For the estimated 125,000 plus attendees at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017, the
mood was upbeat and there was much to see as more than 2,800 exhibitors
from around the globe offered the latest in products and services for
the contracting, recycling and quarry industries. Having taken place at
the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, March 7-11,
CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE has become the foremost event of its kind in
North America. This year, attendees and
vendors alike expressed a mood of optimism reflected in customer
equipment sales unlike those of recent years.
“This has been one of the best editions of CONEXPO-CON/AGG – ever,”
said Rich Goldsbury, 2017 CONEXPO-CON/AGG chair and CEO and president
Doosan Bobcat North America & Oceania. “Exhibitors are writing sales
at an incredible pace, and attendees clearly came to Las Vegas to buy.”
That sentiment didn’t go unsubstantiated. At one of the early
equipment press events on Wednesday, one vendor expressed their pleasure
regarding first day’s equipment sales on Tuesday, where their sales
staff sold more than one dozen pieces of quarry equipment, a bonanza by
any measure. Other vendors expressed the same optimism.
“There was an element of confidence and pent-up demand at the show,”
said Dave Foster, vice president for Marketing & Corporate
Communications at Volvo CE. “These are not tire kickers. These are
people who are willing to buy multiple machines for work they have now
and anticipated growth based on a renewed confidence in the market.”
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), one of
the show sponsors for this world renowned event, “A series of key
metrics reflected the improved conditions, which were bolstered by a new
pricing strategy intended to reinforce the overall quality of
CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2017 attendees.” These included a U.S. buyer
attendance that jumped over 16 percent from the 2014 show, and total
buyer attendance improved by almost eight percent. Overall contractor
and producer attendance grew by 10 percent with the total attendance
nearing 128,000 for the week.
AEM reported that almost half of all attendees serve in executive
positions at their company, and more than three-in-five attendees serve
in a decision making role. Almost 26,000 international attendees from
150 countries braved global headwinds including a strong dollar,
flagging export markets, and these visitors composed nearly 20 percent
of overall attendance. Interestingly, attendees purchased a record
breaking 52,000 tickets for education sessions at the show, a 26 percent
increase from the 2014 show. Total ticket sales excluding IFPE jumped
by over 27 percent compared to 2014.
“I think there (was) a noticeable difference in the attendees at
this show. The difference (was) their optimism,” said Gradall Industries
President and 2017 Association of Equipment Manufacturers Chair Michael
Haberman. “Optimism was on display throughout the show, and the traffic
was excellent.”
Other show sponsors include the National Stone, Sand & Gravel
Association, the National Ready Mix Concrete Association and the
Associated General Contractors of America. Together, these groups are
planning for the CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE slated for 2020. Once again,
this popular event is scheduled for March 10-14, 2020, in Las Vegas. For
more information visit the event website at conexpoconagg.com .