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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260521
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260523
DTSTAMP:20260722T012344
CREATED:20260225T133103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T083539Z
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SUMMARY:MEMSA 2026 Innovation for Mining and Excellence Awards
DESCRIPTION:MEMSA 2026 INNOVATION FOR MINING AND EXCELLENCE AWARDS\n\nHosted by the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA)\, at the Mind Shift Conference the 2026 Innovation for Mining and Excellence Awards\, recognised technologies delivering meaningful impact in mining safety\, productivity\, sustainability and operational performance. \nMEMSA noted that award judging placed equal emphasis on innovation and measurable industry impact. \nMajor Award Winners Included: \nExcellence Award: Future Workforce Builders – Bell Equipment South Africa was recognised for its strong culture of innovation\, apprenticeship development and digital skills integration. While\, Buraaq Mining Services received the SME category award for its artisan training programme and practical technology exposure initiatives. \nExcellence Award: Global Game Changer – AZTEC Innovative Mining Solutions received the award for its globally exported gold tailings treatment technology and commitment to fully local manufacturing. \nInnovation by an SME – Buraaq Mining Services won for its Mechanised Roof Bolter designed to improve underground safety through intelligent control systems and operator protection. \nInnovative Use of Data and AI – Mentormate received the inaugural award for its AI-powered engineering expertise platform tailored to Southern African mining conditions. \nDigital Solutions for Mining – SmartOps was recognised for its Bluetooth Low Energy underground tracking and communication system enabling precise underground positioning. \nInnovation for an Energy Transition in Mining – Gravitas Minerals won for its Chromex Process\, a water-only technology recovering chrome and iron from tailings while reducing energy use and carbon intensity. \nInnovation Towards Zero Harm – HydroPower Systems won for its water-powered remote drilling system enabling safer underground ore pass development. \nInnovation in Mineral Processing – AZTEC Innovative Mining Solutions received the award for its patented reactor technology recovering additional gold from leach tailings. \nInnovation in Surface Mining – Bell Equipment South Africa won for its advanced Motor Grader platform featuring AI-ready architecture and telematics integration. \nInnovation in Soft Rock Mining – SmartOps was recognised for its Cutting Sequence Monitor system using Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking. \nInnovation in Hard Rock Mining (Navin Singh Award) – Wekaba Engineering received the award for its patented Grout Flower Seal Solution\, improving anchor installation efficiency\, safety and grout retention. \nAs the conference concluded\, delegates expressed strong confidence in South Africa’s engineering capability and mining innovation potential despite growing economic and operational pressures. \nThe MEMSA #MindShift Conference reinforced that the future of mining will belong to organisations capable of combining technology\, industrial agility and human adaptability to solve real operational challenges.
URL:https://memsa.org.za/event/memsa-2026-innovation-for-mining-awards/
LOCATION:IDC Conference Centre\, 19 Fredman Drive\, Sandton\, Gauteng\, 2109\, South Africa
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DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260521T080000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260522T180000
DTSTAMP:20260722T012344
CREATED:20260217T103230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T143937Z
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SUMMARY:MEMSA Mind Shift Conference 2026
DESCRIPTION:MEMSA #MindShift 2026: Innovation\, AI and Industrial Resilience in Focus \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSouth Africa’s mining equipment manufacturing sector marked a major milestone at the 2026 MEMSA #MindShift Conference\, celebrating ten years of industry collaboration while tackling some of mining’s biggest technological and industrial shifts. \nHosted by the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA)\, the conference brought together mining leaders\, OEMs\, engineers\, researchers and policymakers to explore how South African manufacturers can remain globally competitive in an increasingly digital\, automated and sustainability-driven mining environment. \nA strong message emerged throughout the event: the future of mining will depend as much on mindset\, collaboration and innovation ecosystems as it will on machinery itself. \nOpening the conference\, MEMSA Chair Matimba Mahange urged industry players to “hunt in packs” if South Africa is to innovate and compete globally. That collaborative spirit became one of the defining themes of the conference. \nEven discussions around AI carried a uniquely African perspective\, with the MC referring to AI not only as “Artificial Intelligence\,” but also “African Intelligence” — reinforcing the idea that Africa’s mining future must be shaped by African solutions\, African innovation and African ownership. \nInnovation no longer optional\nThe 2026 #MindShift Conference made it clear that innovation is no longer optional for mining OEMs. \nSouth African manufacturers are facing mounting pressure from global competition\, changing customer expectations\, energy transition demands and increasingly digital mining environments. Yet local companies are also proving that technologies developed within South Africa’s mining ecosystem can compete successfully on the global stage. \nThis was reflected strongly in the Innovation for Mining and Excellence Awards\, which recognised technologies delivering measurable impact in productivity\, safety\, sustainability and operational performance. \nOne of the standout examples was SAMPEC member AZTEC Innovative Mining Solutions\, which received both the Excellence Award: Global Game Changer and the Innovation in Mineral Processing Award. \nIts patented reactor technology enables the recovery of additional gold from as-arising leach tailings through a novel counter-current flow design. Judges described the solution as a globally unique and disruptive technology. \nImportantly\, AZTEC exported 100% of its production output during 2023\, 2024 and 2025 before securing its first South African order in 2026\, a powerful indicator of the global competitiveness of South African mining innovation. \nDigital mining moves beyond digitisation\nAnother dominant theme at #MindShift was the integration of digital capability directly into mining equipment and operations. \nBell Equipment South Africa\, winner of the Innovation in Surface Mining category\, showcased this through its advanced Motor Grader platform featuring telematics\, AI-ready architecture and automation integration capability. \nThe shift reflects how mining customers increasingly expect more than mechanical performance alone — demanding operational visibility\, predictive maintenance and intelligent systems integration. \nDigital innovation was also recognised through awards presented to SmartOps and Mentormate. \nSmartOps received the Digital Solutions for Mining Award for its Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking system enabling highly accurate underground positioning and real-time communication. The same technology also earned the company the Innovation in Soft Rock Mining Award. \nMentormate\, winner of the inaugural Innovative Use of Data and AI category\, demonstrated how AI is beginning to reshape technical decision-making in mining. Its AI-powered engineering expertise platform provides real-time technical guidance using Southern African mining legislation\, standards and operational case studies. \nThe conference repeatedly reinforced that mining companies are moving beyond simple digitisation toward practical applied intelligence. \nAI\, mindset and African ownership\nDiscussions around AI extended well beyond technology itself. \nDelegates reflected on how the mining industry may be entering the first period in history where white-collar professionals have developed technologies capable of disrupting white-collar jobs at scale. \nYet speakers consistently stressed that the future will belong to organisations capable of adapting rather than resisting technological change. \nOne of the strongest reflections shared during the conference was: \n“A mine is never limited by the depth of its ore body first. It is limited by the depth of its thinking.” \nAnother recurring theme focused on the importance of mindset in shaping industrial competitiveness: \n“What we feed our minds today becomes the infrastructure of tomorrow.” \nJulie Courtnage\, Executive Director of the Mandela Mining Precinct\, noted during discussions that “no country is AI-native\,” reinforcing the idea that every country is navigating the same technological transition and that South Africa has an opportunity to shape globally relevant mining technologies rather than simply importing them. \nIan MacKay\, Associate Director at PwC\, highlighted another strategic advantage\, stressing the need “to mine the valuable data collected over centuries of mining in the country.” Delegates noted that South Africa’s extensive mining history provides enormous operational and geological datasets that could become highly valuable in future AI-driven exploration\, predictive maintenance and operational optimisation systems. \nAt the same time\, caution was raised around technology adoption without capability development. Glen Nwaila\, Director of the African Research Centre for Ore System Science (CORES) at the University of Johannesburg\, noted: \n“Simply giving people new technology can create dependency rather than efficiency.” \nHe emphasised that technology alone does not improve productivity unless supported by skills\, systems\, understanding and ownership. \nChallenges facing OEMs\nWhile the conference celebrated innovation\, it also provided a realistic assessment of the challenges facing South African OEMs. \nInfrastructure instability\, energy constraints\, logistics inefficiencies and rising operating costs continue to affect manufacturing competitiveness. Local manufacturers are also competing against multinational OEMs with far greater scale and access to capital. \nSkills shortages remain another major concern as mining technologies become more advanced and increasingly require expertise across engineering\, automation\, software integration and intelligent systems. \nThis challenge formed part of the rationale behind the Excellence Award: Future Workforce Builders category. Bell Equipment South Africa was recognised for supporting 278 apprentices while integrating digital skills into artisan training programmes. \nBuraaq Mining Services\, winner of both the SME Future Workforce Builders Award and the Innovation by an SME category\, was recognised for its growing artisan training programme and strong culture of continuous learning. \nGrowth and export opportunities\nDespite these pressures\, the overall tone of the conference remained optimistic regarding the future of South African mining manufacturing. \nDelegates repeatedly pointed to growing global demand for safer\, smarter and lower-emission mining technologies as a major opportunity for local OEMs. \nHydroPower Systems\, winner of the Innovation Towards Zero Harm category\, demonstrated this through its water-powered remote drilling system enabling safer underground ore pass development. \nWekaba Engineering’s patented Grout Flower Seal Solution\, winner of the Innovation in Hard Rock Mining category\, illustrated how highly practical South African innovations can achieve meaningful industry adoption\, with more than 1.3-million units already sold. \nMeanwhile\, Gravitas Minerals\, winner of the Innovation for an Energy Transition in Mining category\, showcased how sustainability-focused technologies developed locally may find increasing relevance internationally as mining companies pursue decarbonisation and tailings reduction strategies. \nAs MEMSA celebrated its tenth anniversary\, the #MindShift Conference reinforced one clear message: South Africa’s mining manufacturing sector possesses the engineering capability\, operational experience and innovative capacity to compete globally. \nThe challenge now lies in scaling these innovations\, strengthening industrial ecosystems and ensuring African mining technologies continue shaping the future of mining — locally and internationally. \nAs MEMSA deputy-chair Dr Lynette Magasa concluded: \n“South Africa’s next mining chapter will be shaped by ideas\, courage\, collaboration and people willing to build.” \n\nRead more in the Creamer Media Mining Weekly Article \nSee all the Event Photos  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPanel 1: Mining the Future: Is Africa Ready for the AI Revolution Underground? \nModerator: Mr. Mahene Patrice Benzane \, CEO Smartops Solutions \nPanel: Mr. Phillip Vilakazi\, President\, NUM I Ms. Julie Courtnage\, Executive Director\, Mandela Mining Precinct I Mr. Fleckson Magweregwede\, Research/Centre of Excellence Manager MHSC I Mr. Avhurengwi Nengovhela\, CEO Coaltech I Mr. Setuame Maimele\, Economist Sustainable Growth TIPS \nPanel 2. Smart Mines\, Stronger Value Chains: AI & IoT in Action \nModerator: Mr. Zenzo Nkomo – CEO Lepharo \nPanel: Dr. Sihesenkosi Nhleko\, Academic Representative NWU I Dionne Kerr Malherbe\, Chief Executive Officer Siyakha Consulting I Mr. Louw Steyn\, Patent Attorney & Partner Spoor & Fisher I Mr Mike Teke\, Group CEO Seriti Resources Holdings & FutureCoal Chairman I Ms. Bongi Ntsoelengoe\, Executive Manager\, Mining Cluster Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) I Prof. Glen Nwaila\, Director African Research Centre for Ore System Science (CORES) \nFuel for Thought – Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) Mind Shift Networking Lunch \nPanel 3. Innovation or Margin? Making Sustainability Pay in Mining \nModerator: Ms. Portia Dube – Head Business Development ECIC \nPanel: Mr Ahmed Kader\, Managing Director CrystalForge I Mr Sipho Marala\, Group Executive Trade\, Investment & Regulatory Enablement GGDA I Mr. Gary Lane\, President SAIMM I Prof. Ashan Mahboob\, Head of the Sibanye-Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory (DigiMine) University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Mining Engineering\, Wits Mining Institute \nCSIR Fireside Chat ‘Innovation is not a game for one’ \nAn Innovation Conversation\, moderated by Mr. Brian Ncube\, Senior Policy Analyst Minerals Council South Africa\, the panel consists of Mr. Ian MacKay\, PwC Smart Mining\, Dr. Luyolo Mabhali\, Executive Cluster Manager: Future Production Manufacturing\, Ms. Zodwa Mashinini\, Senior Manager: Learning Programmes – Strategic Projects Mining Qualifications Authority \n________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ \nDay 2 – 22 May 2026 \nA presentation by Ms. Caroline Shirindza\, Executive Head Coal Exxaro \n 
URL:https://memsa.org.za/event/memsa-mind-shift-conference-2026/
LOCATION:IDC Conference Centre\, 19 Fredman Drive\, Sandton\, Gauteng\, 2109\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Conference
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