ConExpo-Con/Agg and IFPE 2017 attendees apparently came to Las Vegas ready to buy. Exhibitors said they enjoyed tremendous sales activity throughout the week of the show, from March 7-11.
As multiple construction and manufacturing industry segments converged on the Las Vegas Convention Center, manufacturers and customers voiced widespread optimism about the economy.
“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 of Doosan Bobcat North America & Oceania. “Exhibitors are writing sales at an incredible pace, and attendees clearly came to Las Vegas to buy.”
"There was an element of confidence and pent-up demand at the show," said Dave Foster, vice president for marketing and 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."
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.
U.S. buyer attendance jumped over 16% from the 2014 show, and total buyer attendance improved by almost 8%.
Overall contractor and producer attendance grew by 10%.
Total attendance neared 128,000 for the week.
Almost half the attendees serve in executive positions at their company, and more than 3/5ths of the attendees are in a decision-making role.
Almost 26,000 international attendees from 150 countries composed nearly 20% of overall attendance.
Attendees purchased a record-breaking 52,000 tickets for education sessions at the show, a 26% increase from 2014. Total ticket sales, excluding IFPE, jumped by more than 27% compared to 2014.
“I think there is a noticeable difference in the attendees at this show, and the difference is their optimism,” said Gradall Industries President and 2017 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Chair Michael Haberman. “Optimism was on display throughout the show, and the traffic was excellent.”
At the same time, the technological change revolutionizing these industries was clearly evident across the shows’ record 2.8 million-plus net sq. ft. of exhibits featuring a record 2800-plus exhibitors from leading U.S. and global manufacturers, ranging from multinational giants to small firms with specialized products.
The world’s first 3D-printed excavator, the brand-new Tech Experience, and a stellar educational lineup anchored a forward-looking vision for construction and infrastructure.
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