The world's largest quarry show is taking place this week in Derbyshire.

Ten companies from Northern Ireland travelled to Buxton, to take part on the Hillhead Exhibition with Invest NI.

The exhibition, hosted at Hillhead Quarry from 22-24 June, is the biggest working quarry show in the world. The last event, in 2007, attracted 430 exhibitors with over 18,000 visitors attending from 70 countries.

Participating companies, exhibiting on Invest NI's stand this year, cover a wide variety of industries from quarrying, mining and recycling to heavy engineering, materials handling and processing and software solutions.


Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, said: "Hillhead is a key exhibition offering NI firms in the materials handling industry the opportunity to launch new products, develop sales and generate new business.

"In 2007, local companies on our group stand secured orders in excess of £6 million, with expressions of interest for an additional £10 million resulting from contacts developed at the show."

Dr Kell continued: "Invest NI's participation this year underlines our wider commitment to helping materials handling companies explore new business opportunities outside Northern Ireland."

The Hillhead showground covers approximately 140,000m2 and includes extensive working demonstration areas covering rock processing, recycling and quarry face excavation.

(NS/GK)