AIMEX 2013 stands tall among Australian mining industry trade shows, with more than 650 exhibitors covering an area of about 50,00sq.km.

This represents a layout of more than triple the floorspace at the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition in Mackay.

The number of AIMEX visitors expected this year is in the 12,000 range again, despite a doubling of the event's frequency.

AIMEX organiser Reed Mining Events says that the advantage of having an exhibition of its size is that the entire industry can gravitate to one place.

Being the biggest also serves as an incentive to take part among industry professionals.

"It's actually exceeded our expectations in terms of size," exhibition director Paul Baker told MiningNews.net.

"All the personnel and buyers within the mining sector are obviously very, very busy. Nobody has time to leave their offices.

"They need more reasons and more compelling reasons to attend events, whether it be a conference or an exhibition or training. So by providing them with everything in one place, it gives them more reasons to get out of their offices or get offsite."

But bringing together this many exhibitors and streamlining the experience for time-starved professionals presents challenges of its own.

The AIMEX solution this year is taking shape with a series of organising "technology trails", a means of leading visitors through a more focused visit depending on their respective area of interest.

"The idea is that because AIMEX is so big, we need to make sure its easy to connect onsite as quickly as possible," Baker explained.

"These technology trails are like a road map to each of the exhibitors around the whole site that have products and services within that sector.

Trails at AIMEX 2013 include focus areas of safety, materials handling, engineering, minerals processing, automation, environmental and underground operations.

The four-day event will continue through until Friday.