A fresh look to ConExpo

Expect to see some major changes at this year’s ConExpo construction equipment show. At the last show in 2017, regular visitors will have seen a difference in the Gold Lot, where the crane and transport equipment has traditionally been concentrated. It is all change once again for the 2020 event to the extent that this time the Gold Lot is no more.

The Gold Lot was formerly a parking area across the road from the Convention Center; it has now been moved to make way for the venue’s expansion. Show organizer, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), has added the Las Vegas Festival Grounds to replace the space lost from the Gold Lot – a large area on the Las Vegas Strip, adjacent to the Circus Circus Hotel.

“AEM is very excited about expanding the show footprint of ConExpo-Con/Agg,” said Dana Wuesthoff, AEM vice president of exhibitions and event services. “In the meantime, the ConExpo-Con/Agg show team is working with show planning committees to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure co-ordination between the Convention Center and the Festival Grounds.”

The 2020 show’s connected campus will include “new and expanded transportation, attendee experiences and registration locations,” organisers said. Features will include multi-site drop off locations for shuttles, complimentary monorail passes, golf cart shuttles, among other transport options.

The future is now

One of the highlights of 2017’s ConExpo was the award-winning Tech Experience, which will this year be spread across two locations; the Silver Lot and Festival Grounds.

Under the technology umbrella, features will include Modern Mobility, Sustainability and Smart Cities, and within these subject headings, all manner of futuristic construction tech goodies will be on show.

Sustainability will doubtless be a huge talking point at the show, and the Tech Experience will offer manufacturers an opportunity to display products with social, economic and environmental impact in mind. At the same time, contractors can decide for themselves how much they will need to embrace sustainable practices if they are to earn contracts in the future.

In and around

Entry passes for the show include a three-day unlimited pass for the monorail passenger transit system. Badges give access to the service that runs both between the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Festival Grounds and all the official ConExpo-Con/Agg and IFPE 2020 hotels.

Locations for badge collection on arrival in Las Vegas include the airport, some hotels and three places at the show ground. A communication sent prior to arrival at the show will list the badge pick-up locations. Badges are not mailed out ahead of the show.

Booking rooms through the show’s own hotel block allows the use of a free shuttle-bus service, which is available between the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Festival Grounds and all official show hotels (with the exception of hotels within walking distance of the Convention Center or the Festival Grounds). Shuttles will operate during peak hours on the official show days of 10 to 14 March.

For those driving to the show, there is limited parking nearby. Organisers suggest taking advantage of hotel shuttle services, the monorail and taxis. Taxi, Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up locations have been designated around the showground.

International visitors are particularly welcome. AEM caters for attendees from around the world with special group hotel packages expressly for international guests. International group hotel packages include hotel breakfast vouchers, luggage handling upon arrival and departure to hotel, group appointment for picking up badges. Other services include ground transportation, interpreter services and badge delivery.

Interpreters are available for assistance within the International Trade Center (ITC) Room N250. Interpreters are typically in the following languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean, French, and Italian. There is a two-hour per daytime limit for the interpreters. For additional information, contact Paige Vaughn at: +1-847-996-5424 or showmgt-packages@experient-inc.com

Future workforce

The perennial ‘hot topic’ of attracting new people to the industry and then retaining them is addressed in the Workforce Solutions area of the show. AEM has organised this area of the show for employers hoping to connect with potential candidates and present a positive brand image. Visitors, exhibitors, association members, job seekers and students are all invited to participate. In doing so they will learn about the industry.

“It’s critical for the equipment manufacturing industry and the construction market it serves to do what it takes to engage the workforce of tomorrow to consider embarking on a career in the skilled trades,” said AEM Director of Workforce Development Julie Davis. “Our Workforce Solutions Area will provide a uniquely valuable opportunity to learn how to make a memorable connection with young people by tapping into kinesthetic learning methods that excite a hands-on workforce.”

Further learning

A comprehensive programme of education sessions and seminars will be running from Tuesday to Friday during the show. The programme is grouped into 10 tracks, including Aggregates, Concrete, Earthmoving, Equipment Management and Business Best Practices.

One track looks at Technology Solutions and, on Tuesday at 9.30am, a session called Transforming Construction examines the benefits and challenges of adopting technology. During the hour-long panel discussion – led by Trimble’s Kevin Garcia – delegates will learn how the adoption of technology might affect the daily working practices of crews and understand the hurdles involved in making the change.

Other technology sessions, delivered throughout the week, will include The Future of Electric Machines on the Worksite and Applying BIM in the Field, as well as talks on present and future applications for robots, drones and other autonomous and semi-autonomous machines.