Molson Open Day 2023

by Ben Chambers

So on to the show itself. It was a delight to meet with the OEMs that were there, including those who advertise with us and those who get involved with our publications. We even did some new business and made new partnerships.

My working commitments only allowed me to attend the gala dinner on the Monday evening before the event proper, and a full day walkaround on the Tuesday – minor gripe, my editor’s surname was worryingly also given as Chambers and we were both listed as working for a defunct publication.

Not habitually following construction equipment enthusiasts online could have made me miss an interesting comment I was sent by a friend in the industry.

The video clip I received bemoaned the absence of the crème de la crème of the equipment world from this year’s Plantworx, namely, JCB, Kobelco, RokBak and Komatsu.

I would have dismissed it as irrelevant, but this particular enthusiast might just have had a point.

Having heard jibes that Plantworx had the air of a county fair, I was still more than happy to be positive and go once again, for the first time in four years. I had attended in 2019 and from memory it was a decent event but I am a lot more embedded in this industry now and know what to look for, what I want, enjoy and expect.

Our table for the dinner was brilliant and the entire do was sound and probably the best part of the show for me. With industry and non-industry banter exchanged, wine quaffed, promises made to visit various stands (with some even kept) and a great host in ITV’s Chaser Shawn Wallace, it was a shame that some didn’t manage to turn up, leaving their seats bare even when we were told there was a waiting list. Hosting an awards event as I do, I know what an annoyance (putting it mildly) that can be.

All in all it was a decent event and from the hosts’ official post show press releases, it does seem that enthusiasts and vloggers seem to be a big part of who they want to encourage to be there.

With some of the big guns not being in attendance I was able to focus elsewhere on existing clients and making new friends with smaller dealers and OEMs.

I think for me having been spoiled with visits to the Las Vegas Convention Center for the annual World of Concrete and doubly this year with the gargantuan CONEXPO event, as well as last year’s best ever Hillhead, the show did lack a certain big event feel. But perhaps that wasn’t and isn’t the overall goal.