CONEXPO-CON/AGG mood "overwhelmingly positive"
Attracting more than 117,000 registered attendees by the event’s close yesterday, show organizers have given an upbeat assessment of the event, describing the mood among exhibitors and visitors as “overwhelmingly positive.”
And with over 2,400 exhibitors taking more than 2.34 million (217,400m²) of exhibit space, CONEXPO-CON/AGG’s exhibit space is the second largest in the show’s history, and the co-located IFPE (International Exposition for Power Transmission) is its largest ever. International registrations accounted for a record 24% of the attendees’ total, representing more than 150 countries.
Despite continued uncertainty in the US construction markets and the overall economy, industry professionals have been expressing hopeful optimism for a sustained US upturn in the coming months, while global sales continue to be strong.
Mike Haberman, chairman of the 2011 CONEXPO-CON/AGG management committee and president of Gradall Industries, said: “There’s such a tremendous upbeat feeling here at the shows: it’s really great to see our industry looking ahead with some enthusiasm after the recession.
“The construction equipment industry is pretty resilient and we feel that we have made it. At this point there is a light at the end of the tunnel - and it is not a train.”
However, he said it was important that the US government passed a transportation bill as soon as possible as infrastructure projects create jobs, and with that the economy.
Attendees say they have been at the show to examine the latest equipment and product technologies and innovations to help them prepare for future business, and exhibitors cite the high quality of customers and report strong purchases and sales leads to new as well as existing customers.
Megan Tanel, AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) vice president of exhibitions and events, said: “The construction industry has been through some very tough times with record unemployment since the last CONEXPO-CON/AGG in March 2008. With these positive numbers and the industry support of the shows, we’re optimistic about the future and looking forward to seeing these new sales orders fulfilled.”
