Nearly 15,200 visitors came from all over Australia and beyond to see an exhibition that was 20% bigger with a record 650 exhibitors.

Reed Mining Events exhibition director Paul Baker said it had been an outstanding three days for QME.

“Not only did we smash our 2010 visitor numbers by 18%, but we have exhibitors – large, small and medium-sized – all reporting excellent levels of business and contacts, including significant sales of products right off the exhibition floor,” he said.

Indeed, Baker said, exhibitors made hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of sales as a direct result of their participation at QME.

“This year’s exhibition has really exceeded all our expectations,” he said.

QME2012 was so successful some exhibitors are already booking their stands for the next outing in 2014, which will return to Mackay from July 22-24.