More than 80 bulk handling industry leaders gathered for another successful turnout at the sector’s premier professional networking event, the Materials Handling Engineers Association’s (MHEA) Bulk2014 conference.
The event, held on 21st and 22nd May at the Forest Pines Conference Centre in Lincolnshire, was sponsored by Geo Robson and Flexco and supported by MHEA individual and corporate members, as well as more than 20 major exhibitors involved in the supply of powder and bulk handling equipment and services.
Chris Huhne, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, opened the conference, sharing insight and expertise from his current role as chairman of Zilkha Biomass Energy.
Over the two days of Bulk2014 six seminar sessions were chaired by industry leaders, with each session consisting of three individual knowledge sharing workshops, covering themes including mining in remote locations; the challenges of keeping the UK lights on; and professional recognition in mining extractives. MHEA presented two awards during the conference. Professor Mike Bradley, director of the Wolfson Centre at the University of Greenwich received the association’s lifetime achievement award, while their award for innovation was presented to Prof Bradley along with his colleagues Dr Robert Berry and Robert McGregor of Brookfield Laboratories.
Commenting on the successful conference, MHEA secretary Peter Webster said: “We were delighted to see so many key industry figures and exhibitors at Bulk2014. The comprehensive programme of seminars, workshops and presentations covered a wide range of topical issues to generate discussion and sharing of best practice, while the informal and social sessions ensured that delegates had the opportunity to meet and network with like-minded colleagues.
“The annual Bulk conference is where the most influential members of our industry come together under one roof, and it has once again proved a valuable opportunity to showcase products or services to those who really matter.”
A gala dinner on the first evening of the conference offered delegates the chance to relax and socialise informally in the company of a magician, and to enjoy hearing about the experiences of guest speaker, former Bradford City and Hull City Premiership footballer, Dean Windass.
