With more stringent environmental regulations, the importance of coal preparation today is arguably stronger than it was when the first Coal Prep conference was launched. It was 1983 when a group of coal prep professionals convinced a publishing firm to start a trade show geared toward coal beneficiation. The publisher took a chance and it was a safe bet, because Coal Prep served a niche with purpose-providing plant operators with information they could use. Coal Prep 2003, which will be held at the Heritage Center in Lexington, Ky., April 29-May 1, marks the 20th show. The first Coal Prep was held at the same center in 1984. At that time, it was about one-half the size it was before last year's expansion. The inaugural Coal Prep show had 76 mostly tabletop exhibits. The founders expected a turnout of approximately 500 people. To their surprise, more than 1,700 attended. Even as the number of plants dwindled throughout the years, the conference and exhibition grew steadily and so did Lexington and the Heritage Center. Today, Coal Prep averages about 200 exhibitors and the attendance hovers around 3,000 people. In 1984, more than 500 prep plants washed coal in the United States. Today, that figure has dropped to 250, but the remaining plants are more efficient and produce more clean coal. Coal Prep played a part in the evolution of the industry. Over the years, it strayed from the original format occasionally, but the group that organized the technical program never took their eye off the ball. Under the leadership of two different chairmen: Don Schreckengost and Al Deurbrouck, Coal Prep consistently offered programming that was well-received. That element worked two decades ago, it works today, and there is no reason why it shouldn't work for another 20 years.
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