Welcome to the Hoist & Haul 2027 website. The Hoist & Haul series of conferences was initiated in 1973 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by forward-thinking technical experts and leaders in the South African mining industry, under the conference title “Hoisting: Men, Materials, Minerals”. In the 50 plus years since 1973 there have been major improvements and developments in safety systems, in production capabilities, in international standards and in other areas. Through excellent papers and discussions, most of these have been reported and discussed at the intervening Hoist & Haul conferences, which have thus achieved a reputation as being amongst the leading international conferences in this discipline.

Where will the next 50 years take mine hoisting and haulage? What exciting projects are in execution or coming up shortly? How will geo-political disruptions influence the supply chains for hoisting and haulage equipment? Can shafts get deeper and can increasing production demands be safely achieved? Where will current debates surrounding the need for sustainable power, low carbon footprints, or the acceptability of deep sea mining take hoisting and haulage technology? Are automation, robotics and AI heading towards a complete take-over of hoisting and haulage? Not many things are predictable, but what is certain is that Hoist & Haul 2027 will be a great opportunity to dive deep into the challenges, the opportunities, and the current areas of excellence in our industry.

So, in advance and in anticipation that you will join us, welcome to Cape Town for Hoist & Haul 2027. We trust that in continuation of the strong tradition of the Hoist & Haul series of conferences, you will find this a superb opportunity for learning, for sharing of ideas, for discussion of challenges, and for networking with peers.

The conference is proudly supported by sponsors who provide essential services and promote regional industry and tourism. We extend our sincere gratitude to all our supporters for their invaluable contribution to making this a successful and memorable event.

Geoff Krige (Chair)