GEAR UP FOR WOA/ AGG1 OFFERINGS
M
BY ASPHALTPRO STAFF
Many state asphalt pavement associations (SAPAs) offer regional tradeshows where an asphalt professional can get his or her equipment “fix” during annual meetings, but the big events with corporate money backing fancy displays of iron and information typically happen at such tradeshows as World of Asphalt and AGG1. The most exciting displays are usually planned out for CONEXPO-CON/AGG years, but you must admit, asphalt equipment manufacturers know how to roll out eye-catching iron at the co-located WOA/AGG1 event. This year, that event takes place at the Nashville Music Center in downtown Nashville, March 29-31. And according to Brittany Weltcheff, show manager, World of Asphalt, people appear to be more than ready to leave lockdown status to attend. Mid-January, she could see attendance numbers already looking up. “Currently, registration is trending ahead of our last in-person show, which was held in 2019 in Indianapolis,” Weltcheff shared. “We see people are excited to come back together and meet in-person.” Vendors appeared ready to greet the influx of registering attendees. As of press time, the WOA/AGG1 tradeshow had 363 exhibitors mapped out on the third level of the convention center. This is where, according to the show’s official website, manufacturers and service providers in the aggregate, asphalt, pavement maintenance, and traffic safety industry sectors will come together to showcase their latest products and technologies. Some attendee favorites may have new logos—I'm looking at One Astec specifically—but new and familiar OEMs have spacious booths to showcase product offerings for the asphalt and aggregate manager who’s been doing his or her shopping online the past two years.
46 | MARCH/APRIL 2022
It’s time to get out and kick the tires again. Finally. “Exhibitors have been waiting almost three years to come back to the leading asphalt trade show and conference and they are excited to connect with attendees and share the latest advances for asphalt equipment and services,” Weltcheff said. “Currently, exhibit space for World of Asphalt 2022 is sold out, and a waiting list has been growing.” Many exhibitors have mini events, prize drawings or special guests at their booths, including your AsphaltPro magazine staff. Our popular “Ask the Expert” series is back. Stop by booth L1005 Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 to ask your plant and production questions of Malcolm Swanson of e5 Engineers, Chickamauga, Georgia. Or stop by the booth Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 to ask your paving questions of Bryce Wuori of Wuori Consulting, Bismarck, North Dakota. Another event to put on your calendar takes place Wednesday, March 30, from 4-5 p.m., when a select group of OEMs are participating in a reception on the tradeshow floor. The AsphaltPro supporters who are part of the Rock and Road Reception are Bomag at booth 3502, CWMF at booth 2756, Dynapac at booth 3522, Reliable Asphalt Products at booth 3040, and WEM Automation at booth 3461. They’ll have free beer and expert-filled conversations for you. While there’s plenty of knowledge to be gained from experts in the exhibit booths on the tradeshow floor, attendees will get the most from the WOA/AGG1 experience by attending seminars as well. The show organizers state they have lined up 150 education sessions between the People, Plants, and Paving conference and the AGG1 conference, which are offered in-person only this year.
“In March 2021, we held the People, Plants, and Paving conference virtually to ensure that our audience was able to learn best practices and new and innovative skills they needed as essential workers,” Weltcheff said. “We heard from our audience that while they appreciated the digital conference given the circumstances at the time, they are excited and ready to get back to in-person education where they can network and connect more easily with other industry professionals.” Getting back to in-person education, information-gathering, networking and purchasing is the name of the game for WOA and AGG1 2022. Find all the exact details for registration and travel tips, seminars and sessions, exhibitor listings, and things to do after the show at the official website https://www. worldofasphalt.com/visit/about-the-show. And check out a special list of asphalt-centric exhibitors who partner with AsphaltPro on the pages to follow.
Brittany Weltcheff is the show manager for WOA. Photo courtesy of Association of Equipment Manufacturers
