Record-setting return for ConExpo-Con/Agg

Another ConExpo-Con/Agg is in the books.

This year’s show was much more than just another ConExpo-Con/Agg, though. The nation’s largest construction equipment trade show lived up to that moniker as a record 139,000 attendees from 133 countries flocked to Las Vegas to see the latest equipment and technology.

Showcasing those offerings were more than 2,400 exhibitors from 36 countries. Exhibits spanned more than 3 million sq. ft. throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center and its several outdoor lots.

Phil Kelliher, senior vice president at Caterpillar and chair of ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023, says this year’s show will serve a talking point and source of growth within the industry in the coming years.

“The innovations in the construction industry unveiled [at ConExpo-Con/Agg] will play a role in helping construction professionals drive meaningful and sustainable economic growth,” Kelliher says. “Live events in the construction industry are very important, because you can see, touch and experience the products. That value was reaffirmed across the show floor.”

Exhibitor experiences

Brian Vrablic, president of Rulmeca Corp., says he had strong traffic at his booth the first two days of ConExpo-Con/Agg before it died down the last few days. That contrast allowed Vrablic and his team to meet with prospects and existing customers.

“That is part of the value for us as a component manufacturer,” Vrablic says. “We can visit with a number of domestic and international OEM customers in the same place and have some very meaningful conversations. Our equipment was displayed on a number of customers’ equipment at the show, and we take time to thank them for being partners with us.

“We did, however, expect traffic to be a bit stronger in the latter part of the week,” he adds. “I believe the opening of West Hall has a fair amount to do with the slowdown in the second part of the week.”

Along with the opening of West Hall this year, ConExpo-Con/Agg added exhibits in the outdoor Festival Grounds while closing the Bronze Lot.

Because of the traffic flow changes caused by the additions, Vrablic says the company’s exhibit space at future ConExpo-Con/Aggs may have to be reevaluated.

“We still see value in the show but we may need to attack it in a different way to maximize our location with respect to traffic flow,” he says. “Big shows like this also mean they are long shows, which means they are very expensive shows. We as a small company have to balance all of those things with the fact that this is our primary industry and a large number of OEM, distributor and end-user companies are in attendance.”

Despite the costs and hot-and-cold traffic flow Vrablic encountered, the quality of leads Rulmeca generated were as good as – if not better than – in years past, even if they quantity was down, Vrablic says.

“Most importantly, the sentiment in the industry and gauging customers’ propensity to spend in the next six to 12 months was something we were looking to get from this show,” he says. “Overall, the buyer sentiment seemed to be good in that many people were talking about new projects or replacing equipment in the near term.”

Russ Burns, sales director at Terex MPS, says he saw good demand at this year’s show. He points to the company’s CRC 1350S portable cone crushing plant as a reason for the significant draw.

“It speaks to the fact that [the CRC1350S] is a new plant, nobody has seen this before, everybody sees the value and producers are trying to do more with less,” Burns says. “They’re running fewer people and trying to get more production in less time.

“We’ve had a lot of people who are surprised to see it,” he adds. “Nobody expected this combination. When customers come up and realize it’s a 400-hp cone and a 7-ft. screen, the gears start turning in their heads. They realize how much more they can do with a plant like this. Having that type of feedback has been absolutely amazing.”

Digitalization was a prevailing talking point throughout the show, as well.

Astec Industries showcased its Astec Digital offering as a solution to customers’ desire for centralized digital data management.

Interest was strong says Eric Baker, vice president and general manager of Astec Digital.

“Rather than have a location within the booth for Astec Digital, Astec Digital is everywhere,” Baker says. “It has become the DNA of our equipment offering and, really, it’s everywhere in the booth. My team is getting pulled in all sorts of different directions to talk about it.”

Looking ahead

ConExpo-Con/Agg returns March 3-7, 2026 to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Eric Sauvage, president and CEO of Link-Belt Excavator Co., was named chair of the 2026 show. Sauvage also serves as vice chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) Construction Equipment Sector Board.

“After the tremendous success of the 2023 show, the bar is set very high for 2026 ConExpo-Con/Agg, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers staff and the show’s management committee,” Sauvage says. “I plan to lean on that strong foundation to further strengthen and grow this world-class industry event, while optimizing the value for our attendees and exhibitors.”

Dana Wuesthoff, vice president of exhibitions and event services at AEM, which puts on ConExpo-Con/Agg every three years, is excited for what Sauvage will bring to the 2026 show.

“I am looking forward to working with Eric and to continuing to build on the success of the 2023 show,” says Wuesthoff, who also serves as ConExpo-Con/Agg show director. “Although the show isn’t until 2026, our planning is already in the works and Eric will be an excellent leader as we look to bring the industry back together again the next time we all meet in Las Vegas.”

Editorial advisor Kevin Yanik contributed to this article.