They say time flies when you’re having fun.
The same must go for when you’re busy, because it’s hard to believe we’re already turning the calendar to 2025. It seems like just a couple of months ago the Portable Plants team was getting ready for AGG1 earlier this year. Now, the team is already prepping for next year’s AGG1 in March in St. Louis.
Even before that, this whirlwind year kicked off in February with Portable Plants’ sister publication Pit & Quarry hosting its annual Roundtable & Conference in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Then, in March, the team trekked down to Nashville for AGG1 and the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
After that, the summer months gave us time to prep for MINExpo in Las Vegas. As is always the case with a show in Las Vegas, MINExpo 2024 kept the Portable Plants staff very busy.
Similarly, contractors and equipment manufacturers were busy this year. In talking with industry members for our 2024 reflections section and our 2025 outlook section, there was an overwhelming sense of positivity surrounding 2024 and optimism looking ahead to next year.
This all comes at the end of a year in which interest rates only recently started coming down, inflation remained stubborn for much of the year and there was mounting uncertainty heading into the presidential election. On top of all that, many contractors and manufacturers were slowed by atypically wet weather for much of the year and an aggressive hurricane season.
I’ve probably used the word “resilient” to describe those in the construction materials industry more times than I can count. But in a year like this, with so much going on – good and bad – to come out ahead, that’s the only way I can describe them.
Trending tech
One promising development this year was the emergence of new equipment and technology. AGG1 and MINExpo were ideal showcases.
As contractors and manufacturers navigated a rocky economic and business environment this year, it forced them to get creative. Good thing for them, that’s what they do best.
We heard and saw trends of all kinds this year. Utilizing bigger equipment to do more with less, the growing impact of autonomy to save money and address workforce issues, and predictive monitoring to let producers know when something will go wrong before it does. These are just a few of the fantastic developments from 2024.
As these trends and others continue to evolve and be put to use, I can’t wait to see what 2025 and beyond holds for contractors and manufacturers. And I’m certainly looking forward to whatever new developments we get to cover in 2025.
Featured Photo: Portable Plants Staff