Rulmeca Corporation

Displaying its motorized pulley line, including a cut-away demonstrator and fully functioning dual-drive conveyor, Rulmeca said potential customers at SME were as diverse as its products.

“We hoped that the Phoenix venue would yield some leads for us in the copper mining industry, especially since copper prices are on the rise again, and that proved to be the case,” president Mike Gawinski said.

The company said visitors showed the most interest in Rulmeca’s most powerful motorized pulleys, the models yielding 3200hp and higher. Many guests were also enthusiastic about the company’s new grease canisters, which are ideal for those mines using the Rulmeca regreasable labyrinth seal option because lab seals are purged along with grease.

Gawinski said the 2010 show was key to the company’s marketing outreach because of the event’s importance to the mining industry.

“The Arizona venue is important because many huge mines are located in and around Arizona. They can all derive a great benefit from the use of our products – some already have.”

Developed in 1953 for conveyors in Europe, Rulmeca motorized pulleys have gained acceptance in facilities throughout the world. Rulmeca Corporation is one of 14 companies in the international Rulmeca Group.

PGS and Associates

PGS and Associates owner Paul Spedding told ILN his staff received a fantastic response from across the industry, both coal and non-coal guests.

“Very quality people,” he said. “Very well attended … and we received a lot of enquires for our products and services.”

PGS put the spotlight on its newest partnerships at the show, including simulators, the PittLite cap lamp, and the Webster Rock Wheel. Spedding said the company was thrilled to secure a sale for the Webster unit, and the turnout was so impressive it had already reserved space for 2011, at double the size of 2010’s booth.

The Phoenix venue was the first SME show for the Pennsylvania-based company, which invited fellow Pennsylvanian company Longwall Services to join it at the exhibit booth.

PGS also featured Hyden Engineering’s Easilube, the only fully hydraulic lube system on the market, as well as the Enviro-Spray computer-controlled water sprays at its booth.

Spedding told ILN earlier this year that attending the SME show was important because of the company’s ability to meet many western mining professionals in one place, and was the start of a busy 2010 – the company plans to commence drill rig rebuilds and will offer new stand-alone drills and replacement parts for select manufacturers.

Strata Products Worldwide

Strata reported that SME Phoenix went very well in all of its divisions, and its many visitors resulted in some lead contacts with fellow exhibitors for future business endeavors.

“The NLT cap lamps and the new StrataCommTrac communications system generated the most interest,” the company told ILN “[We] still received quite a bit of interest about the chambers.”

Its highlighted product was the main topic of conversation for most visitors, as communications and tracking is on the tip of many tongues right now.

“[It's] a hot topic in the mining industry overall, and we are focusing primarily on our system and getting it out there,” the company said.

Strata’s biggest news, as well as StrataCommTrac, was its two latest business relationships under Strata Mine Services.

“These relationships are recent partnerships with On Site Gas Systems to offer behind-the-seal gas inertion to go along with our seals installations, and a partnership with DSI, distributing and installing their fully grouted cable bolt,” the company noted.

Strata Mine Services general manager Jeff Hamrick told ILN in January that the partnerships had been integral to the company’s footprint in the mining community.

“By coupling these companies, we can provide customers a complete, more resourceful solution to ventilation control,” he said.

Pillar Innovations

The Northern Appalachia-based supplier told ILN that the trip to Phoenix was well worth it – staff were enthusiastic about both the quantity and quality of visitors to the SME booth.

“We were able to meet with many decision-makers while in Phoenix,” the company said.

One sight on the show floor that certainly drew interest was Pillar Innovations’ new electric mine utility vehicle, which was available for test drives.

“We had a lot of interest as well as advice for new applications and attachments. We have shown our EMU before, but this was the first show for the production version [and] it was also the first time we had brought an EMU model to the west.”

Pillar developed and began producing the EMU in 2009. For 2010, the company will expand the line to fit more diverse needs; new models provide solutions for a variety of transportation and hauling requirements.

“In response to early comments, we felt it was necessary to offer more than one basic platform,” sales and marketing director Adam Brenneman said earlier this year.

In addition to the standard EMU, Pillar offers the EMU LT, with a compact chassis for nimble transportation; the EMU HD, which includes heavy-duty, self-leveling suspension for increased payload and towing capabilities; the EMU 6x6 with a six-wheel drive that ensures traction in even the toughest conditions; and the EMU CRU, with an extended wheelbase and second-row seating for up to six people.