ConExpo: More than 164 NHL hockey rinks of equipment

conexpo

ConExpo returns to Las Vegas in March, and the massive trade show is already setting new records

Momentum continues to build for ConExpo 2020, North American’s largest construction trade show.

Held every three years, the next CONEXPO-CON/AGG is set to begin Tuesday, March 10 and run until Saturday, March 14, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As well, ConExpo co-locates with the IFPE exposition for fluid power, motion control and power transmission.

Nearly 2,500 exhibitors are set to unveil more than 500 new products and showcase innovations for asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining and utilities.

As well, more than 50 show-related press conferences will take place and more than 150 education sessions will highlight equipment trends, technologies and best practices.

“The show is shaping up to be one of the best ever; attendees and exhibitors will not be disappointed,” said Mary Erholtz, ConExpo chair and vice president of marketing for Superior Industries “AEM and our show committees of industry leaders are working to deliver an outstanding event focused on the latest innovations, technologies and best practices to succeed in our changing world.”

Already setting records

For 2020, the show is off to an impressive start, before its doors even open. More than 38,000 people registered for ConExpo during the week of January 10 to 17, before the early-bird deadline came to a close. That number of tickets sold represents a record-breaking total of registrations for a single week. 

“We’re thrilled to see this kind of energy and enthusiasm with last week’s record-breaking attendee registrations,” said show director Dana Wuesthoff.

“We’re less than 50 days from the show, and overall our registrations are pacing well ahead of previous shows, indicating a continued sense of optimism from contractors as they look for new products and innovations to help them succeed in the years ahead.”

Attendance

At the last ConExpo in 2017, nearly 128,000 people attended, including almost 26,000 international attendees from 150 different countries. Canadians accounted for about 40 per cent of international visitors

“Our Canadian neighbours were our biggest international fans in 2017 and we are anticipating that trend to continue for 2020,” Wuesthoff said.

The official footprint of the show spans more than 260,100 square metres or 2.8 million square feet. 

“That’s almost 32 CFL football fields, or more than 164 NHL hockey rinks,” Wuesthoff said. 

The new festival grounds

Ironically, construction at the convention centre has redesigned the layout of the show. In previous years, the Gold Lot, located across Paradise Road from the main buildings of the Las Vegas Convention Center, was the main outdoor display grounds for the biggest equipment.  This year, large equipment moves to the Festival Grounds. 

“A new area at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, surrounding the Hilton Grand Vacations resort and just north of Circus Circus, will be the new spot for the big stuff,” Wuesthoff said.

Tech driven

As with every edition of ConExpo, the main focus of the show is new technology.

To highlight new and emerging technologies, the show’s award-winning Tech Experience, introduced in 2017, will return this year. 

“The Tech Experience this year features tech talks on everything from drones on the job site, to building the highway and city of the future, to a social media influencer meet-and-greet,” Wuesthoff said.

As well, the Tech Experience will include a 20 square metre replica of a smart city. The replica demonstrates how a smart city, through sensors and analytics will be able to transform information into digestible data, providing knowledge for the city to work smarter.

The replica will showcase several scenarios at the Tech Experience, including; 

  • • Different city grids and how a city responds to heat, wind and storms. 
  • • Connectivity in the city, including 5G, sensors, telematics and IoT.
  • • Impacts of construction. The jobsite of the future within the city and how equipment will communicate.

New to ConExpo

For 2020, organizers are introducing the new Workforce Solutions Area in the Festival Grounds. 

The Workforce Solutions Area invites the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show attendees and exhibitors – along with association members, job seekers and local students – to experience a trade right on the show floor. In addition, participants will learn about the industry and take away best practice ideas from what will be an interactive workforce pavilion.

“This area, spearheaded by AEM’s new workforce development director Julie Davis, will be a hub of information and ideas for both contractors and manufacturers to learn how to better attract talent in this time of labour shortages,” Wuesthoff said. 

ConExpo 2023?

As of early February, exhibitors were already on site setting up their booths. 

“The outdoor exhibits, especially, take a lot of time to erect, so we send our support staff out to help them set up at the beginning of February,” Wuesthoff said.

As for organizers, planning begins years in advance for each show. 

“Believe it or not, we’re already in the very beginning phases of planning the 2023 show,” Wuesthoff said. “With CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE being the largest construction trade show in North America, a lot of planning and effort goes in to making this show a success for our exhibitors and attendees.”

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