2023 set for biggest show yet

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONEXPO-CON/AGG

Attended by more than 125,000 visitors and held every three years at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show is one of the largest trade shows in North America, and is by far the largest for the construction industry. And this year’s show is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

“The addition of the new West Hall and Diamond Lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center gave us, and our exhibitors, a number of new opportunities to show how we are taking the construction industry to the next level,” said show director Dana Wuesthoff. “Now at 2.8 million square feet of exhibits, there’s more for construction pros to see than ever before.”

The show, which will be almost five per cent bigger than its record-setting 2020 edition, will feature 1,800 exhibitors and more than 175 education sessions during its run from March 14 to 18.

Although it will be the largest CONEXPO ever, recent additions to the LVCC will make it easier than ever to get around the grounds. Opened to convention centre traffic in 2021, and located beneath the entire LVCC campus, is the Convention Center Loop, an underground transportation system designed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. The system of Tesla vehicles transports convention attendees throughout the campus in under two minutes, free of charge.

“We are excited to welcome CONEXPO-CON/AGG back to Las Vegas for another record-setting event,” said Brian Yost, chief operating officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), which owns and operates the LVCC.

“The addition of the West Hall and the Convention Center Loop will only further enhance the ‘Only Vegas’ experience for attendees and exhibitors.”

Construction pros are ready for the show to return as well. As of December, attendee registration was running at nearly double the pace it was for the same month ahead of the 2020 show.

“This is the event that construction professionals, especially those making company-level decisions, and those need­ing professional development hours, can’t miss,” said show chair and Caterpillar senior vice-president Phil Kelliher. “Seeing the new equipment and techniques on a screen doesn’t compare to seeing it all in person. At the show, you can see the equipment, ask questions of the manufac­turers themselves, and really understand what the equipment and education can do for your career and business.”

A core theme that will be visible in the offerings from many of the exhibitors is sustainability.

“The construction industry and CONEXPO-CON/AGG are evolving in many ways to adapt and showcase sustainable technologies, products and practices supporting a more sustainable world,” said Wuesthoff. “More than ever, show attend­ees will see sustainability in action, from electric and hydrogen powered construc­tion equipment, to more recyclable mate­rials and waste reduction opportunities, to changes we’re making to the show to better support sustainability.”

In addition to the sustainable technol­ogies, products and practices on display across the show floor, event organizers have also given sustainability its own education track in its seminar offerings.

With more than a dozen sessions planned, speakers will address such subjects as reducing the carbon footprint of concrete, getting and managing electric construction equipment, asphalt and concrete recycling, carbon neutrality, and a “Sustainability 101” session for those just starting their sustainability journeys.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG show organiz­ers are also committed to reducing the environmental impact of the show itself, and have partnered with vendors dedicated to sustainable practices and reducing waste, while helping exhibitors choose more sustainable options. They will also be measuring the show’s total 2023 environ­mental impact to identify potential areas for future improvements.

In a statement leading up to the event, show organizers explained that sustain­ability efforts at CONEXPO-CON/AGG reflect the focus on sustainability within the entire construction industry, explain­ing that many construction companies have realized that clients are demanding sustainable building practices on projects, so contractors themselves are recognizing benefits from moving to more sustainable equipment and practices.

Principal sponsors of the event are the Association of Equipment Manufac­turers (AEM), the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Associa­tion (NSSGA). The show sponsor is the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), with AEM producing the show.

For more information about CONEX­PO-CON/AGG, or to register with a 20 per cent discount using code MEDIA20 by March 13, visit www.conexpoconagg.com.