Electra Mining Africa 2026: Technology Takes Centre Stage as Mining Industry Gathers in Johannesburg

Exclusive By MiningFocus Africa

JOHANNESBURG: Electra Mining Africa 2026 is underway at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, bringing together more than 900 exhibitors and thousands of mining, engineering and industrial professionals as the industry places increasing emphasis on productivity, automation, safety, sustainability and cost reduction.

Running from September 7 to 11, the exhibition has once again become a major meeting point for Africa’s mining supply chain, with equipment manufacturers, technology companies, engineering specialists and service providers showcasing solutions aimed at addressing some of the industry’s biggest operational challenges.

This year’s exhibition has a particularly strong focus on the convergence of mining, digital technology and energy management, with companies demonstrating how automation, artificial intelligence, connected systems and advanced equipment can improve performance across mining operations.

Among the companies attracting attention is Schneider Electric, which is demonstrating AI-enabled electrification, software-defined automation and connected industrial intelligence. Its exhibition focuses on the company’s EcoStruxure architecture, which connects power, automation, software and services across the mining lifecycle.

Schneider Electric is also showcasing digital twins, industrial intelligence, intelligent energy management and next-generation medium-voltage technologies, including its AirSeT SF6-free switchgear. The company says the technologies are designed to help mines improve operational visibility, energy efficiency, resilience and sustainability.

For mineral processing, South African company Multotec is using the exhibition to demonstrate practical technologies designed to improve recovery, throughput and plant efficiency.

Multotec’s display includes a live spiral demonstration, a glass cyclone showing cyclone operating principles, a working Vezin sampler and a Vibramech screen deck fitted with Multotec screening media and accessories.

The company is also showcasing its High Frequency Panels, designed for ultra-fine screening applications, alongside polyurethane, rubber, wedge wire and heavy-duty screening media. The demonstrations highlight the growing importance of efficient screening in reducing wear, protecting downstream equipment and improving mineral recovery.

Multotec is also placing considerable emphasis on digital wear monitoring, conveyor maintenance and other technologies designed to reduce downtime and improve decision-making inside processing plants.

Safety and connectivity are another important theme at this year’s exhibition.

Zoei Tech Solutions and NLT Digital Solutions are showcasing the NLT Vigilance smart cap lamp, a wearable technology designed to provide real-time tracking, safety alerts and connectivity for workers operating in demanding underground environments.

The companies are also presenting hydraulic pumps, underground networking and smart access-control technologies, reflecting the industry’s broader movement towards connected and digitally managed mining operations.

Lighting technology is also receiving attention, with BEKA Schréder showcasing mining and solar lighting solutions designed for harsh operating environments. The company is focusing on technologies intended to improve visibility, safety and operational efficiency across mining applications.

Meanwhile, tyre management remains an important part of the sustainability conversation.

As reported by MiningFocus Africa, Kal Tire is highlighting tyre life-extension technologies at the event, including repair, retreading and tread solutions aimed at keeping large mining tyres in service for longer.

The company’s Maple Program is designed to extend tyre casing life while reducing waste and the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and transporting replacement tyres. Kal Tire has also highlighted the use of its technology by mining customers in Zambia, where annual certification is provided for carbon dioxide savings achieved through tyre repair.

The focus on tyre life is particularly relevant as mining companies increasingly look beyond direct operational emissions and examine the environmental impact of their wider supply chains.

Electra Mining Africa is also providing a platform for major global equipment and engineering companies. Komatsu is among the exhibitors, while ABB, Tega Industries, Nidec, SEW-EURODRIVE, TotalEnergies, VEGA, Actom and other established suppliers are represented across the exhibition.

The breadth of exhibitors demonstrates how mining technology is becoming increasingly interconnected. Heavy equipment is no longer being viewed in isolation from automation, electrical infrastructure, data, safety systems and energy management.

For African mining operations, this convergence is particularly significant. Mines are under pressure to improve productivity while managing rising operating costs, ageing infrastructure, energy constraints, skills shortages and growing environmental expectations.

Electra Mining Africa 2026 is therefore providing more than an equipment showcase. It is offering a snapshot of where the mining industry is heading, with suppliers increasingly competing on efficiency, intelligence, reliability and total cost of ownership rather than simply equipment capacity.

The strong presence of South African manufacturers is also significant. Multotec’s international expansion is one example of a locally developed mining technology business serving customers across global markets, while the wider exhibition provides an opportunity for African manufacturers and engineering companies to connect with international buyers and mining operations.

With the exhibition continuing through September 11, attention will remain on the technologies capable of delivering measurable improvements in mining productivity, safety and sustainability.

For Africa’s mining industry, the message emerging from Electra Mining Africa 2026 is increasingly clear: the next phase of competitiveness will depend not only on extracting more minerals, but on doing so with smarter technology, better data, greater efficiency and lower environmental impact.