The 2021 installment of The Utility Expo was the largest in the show’s history. More than 950 companies spread across more than 1.4 million square feet (32 acres) of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
“Given the extraordinary circumstances around in-person events, we were excited to be able to produce The Utility Expo and bring a diverse lineup of thousands of products to over 16,500 attendees,” said John Rozum, show director for The Utility Expo.
Product showcases:
Volvo’s ECR25 electric compact excavator
Recently, Volvo announced the results of a pilot project, testing the ECR25 electric compact excavator and L25 electric compact wheel loader in North America. Previously, Equipment Journal reported on the L25 wheel loader and its upcoming availability.
So, The Utility Expo was the debut of these new electric machines. We were able to get into the seat of the ECR25 and try it for ourselves.
The reduction in noise levels, in comparison to diesel equipment, is immense. When idling, the ECR25 will have you wondering whether the machine is powered on or not.
The ECR25’s controls are extremely responsive. So, once an operator adjusts to this, the machine starts to feel like a natural extension of the operator, offering swift operation in response to superior hand-eye coordination.
CASE’s TV620B compact track loader
At The Utility Expo, CASE Construction Equipment debuted its new compact track loader, the TV620B. The company claims that this is the biggest and most powerful CTL ever built.
The TV620B in action:
For our full article on the TV620B, click here.
Bobcat’s E35 R2-Series mini excavator
Bobcat offered a sneak peek of what will be the latest addition to its R2-Series, the E35.
Most of the updated features from the other excavators have been applied to this iteration of the E35.
These features include arm-mounted auxiliary couplers, optional 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth compatibility and optional high-back heated seat with headrest.
Two small changes to the E35 that may be of note to contractors are the addition of a lift eye on the excavator’s standard bucket and the relocation of LED light on the boom.
The integrated lift eye now comes standard on the bucket of this model—a feature that many customers outsource for when not included.
Also, Bobcat now mounts an LED light underneath the boom of the R2-Series E35, rather than on the side. Ultimately, this was done with the intention of protecting the light from damage, while offering a smaller footprint when maneuvering the boom in tight areas.
For our full article on the E35 R2-Series, click here.
Ditch Witch’s RT70 ride-on trencher
Previously—a couple of weeks before The Utility Expo—Equipment Journal reported on Ditch Witch’s announcement of the RT70. The show was the debut of the RT70.
Ditch Witch’s claim—before its debut—was that, in the RT70, they had found a way to reduce temperature levels in the operator station. The exhaust would be blown out the side of the machine rather than into the vicinity of the operator. Ditch Witch did not disappoint in its claims of operator comfort.
Firstly, the 120-degree swivel seat offers loads of legroom. Secondly, standing in front of the side exhaust, it was clear that the Ditch Witch had successfully found a way to direct the heat away from the operator. The product experts had fun blowing attendees hats off—revving the RT70’s engine when attendees stood in front of the side exhaust.
BONUS: Ditch Witch shows off its Super Witch ride-on trencher
The Utility Expo will return to Louisville and the Kentucky Exposition Center September 26-28, 2023.
