The iconic North American tradeshow is sold out, and shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

Just five months after shutting down and packing up their stands at the Bauma tradeshow in Germany in October, construction equipment manufacturers have regrouped and are prepping for another huge show, ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023 in Las Vegas.

With expanded exhibition space already sold out, there are huge hopes for the American show. ConExpo 2020, which was shut down a day early due to the looming Covid-19 pandemic, was a general success, but caused extreme stress on exhibitors and attendees.

But all that is in the past and the 2023 show is shaping up to wipe out any bad memories. Recognized as the largest trade show in North America, ConExpo had officially sold all available exhibit space as of early December 2022, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, (AED), show planner. The 2023 edition of ConExpo will be the largest in history.

“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.”

Like Bauma was a little different in October, ConExpo will be different too. Manitowoc Cranes will not be officially exhibiting, although some of its distributors will be showing its cranes. Back in October, Manitowoc President Aaron Ravenscroft told ACT that the company had chosen to put its resources into Bauma, rather than ConExpo.

“I think first and foremost, the timing was too difficult to do two shows in a world-class fashion,” he said. “For us, it was driven by the timing.”

On the flip side, American companies and equipment manufacturers with American subsidiaries that didn’t participate at Bauma intend to make a big splash in Las Vegas.

Bigger and better

The show, now nearly five percent bigger than the record set in 2020, will feature 1,800 exhibitors and 150 education sessions. More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the show and ultimately buy equipment.

Wuesthoff said that despite being the largest ConExpo ever, recent additions to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) will make it easier to navigate. Beneath the entire LVCC campus runs the Convention Center Loop, an underground transportation system designed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company that transports convention attendees throughout the campus in under two minutes in Tesla vehicles, 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, 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.”

Registration pace doubles

Construction pros are ready for the show to return as well. The current pace of attendee registration is nearly double what it was at this time for the 2020 show, AEM reported. If you have not registered, the sooner you do the better.

“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.”