Event: ConExpo-Con/Agg Show
The latest equipment and technology were unveiled at North America's largest construction trade show
It was face-to-face business as normal at the ConExpo-Con/Agg Show & IFPE in Las Vegas as the event made a welcome post-pandemic return.
Show organisers, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), hailed it a huge success and confirmed more than 139,000 people attended from 133 countries, reinforcing ConExpo as the largest trade show in North America.
Visitor numbers were six percent higher this time around as the organisers were forced to cancel the show’s last day in 2020 as the COVID virus took hold around the world.
Normally held every three years, ConExpo 2023 was host to 2400 exhibitors, including 603 newbies from 36 countries, set up in over three million square feet of space.
"The innovations in the construction industry unveiled will play a role in helping construction professionals drive meaningful and sustainable economic growth," says show chair, Phil Kelliher, who’s also Caterpillar’s senior vice president.
"Live events in the construction industry are very important because you can see, touch, and experience the products. That value was reaffirmed across the show floor."
The next ConExpo-Con/Agg & IFPE will be held from 3 to 7 March 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
First time exhibiting as Develon
Develon, formerly known as Doosan, made its first appearance at ConExpo under its new name and launched a number of machines.
These included updates to its Concept-X and XiteCloud smart construction platform. Plus, there was a new dozer added to the autonomous equipment line-up and a host of new tech, including autonomous driving and blade control based on global navigation satellite system.
The Concept-X2 autonomous construction equipment at the show included the DD100-CX dozer and DX225-CX crawler excavator. Both machines feature a new cabinless design and a linear core design language.
Two new Bobcat concepts
Bobcat introduced two new concept machines, including the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, the Bobcat S7X, plus its new concept track loader, the Bobcat RogueX.
The S7X is all-electric and powered by a 60.5kWh lithium-ion battery. It features electric drive motors and utilises ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions.
It can operate for up to eight hours on a single charge depending on the application, taking around 10 hours to fully charge.
The RogueX is in the early research and development stage at Bobcat. The loader has been built without a cab and uses advanced kinematics.
It features next-generation unique functionality, including both vertical-path and radial-path lift capabilities in one machine.
The all-electric and autonomous concept machine produces zero emissions, as it features a lithium-ion battery, an electric drive system, and no hydraulics.
New excavator for Volvo
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Volvo Construction Equipment displayed a pre-production unit of the all-new 50-tonne EC500. The most obvious difference in this successor to the Volvo EC480E is the cab design but the technologies it contains, particularly those directed at safety, are the big news.
New cab styling comes with new control layout and features including a high-definition co-pilot screen, keyless engine start, wired and wireless smartphone charging, and a new work mode switch.
Volvo Smart View with obstacle detection is a valuable new addition that delivers significant safety benefits. Improved camera technology offers a 360-degree view around the machine and a new radar detection system provides automatic alerts when the excavator approaches any obstacle, identifying and classifying them as an object or human and giving the operator time to act.
Check out Trackzilla
Xtreme Manufacturing introduced additions to its line-up of telehandlers, including the XR50100-G tracked telehandler.
Nicknamed ‘Trackzilla’ by the company, the machine has a maximum working height of 100 feet, a maximum lifting capacity of more than 22 tonnes, and a forward reach of 75 feet.
Developed alongside construction technology firm BZI, Xtreme says the record-breaking height and lifting capacity ensures the machine is able to handle the heaviest loads at the highest heights.
Alongside the XR50100-G telehandler, Xtreme also showcased its new Xtreme Glazier with a
two-section boom, a maximum extension of over five feet, and a lift capacity of one tonne.
First look John Deere excavator
John Deere provided the first look at its all-new future-generation excavators, which, the brand says, are a product of the largest research and development project in the company’s history.
The company also displayed a variety of new and updated excavator models, highlighted by the new 85 P-Tier and 510 P-Tier current-generation excavators.
John Deere and Hitachi Construction Machinery ended their joint venture manufacturing and marketing agreements in August of 2021. Since then, each company has been developing and marketing their excavators separately.
On display were the future-generation machines, including the 145 P-Tier, 210 P-Tier, and 360 P-Tier models.
Compared to the 85 G-Tier model, the new 85 P-Tier boasts an 18% engine horsepower increase and the addition of a turbo for high-altitude performance.
The larger, redesigned cab is equipped with an eight-inch monitor with Bluetooth and a 270-degree camera system integrated into the main monitor.
Improved service access and optional features, such as an angle blade with float and continuous flow auxiliary hydraulics, round out the updates that improve the performance and versatility of the 85 P-Tier machine.
New mid-size for Hitachi
Hitachi’s new 20-tonne ZX190LC-7 mid-size excavator bridges a gap in the company’s product line, offering what the manufacturer says is high-end performance and efficiency at a lower price point.
The new model fills in between the existing ZX160LC-7 and the ZX210LC-7 models. It offers a 23-foot, two-inch maximum digging depth, and 13-tonne bucket breakout force.
The new machine features the HIOS IV hydraulic system, which allows operators to ‘tune’ the machine to their preference On the ZX190LC-7, the system produces a maximum flow rating of 100 gallons per minute. Attachment, arm and swing priority can be adjusted on the monitor to match the attachment or the operator’s preference.
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