Coal Prep 2014: A look back at this year’s conference

The 31st International Coal Preparation Conference & Expo, the only annual trade show and conference in the US dedicated to coal preparation and processing, took place between 28 April – 1 May, 2014 in Lexington, KY. The show wrapped up a positive outlook for the coming year.

The event brought industry professionals from all over the world to share the latest ideas and most effective techniques on coal preparation and processing plant technologies, to increase plant productivity and reduce costs.

“It has been a tough year for coal and this sentiment was not lost at our event. What we’ve witnessed is the natural culling that occurs when an industry is turbulent. However, the key decision makers were present and exhibitors as well as attendees have a positive outlook for the industry in the coming year,” stated Florence Torres, Coal Prep’s Show Director.

Quality was the overriding theme at the event, aided by the show’s newly formulated Qualified Attendee Program, launched at the request of exhibitors to ensure that qualified buyers were identified at the show, and well-received focused technical sessions and in-depth topical workshops.

The robust conference program consisted of five workshops, four technical sessions, as well as a keynote and general session.  The Keynote – Preparing for an Ever-changing Market: the Future of Coal Could Lie in Our Hands, started with an overview of coal preparation’s roots, with Doug Jenkinson, a retired coal preparation engineer, walking the audience through “how things used to be done”. Then Dr Dave Osborne, Coal Technology Manager with XT, a global Glencore company, outlined the preparation equipment and technology – specifically the newest technologies that should and will become standard for the industry.

In addition, the general session sparked an impromptu discussion forum about how industry players need to do more to educate consumers about the benefits of fossil fuel, especially coal. The sessions were full and spurred interaction among presenters and attendees.

Speakers and attendees to the conference also took part in a series of onsite interviews. Watch out for these video testimonials on World Coal, as they are posted live over the coming weeks.

Adapted from press release by Sam Dodson

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/20052014/overview_of_coal_prep_2014_868/