Quality Prevails as the Overriding Theme at Penton's 2014 International Coal Preparation Conference & Expo

NEW YORK, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton's International Coal Preparation Conference & Expo, the only annual trade show and conference in the U.S. dedicated to coal preparation and processing, wrapped up the 31^st annual event, which took place April 28-May 1, 2014 in Lexington, KY, with 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.

Maureen Healey, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity's (ACCCE) East Region Vice President offered the following advice when asked what stakeholders can do to educate consumers: "In order to have a true impact on the EPA, you must get involved at the grassroots level. You must also get your businesses involved - so many people have taken a pass on this, while trying to understand how exactly how this will impact them. The stakeholder companies that have formed this partnership represent a full eighty percent of the US economy; virtually no industry or business will go unaffected. So I encourage everyone to get involved and please do get your businesses involved as well."

"This is our first show in the US - We are trying to launch our products here," said Saravanan Ramamoorthy, Tecknoweld Alloys, India. "We've been growing internationally the last ten years; our growth is based on the international market and our exports have grown really high the last three or four years. In the last year or so right now it's in a downward trend, but it will pick up in the future, that's what it looks like. There is a very big domestic consumption in India, but we are looking at overseas markets as well. The same challenges exist in India that the US is experiencing…it's a matter of time to come out of these issues. We are excited to be at Coal Prep because it is a good launching pad for us for the coal segment; we will likely expand to the iron and steel and other industries."

Look for more video testimonials on the Coal Prep YouTube channel in the coming weeks. 
The 2015 International Coal Preparation Conference & Expo will take place April 27-30, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Find Coal Prep on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

See below for videos and interviews from this year's event:
ACCCE Interview: http://youtu.be/QV9fDtH4Avw
McLanahan Corporation Interview: http://youtu.be/15g2XVgIQ18
Barbara Arnold/PrepTech Interview: http://youtu.be/4mUworgWU5o

Coal Prep
Coal Prep is the ONLY annual trade show and conference in the U.S. dedicated to coal preparation and processing. Industry professionals come from all over the world to share the latest ideas and most effective techniques on coal preparation and processing plant technologies. These professionals come to purchase and preview the latest equipment and services in order to increase plant productivity and reduce costs. Coal Prep celebrated its 31^st annual event this year.

Penton
Penton is a leading professional information services company that engages and informs millions of professionals every day, helping them grow and solve their most critical business challenges. As a provider of critical workflow solutions and insightful content, marketing services and networking, Penton helps businesses do business in five core growth markets: agriculture, transportation, natural products/food, infrastructure, and industrial design/manufacturing.

Penton is a growth company with a track-record of strong performance and success and is backed by its co-owners: MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.

For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Florence Torres
Show Director
203.358.4385
[email protected] 

Kate Spellman
SVP, Marketing
Penton
212.204.4351
[email protected]

SOURCE Penton