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Commentary: January-February-2012

It’s that time of year again when venues across North America and abroad
are opening their doors and turnstiles to members of the aggregates and
roadbuilding industries.

It’s that time of year again when venues across North America and abroad are opening their doors and turnstiles to members of the aggregates and roadbuilding industries.  With a number of big shows coming up over the next few months, it’s an ideal opportunity for anyone with an interest in new technology, equipment and services to find out what is the latest and greatest, and to network with colleagues, suppliers and industry association members.

In this issue of Aggregates & Roadbuilding, you will find an extensive preview of the World of Asphalt Show and Conference (www.worldofasphalt.com), which is being held in conjunction with the AGG1 Aggregates Forum and Expo in Charlotte, N.C. The shows kick off on March 13 and close on March 15.  The venue will provide space for over 300 exhibitors, and more than 6,000 visitors are expected over the two days.

On March 29 and 30, Moncton, N.B., will play host to the Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show (AHES). Produced by Master Promotions (www.masterpromotions.ca), the last AHES brought more than 12,000 visitors through the doors where they kicked the tires and climbed on board all kinds of large and small iron from front-end loaders to skid steers.

Two weeks later, Master Promotions (www.masterpromotions.ca) will put on the Expo Grands Travaux 2012 in Montreal. Held on April 13 and 14, the show will provide some excellent networking opportunities. The last time the event was held, over 13,000 qualified buyers walked the show.

For anyone who wants to go a little further afield, Intermat Paris (http://en.intermat.fr) is coming up from April 16 to 21. When this show was held in 2009, the organizers had 184,519 visits, with one-third of these made by international industry professionals. It was an opportunity to find out about the new machines and equipment being shown by the 1,470 exhibitors on hand, 67% of which were from overseas.

And for those looking for a live show, Hillhead 2012 (www.hillhead.com) is being held in Buxton, in the north of England from June 19 to 21. Event organizers are expecting a busy show, with 97% of the outdoor stand space already sold and most of the space in the three demonstration areas already allocated.

For anyone in our industry, attending one or more of these shows is worthwhile, and we need to support these shows to keep them coming back. These days, it’s easy to say, “I can see the equipment online,” but there’s nothing better when you are in the market for a new piece of gear than jumping on board, sitting in the operator’s seat, and talking face to face with the equipment company’s product specialist.