FROM THE EDITOR

CONEXPO ATTENDANCE RECORD DEMONSTRATES VALUE OF THE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE

The attendance record broken at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 is a strong sign that the industry is back after the turmoil of the three years since the last edition of the show. With over 139,000 attendees at the 2023 show, it was obvious that there is an appetite for industry engagement. Over the week at the show we saw an impressive range of new equipment, and crowds were enthusiastic to experience it and the latest innovations and job site solutions on display.

Getting into the cab to experience the new machine – to have a tactile experience, and ask the experts questions one-on-one – is a vital part of the decision-making process when selecting new equipment, whether at a trade show, such as CONEXPO, or at your local dealer.

Representatives from several manufacturers that I spoke with emphasized that the desire for that personal connection was high and a good sign for the industry as contractors seek solutions that address the range of challenges that the industry faces today – whether it’s finding and keeping good operators, training new recruits, meeting tighter environmental regulations, or seeking machines that will deliver a productivity edge to increase the bottom line as project margins and timelines tighten.

The appetite for education was also evident at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 – over 91,000 formal education sessions were purchased by attendees of the show, in addition to the informal conversations on the show floor and networking opportunities available after hours.

The atmosphere at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 left us feeling a lot of excitement and optimism for the industry this year – and there’s a lot to talk about when a show covers over 3 million square feet of exhibition space.

I was excited to see several manufacturers enter entirely new product categories this year, which if you missed the show, you can discover in our CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 show review in this issue. We look at a selection of equipment introductions from the show covering the earthmoving, roadbuilding, and aggregates sectors – but consider it a taster from the CONEXPO buffet.

With so much new equipment to explore, there will be more to come over the next few issues. In May, we’ll dive into new technology that stood out at CONEXPO – including unique machine prototypes and concepts that wowed us on the show floor.

The presence of electric machines also became a norm at this CONEXPO – it was hard to turn a corner without encountering a manufacturer’s first, or latest, entry into that category. Stay tuned for further coverage of those machines this summer.

Kaitlyn Till Editor In Chief

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VOLVO CE DELIVERS ARTICULATED HAULER MADE FROM FOSSIL-FREE STEEL TO CRH

Volvo CE has handed over its second machine made using fossil-free steel.

The A30G articulated hauler was handed over by the President of Volvo CE, Melker Jernberg, to Scott Parson, president of Americas materials at CRH, at Volvo Group’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 press conference.

“At Volvo CE, we believe partnership is the new leadership,” says Jernberg. “The handover today to Pennsy Supply demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together with like-minded and forward-thinking partners who share our vision and commitment to sustainability and want to lead our industry to change.”

Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB produced the fossil-free steel using a new technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result is a significantly lower climate impact in SSAB’s production process – an at least 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions – and an important step towards a net-zero emissions value chain.

“No business can solve the complex challenges such as climate change alone,” adds Parson. “We need to actively partner with key players throughout our value chain to innovate and create new business solutions. Volvo and SSAB have converted emerging technology in the steel industry into a working model of what the future will look like. We are delighted to be the first recipient of this technology in the U.S.”

Pennsy Supply Inc. is part of the CRH group of companies. Like Volvo CE, the CRH group has Science-Based Target commitments. It aims to be a net-zero business by 2050 and is targeting a 30 percent reduction in absolute group-wide emissions by 2030. Pennsy Supply will use the fossil-free A30G at its East Petersburg quarry in Pennsylvania.

HOLCIM’S LOW-CARBON CONCRETE WINS CONEXPOCON/AGG CONTRACTORS’ CHOICE AWARD

Holcim’s ECOPact low-carbon concrete was awarded the CONEXPO-CON/AGG Next Level Awards Contractors’ Choice honour in the inaugural awards program at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2023.

The Next Level Awards program celebrates exhibiting companies that are pushing the boundaries and developing “next-level” products, technologies, and services.

“We are proud to announce Holcim as the winner of the inaugural Next Level Awards – Contractors’ Choice,” says Dana Wuesthoff, CONEXPO-CON/AGG show director. “Their commitment to excellence and innovation in the construction industry is truly impressive, and it is evident that they are highly regarded by the industry.”

ECOPact provides the construction industry with a concrete solution to the carbon challenge, offering up to 90 percent lower CO2 emissions compared with standard concrete mix designs. Projects using ECOPact low-carbon concrete reduce vast amounts of CO2 emissions.

Attendees at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE voted for their favourite of 10 finalists on site to determine the Contractors’ Choice Award.

The finalists were selected by a panel of Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) members. They were judged based on the following criteria:

• Addresses a common industry need in a unique and innovative way.

• Benefits the industry across multiple applications for industry-wide adoption.

• Positively impacts the safety, sustainability, and workforce of the industry.

“We are honoured to have ECOPact low-carbon concrete recognized as the Contractors’ Choice for the inaugural Next Level Awards Program,” says Toufic Tabbara, region head of North America at Holcim. “We are committed to changing the way we build a more sustainable future and helping our customers reduce the carbon footprint of their projects.”

139,000 ATTEND CONEXPOCON/AGG 2023

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 has come to a close, but not before drawing more than 139,000 attendees to Las Vegas for five full days of product launches, announcements, education sessions, and networking opportunities.

Attendance outstripped expectations for the event, which organizers said made it the largest trade show in North America. More than 2,400 exhibitors from 36 countries took up more than 3 million square feet of exhibit space.

“The innovations in the construction industry unveiled this week will play a role in helping construction professionals drive meaningful and sustainable economic growth,” said Phil Kelliher, Caterpillar senior vice president and CONEXPO-CON/AGG show chair. “Live events in the construction industry are very important, because you can see, touch, and experience the products. That value was reaffirmed this past week across the show floor.”

This year’s show emphasized how the construction industry is evolving in many ways to adapt to sustainable technologies, products, and practices. Show attendees were treated to sustainability in action, from electric and hydrogen powered construction equipment, to more recyclable materials, and waste reduction opportunities.

The next CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE will be held March 3 to 7, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 IN REVIEW

Turn to page 14 for our coverage of equipment introductions from the show.

DOOSAN PORTABLE POWER PRODUCTS, FORKLIFTS, AND INDUSTRIAL COMPRESSORS TRANSITION TO BOBCAT BRAND

Doosan Bobcat will transition the company’s portable power products, forklifts, and industrial compressors to the Bobcat name. Doosan Portable Power – which manufactures air compressors, mobile generators, and light towers – will join Doosan Industrial Air and Doosan Industrial Vehicle, which supplies material handling equipment, under the Bobcat trade dress in North America.

AUSTRALIA’S PATRICK DOHENY WINS CATERPILLAR’S 2022/2023 GLOBAL OPERATOR CHALLENGE

Over 5,500 machine operators competed in the 2022/2023 Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge, and Patrick Doheny was awarded the title of “World Champion” as the best Cat construction machine operator. He competed against eight other finalists operating a wheel loader, backhoe, and an excavator in three skill-testing challenges. American Matt Ferris finished in second while Łukasz Mokrzyński from Poland finished third.