Three months from now, hundreds of thousands of people will flock to Las Vegas for the return of ConExpo-Con/Agg.
The nation’s largest construction trade show will be March 14-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), and it’s happening for the first time since the 2020 show was cut short by a day due to COVID.
Because of 2020’s shortened event and because the construction industry stayed on a healthy course to date, anticipation for ConExpo-Con/Agg is high.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which hosts ConExpo-Con/Agg every three years, expects a bigger-than-ever show in 2023. Dana Wuesthoff, vice president of exhibitions and event services at AEM, says attendees will find 2.7 million sq. ft. of displays and demonstrations from more than 2,000 exhibitors.
“For 2023, we’re expecting both attendees and exhibitions to break records,” Wuesthoff says. “Both because the Las Vegas Convention Center has grown, making more exhibits possible, but also because the construction and aggregates industries are hands-on, in-person industries.”
The new West Hall and the connecting Diamond Lot on the site of the old Gold Lot are part of the convention center’s growth. AEM says the new West Hall adds 1.4 million sq. ft. of indoor space.
Also new at the convention center is the LVCC Loop, an underground transport system that makes stops at South Hall, Central Hall and the Diamond Lot.
“AEM and our show committees of industry leaders are working to take advantage of everything that has changed in Las Vegas to deliver a top-notch event, delivering the latest innovations and best practices to help construction pros take their businesses and careers to the next level,” Wuesthoff says. “Between the West Hall and Diamond Lot bringing a lot of displays closer to the rest of the show, as well as serving as a connector to the Festival Lot, and the LVCC Loop making it effortless to get across the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, it’s never been easier for attendees to see everything they want to learn about when they get there.”
AEM expects a larger-than-normal international presence at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023. This is due, in part, to reduced international travel restrictions. As of late October, AEM says the largest groups of international registrants are coming from Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the UK.
This increased international attendance is also exciting for the planners of IFPE (the International Fluid Power Exposition), which co-locates with ConExpo-Con/Agg.
“These are the engineers, product planners and executives from OEMs all over the world,” says John Rozum, show director for IFPE. “The fluid power and motion control technology on display at IFPE is what makes the construction equipment you see at ConExpo-Con/Agg work, and that doesn’t change regardless of where the product is made.”
Additional industry events
While ConExpo-Con/Agg is a highlight on the industry’s 2023 events calendar, several other industry shows are scheduled for the first half of next year.
Ahead of ConExpo-Con/Agg, World of Concrete will be held Jan. 17-19 at the LVCC. The National Demolition Association will host Demolition Phoenix, its annual convention and expo, Feb. 22-25 in Phoenix.
C&D World, the annual meeting of CDRA (the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association) will also call Las Vegas home March 14-15, taking place at Paris Las Vegas. Waste Expo returns in May 2023, shifting to New Orleans.
Editorial advisor Kevin Yanik contributed to this article.