Trends & Talks

Find out where mining companies and technology suppliers come together to discuss the challenges and available technologies at top industry conferences. You can also discover how companies are using data to optimize tire selection and increase productivity, as well as how wind energy is being harnessed to power mining operations. Listen to the opinions of our experts on this topic: Frik Els, Andrew Petruska, and Chris Roadhes.

 
Guests
  • Frik Els
    Frik Els
  • Andrew Petruska
    Andrew Petruska
  • Chris Rhoades
    Chris Rhoades
Did you know?
  • Robots come in all sizes from nanometers to 10’s of meters.
  • Over ten billion tons have been moved using autonomous haul trucks.
Frik Els
Frik Els

Frik Els is the executive editor of MINING.COM, the world’s premier source of news and opinion on mining and metals with a weekly readership of more than 200,000 industry professionals across the world. 

Frik has focused his writing and public engagements on the green energy transition and the raw materials needed to meet climate goals and combat global warming. He created the EV Metal Index providing insights into the greatest disruption to the auto and extractive industries in a century.  

 

Andrew Petruska
Andrew Petruska

Chris Rhoades
Chris Rhoades

 With a family tradition in the OTR sector that goes back to 155 years ago, Chris Rhoades started his career by working on tire tracking programs.

He then joined BKT in 1999 as Senior Product Manager, Technical Solutions, and used his expertise to develop a new technology: SPOTech. It is a cutting-edge monitoring system that collects data on haul truck activities by means of GPS systems, GoPro cameras and accelerometers for improving productivity, efficiency, and operating conditions within mining sites or quarries. 

With 24 years’ experience in BKT, he is now BKT Tires' US Vice-President for OTR. He's passionate about partnering with customers and dealers to leverage solutions to reduce their total cost of ownership.