Exhibitor Magazine has announced the winners of its inaugural ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026 Exhibit Design Awards.
Developed to acknowledge ConExpo exhibitors and their design efforts, the competition offered free entry to all ConExpo exhibits, which were organized into four size-based categories. The winners are:
- Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas (Class 4, 6,000 square feet or more)
- Haver & Boecker Niagara (Class 3, 1,000 to 6,000 square feet)
- SVAB (Class 2, 400 to 999 square feet)
- YGT Parts (Class 1, less than 400 square feet)
- Badass Workbench (Editor’s Choice)
“Celebrating exceptional stand design has been part of Exhibitor Magazine’s DNA for more than three decades,” said Emily Olson, Editor of Exhibitor Magazine.
“ConExpo-Con/Agg brings together some of the most ambitious exhibits in the industry, and the Exhibit Design Awards allowed us to spotlight the creativity and ingenuity shaping one of the industry’s most dynamic show floors.”
The competition was evaluated by a distinguished panel of designers and exhibition industry experts who assessed the stands on site.
Finalists in each category were notified on the show floor, culminating in an exciting announcement of the winners during the awards ceremony held on Friday, March 6.
Hitachi’s booth was designed by the company’s head of marketing and integrated their machine’s orange iron with wood and water elements, creating a serene, nature-driven environment. The booth’s Zen Garden included traditional Japanese greenery, providing attendees a space to unwind and relax. Throughout the booth, the scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom added an extra layer to the elevated booth experience. Attendees spent an average of 25 minutes within the space, underscoring the depth and immersive nature of the experience.
“ConExpo is the construction industry’s most important stage, and we’re honoured that the Japanese principles that guide how we engineer, build and support our customers were recognized through this award-winning booth,” said Hidehiko Matsui, Chairman and CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas. “We’re excited for the industry to see what we have coming next.”
SVAB, a joystick grips and tiltrotator control systems manufacturer, developed its booth to help visitors quickly understand their products and to experience the technology in a practical, hands-on way.
A large, illuminated feature facing the main aisle highlighted SVAB’s A9 joystick, while dedicated demo areas presented SVAB’s full joystick range through hands-on product interaction and operator-focused demonstrations.
A central part of the experience was the VR area, built around two separate VR stations.
“For SVAB, innovation is not only about developing new technology,” said Anna Dahlman Herrgård, Marketing and Sales Manager at SVAB. “It is also about how that technology is presented and experienced. The booth was designed both to create a strong visual impression and to give visitors the opportunity to test the technology for themselves.”
