Immersive Technologies has held its largest and most successful simulator User Group Forum to date. Themed Operator Optimization, the three-day event provided Immersive Technologies’ customers the opportunity to discuss best practices in simulator implementation and utilization, explore new product and service offerings, while networking within the world’s largest mining simulator user base.

Held between 3rd - 5th June 2009, in the picturesque hills of Park City Utah, this year’s event was the fourth Americas User Group Forum Immersive Technologies has hosted to support its extensive customer based across North and South America.

Being part of the only global operator training simulator forum in the world focused on mining, this event continually gains strong support and participation from the world’s largest mining companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who are focused on improving operational safety, efficiency and prof tability.

As the leading global supplier of mining simulators, Immersive Technologies’ User Group Forums are key to refining the global simulator standards and developing best practices for operator training.

Immersive Technologies’ Chief Executive Officer, Peter Salfinger said, “We are extremely pleased with this year’s attendance in light of the current global economic situation. Results reported during customer presentations, together with discussions during the workshops continue to demonstrate the signifi cant impact simulation training is having on the safety and profi tability of mining companies around the world as they turn their attention to achieving more from their current resources.”

Salfinger continued, “It was inspiring to hear customers sharing examples of how closely their simulator data is mirroring their in-pit data and the tangible results being achieved. However it is even more exciting to see the Immersive simulator community supporting each other and taking an active role in the continual development of the training technology.”

This year’s event saw customers attending from over 25 leading resource companies, with detailed presentations from Peabody Energy, Rio Tinto Energy Coal, Syncrude, Kinross and Bevill State College. Presentations were coupled with hands on new product demonstrations, interactive discussion workshops and a variety of fun networking events.

“With nearly 600 equipment trainers globally now certifi ed in Immersive Technologies’ TrainerAdvantage™ program, the User Group Forums are the perfect environment for these training professionals to meet, discuss industry trends, and actively participate in the future direction of simulation within the mining industry”, said Salfinger.

The Operator Optimization theme will continue to be the focus at Immersive Technologies’ sister event, the African, Asia-Pacific and European User Group Forum, due to be held in October 2009 in Perth, Australia.

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About Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of surface and underground Advanced Equipment Simulators to the global mining industry. The company has achieved this unique position by focusing on its mission to make every mining and earthmoving equipment operator in the world safer and their employer more profitable through its simulation technologies. Immersive Technologies' Advanced Equipment Simulators are helping hundreds of mining companies around the world to increase their equipment operators' safety and site profitability through effective simulation training.

Immersive Technologies provides its customers with the most effective Advanced Equipment Simulators available. This is made possible through the formal exclusive licensing and technical information alliances Immersive has established with the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), including: Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu and Liebherr. These unique alliances provide Immersive Technologies with exclusive access to the OEM's proprietary and confidential machine technical information that is required to correctly simulate the OEM's machines and is not available through other public or dealer channels.

With advanced simulator modules deployed in 39 countries, Immersive Technologies is dedicated to provide outstanding service. To deliver on this commitment the company has customer sales and support offices located close to its customers in Perth and Brisbane Australia, Salt Lake City USA, Calgary, Ottawa & Vancouver Canada, Monterrey Mexico, Lima Peru, Santiago Chile, Bochum Germany, Johannesburg South Africa, Jakarta Indonesia, Kolkata India and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Immersive has the global mining experience, innovative technology, product range, OEM relationships, proven support commitment and industry vision to partner with you to ensure your simulator training solution delivers the significant results you expect.