BULK 2026 will return to Melbourne, bringing together systems, partnerships and technologies shaping bulk handling across Australia.
The Bulk Handling Technical Conference and Expo, BULK 2026, will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 16 to 17 September 2026. For food and beverage manufacturers, the event provides a platform to explore technologies that influence ingredient integrity, plant performance and workplace safety.
Recently, the Bulk Handling Technical Conference 2026 program was announced, bringing together engineers, researchers and technology providers from the bulk solids and materials handling sector.
The program features international industry leaders and technical specialists, with a focus on developments in safety, digital engineering and infrastructure performance.
This year’s program includes headline presentations from organisations working across mining, infrastructure and industrial processing.
Key program highlights include presentations from Worley on a 13 km overland conveyor and how modern technology is affecting energy use, cost and lifecycle performance in long distance conveying systems. Intertek will outline a method for improving bulk material tonnage measurement and commercial reporting accuracy.
KOCH Solutions will showcase IBEX and its application in deep mining material handling systems. TUNRA Bulk Solids will present research on conveyor belt wear resistance, safety in bulk solids handling and monitoring of wall liners using experimental and simulation-based approaches.
Additional presentations will be delivered by Luna Innovations, HMA, Prime Manufacturing, Syntechtron, Hawk Measurement Systems, BFM Australia, Geometrica, University of Wollongong, Concetti, DICE Computing, AXO33, WGA, Leap Australia, Australian Weighing Equipment, Anval and Ultra Dynamics.
“This year’s conference is about what’s actually working on the ground and what will be helpful in the future,” Prime Creative Media head of marketing events Molly Hancock said. “From advanced simulation tools to practical safety solutions, the program has been curated to give attendees ideas they can take straight back to site.”
The conference positions itself as a technical forum for the bulk handling industry, connecting operators, engineers and technology providers focused on safety, efficiency and long-term asset performance.
Importance in food and beverage
For the food and beverage industry, bulk handling is not a peripheral activity. It is the starting point of production. From the moment grain is unloaded at a port to the transfer of sugar into a mixing vessel, each movement affects quality, efficiency and safety.
While it does not often take the spotlight, BULK 2026 brings attention to the sector, supporting growth across mining, agriculture and construction industries. With demand increasing and expectations around sustainability and traceability tightening, systems must continue to evolve.
Events such as BULK 2026 provide a forum to share knowledge, examine new solutions and strengthen relationships across the supply chain. As food manufacturers look to optimise performance while meeting regulatory and environmental obligations, handling food at scale will remain a core focus.
“We didn’t want a program that just talks at people,” said Hancock. “We wanted to put together a conference that gets into the detail of what is actually going wrong on site and what is working to fix it.”
The conference themes reflect that approach, with each session shaped by operational pressure points:
- Conveyors, Mechanical Handling and System Performance will explore belt and mechanical conveying, including wear resistance, fire safety and system redesign.
- Dust, Fire and Operational Risk will focus on explosion protection, conveyor belt fire safety and practical measures to reduce dust leakage and downtime.
- Storage, Stockpiles and Material Behaviour will examine how bulk materials behave in real conditions, including discharge performance and stockpile stability.
- Monitoring, Measurement and Wear will highlight visibility across systems, including live wear monitoring and dynamic weighing technologies.
- Simulation, Design and Emerging Technologies will focus on modelling tools, deep mining concepts and system design for complex environments.
Together, these themes form a program grounded in real operational challenges and shaped by practitioners working across the supply chain.
Backbone for industries
The scale of sponsors and association partnerships remains a key part of the expo’s strategy.
The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association Australia (ICHCA) has joined the event as an official industry partner to help drive change and advocate for safer outcomes. ICHCA represents Australia’s interests at international forums, ensuring local perspectives contribute to improvements in cargo safety and logistics performance.
The Australian Society for Bulk Solids Handling has also been announced as an official association partner, overseeing development of the technical conference program.
Additionally, SRO Technology has been announced as a Platinum Sponsor, with its Networking Drinks providing an opportunity for attendees to connect following the opening day of the expo.
Belt Wise, a conveyor belt optimisation specialist, will have a presence across the exhibition floor, offering opportunities to discuss asset protection, uptime and workplace safety.
Visitors will be able to explore developments in robotics, smart conveyors and platforms that provide real time data on flow rates, blockages and wear, while engaging with opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing. Building on the 2024 event, where close to 70 per cent of attendees held purchasing authority, the expo is designed to serve both technical specialists and decision makers.
BULK 2026 will bring engineers, operators and suppliers into the same space to focus on what works when systems are under pressure.
Tickets can be booked at https://bulkhandlingexpo.com.au/attend/
