Coal Prep Show Draws Fewer Attendees, Sees Industry Challenges Only Growing

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--This year's 31st annual Coal Prep Show's exhibition and conference in Lexington, Kentucky, running from April 28 through May 1, is in full swing with slightly fewer attendees using this time to network and possibly move into industries outside of a very depressed coal market.

In one of the lowest turnouts in the past couple years, only 285 exhibitors filled both Main Hall and Rupp Arena, showcasing the latest and greatest mining and processing equipment. Many of these exhibitors talked about the lack of traffic this year when compared with years past. A few even admitted that this was their first year not having a booth, but instead just walking the trade show.

Many people expressed concerns about if, not when, there would be a coal market comeback. Others said they had already begun networking and looking to expand their business into other facets of the Metals & Minerals Industry, such as steel, potash, pet coke and limestone. There were some companies that already had begun evolving their businesses and modifying their equipment to handle material for other industries, such as Chemical Processing, Food & Beverage, Oil & Gas, and Industrial Manufacturing.

Coal Prep Show Director Florence Torres welcomed the attendees at the show's Keynote Address on Tuesday: "Preparing Coal for an Ever-changing Market - The Future of Coal Could Lie in Our Hands."

"I especially want to acknowledge and thank those of you who are here this year," Torres said. "It's been a rough year for coal, and that's putting it mildly. Although we've seen a bit of a recent uptick, the road ahead is by no means going to be smooth as you all know, even more than I do. The fact that you are here indicates your commitment to the importance of remaining visible in the industry, your commitment to hearing current case studies and results of the technical sessions and the workshops, and equally important, your commitment to quality networking that you get at Coal Prep."

Coal Prep Society of America (CPSA) is committed to providing a quality environment to maintain and make these connections, she said.

CPSA President Bob Hollis added: "It's that time of the year that we seem to gather every time it rains in Lexington, unfortunately. It's a chance for us to come back and renew our acquaintances and also meet some new friends. It's a wonderful opportunity that has a special place here in Lexington for the last [31 years].... To make the contacts that we need to do our business properly. It's been another drag year for our business in general. It seems like it continues to get tougher and tougher."

He encouraged everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to network and gain contacts with vendors, suppliers and engineers.

"The companies really depend on us to be able to take their product and turn it into something that the customer desires and wants to purchase," Hollis said. "We really need to be on top of our game right now, because there is no room for slack in this business. If you are not doing your job right or you don't afford yourself the opportunity to get educated in how to do your job right, you will be sliding backwards and someone else will be taking your position, because it's 'dog eat dog' right now."

The Coal Prep Show continues through Thursday, with additional learning opportunities from technical sessions and workshops covering everything from new technologies and research to an in-depth look at existing applications and how to make them best work for an individual's company.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) has covered the show since 2009, but this is IIR's second year having a booth: Booth #1311 in the Main Hall.

Coal Prep is the only annual trade show and conference in the U.S. dedicated to the coal preparation and processing industry. Industry professionals come from all over the world to share the most recent innovative technologies in coal preparation and aggregate processing plant technologies. The show is held every year at the Lexington Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.