainability activity but also a method to cope with the challenges mining companies face. We feel that we are well-placed to address these challenges as many of our products have been electrified for many years.”

At its stand in the Central Hall, Komatsu unveiled for the first time publicly its first battery-electric powered load-haul-dump (LHD) machine, the WX04B, designed specifically for underground hard rock mining operations. Komatsu will pair this innovative LHD with its new OEM-agnostic 150kW battery charger, a robust charging solution built for the demands of hard rock mining.

The company also introduced its first commercialized truck in the new Power Agnostic series, the Power Agnostic 930E truck. This cutting-edge haulage truck offers flexibility for mining operations transitioning toward zero emissions. The Power Agnostic 930E sets a new standard in mining equipment by accommodating a wide range of current and future power sources, including diesel, battery and even hydrogen fuel cells.

The Power Agnostic 930E is built on Komatsu's modular power-agnostic platform, allowing customers to future-proof their operations with a versatile approach to decarbonization. This platform enables mining companies to start with conventional diesel engines and gradually transition to cleaner energy sources as needed, including utilization of trolley assist for diesel or as one of the future dynamic charging solutions for battery trucks to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Whether adopting battery technology, hydrogen fuel cell technology or a combination of energy systems.

Caterpillar
During the first day at MINExpo, Caterpillar showcased a variety of its new technology, including 798 AC haul truck, Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET), the Cat R1700 XE load-haul-dump truck and much more. Caterpillar’s exhibit featured a demonstration stage, training center, history booth, and remote operation center, among many other exciting and interactive exhibits. Across several pieces of massive equipment and extensive booths showcasing their company’s process, they provided rich information to attendees regarding the company’s mission to the industry.

“Our exhibit demonstrates how we are helping our customers operate more efficiently and safely," said Jim Umpleby, Caterpillar Chairman and CEO. “Our integrated portfolio of equipment, technology, and power and energy solutions, combined with our aftermarket services, delivers an exceptional customer experience at every job site through customer-focused solutions and services.”
CEO panel discussion.

In the late afternoon, NMA hosted a producer CEO Panel, moderated by Denise C. Johnson, the group president of Caterpillar’s resource industries. The panel featured interim president and chief executive officer of Hecla Mining Company, Cassie Boggs; president and CEO of Barrick Mark Bristow; chief executive officer of Coeur Mining Mitchell J. Krebs; chief executive officer of Arch Resources Paul A. Lang, and general manager of Rio Tinto Vikki Peacey. During the discussion, Johnson asked key questions regarding hot topic within the mining industry, including geopolitics, global mineral uncertainty, workforce issues, domestic mining, and supply and demand flow.

The discussion lasted an hour and focused on granting attendees an opportunity to receive the inside scoop from key industry players on imperative subjects centered on mining.

“In my mind the mining industry needs to rebrand itself and we need to be aggressive about rebranding ourselves,” said Boggs regarding the issue of providing long-term industry solutions. Other panelists also provided responses surrounding solutions to the growing concerns within the mining industry.