The conference was coupled with the second editions of the Manufacturing Excellence  and the Innovation for Mining Awards aimed at showcasing, publicising and driving innovation in the South African mining supply chain, and ultimately driving competitiveness in the sector. The winners of which received high praise from Mr. Sietse van der Woude, Senior Executive: Modernisation and Safety at Minerals Council of South Africa, who was impressed with the quality of the equipment manufacturing companies and their products and who was quoted as saying 'it takes real bravery to be an entrepreneur and an innovator'.

We would like to sincerely thank our expert speakers and panelists, who took time out of busy schedules to address the conference and engage in lively discussions. The feedback from delegates has been overwhelmingly positive; one participant reported, 'Words cannot describe the impact of this event' .