All business areas within the Volvo Group have decided to not attend ConExpo 2020 due to the outbreak and continuing concerns relating to the Coronavirus.
With California joining Washington State and Florida in declaring a state of emergency to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus Covid-19, Volvo announced all business areas within the Volvo Group have decided to withdraw from their participations in next week’s Conexpo exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This includes all relevant Volvo business areas, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Penta, Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, SDLG and Terex Trucks.
“We are great supporters of Conexpo, and despite being in advanced preparations for this year’s event, we believe it is the right thing to do to withdraw at this late stage. Our first concern is the wellbeing of employees, customers and the wider public,’ said Melker Jernberg, Executive vice president of Volvo CE.
“It’s very disappointing not to be attending, but our first priority is the health and safety of our employees and others. Given this, it is with reluctance that it has been decided not to participate in this year’s show.”
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Volvo equipment still on display
Although Volvo CE’s staff won’t be at the show, the company’s equipment will still be displayed.
At Volvo CE’s 5,574 cubic metre booth at ConExpo’s Festival Grounds (F-3432), the manufacturer will still display its equipment.
The booth includes Volvo’s North American debut of its largest excavator, the EC950F and its 100-ton rigid haul truck, the R100E.
As well, the EC30E hybrid excavator and Volvo’s new P5110B tracked and P5170B wheeled pavers will be on display.
Registration still steady
Advance registration for ConExpo is well ahead of the 2017 show and more than 130,000 are expected to attend to interact with more than 2,500 exhibitors.
However, with recent news about the coronavirus in mind, ConExpo management are doing everything necessary to put attendee and exhibitor health, safety and comfort at the forefront.
These measures include increasing deployment of hand sanitizer stations across the show floor, grounds and meeting rooms, and increasing the cleaning schedule of all public areas.
Coronavirus prompts no handshake policy
ConExpo Management has also arranged for “No Handshake” buttons and stickers to be distributed at the show. In addition, large signage will be visible throughout the show to remind everyone of hygiene best practices and guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
“We know how much a solid handshake can mean to engender trust and bonding between two people discussing major business decisions,” said show director Dana Wuesthoff.
“But in the interest of keeping everyone as healthy as possible, we want to impress upon everyone that it’s okay to replace that custom with something as simple as a thumbs-up, a wave, a fist or elbow bump, or even the exchange of mobile phone numbers.”
