ConExpo visitors down 16% but international delegates increase

Almost 120000 visitors registered to attend the ConExpo-Con/Agg exhibition last week, which is around 16% lower than the 2008 show, reflecting continuing difficulties in the US construction sector.

If the visitor numbers reflect US conditions, the growth in the world's developing markets was evident in the increase in visitors from outside the US, which represented 24% of the total compared to 19% in 2008.

The figures show that visitor registrations from the US fell by around 21% from 116000 in 2008 to just over 91000 in 2011.

ConExpo's organiser, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), said the mood at the show had been overwhelmingly positive, despite the economic uncertainty, and that exhibitors had reported strong purchases and sales leads.

"The construction industry has been through some very tough times, with record unemployment, since the last CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE in March 2008", said Megan Tanel, vice president of exhibitions and events at AEM, "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".

Mike Haberman, chairman of the ConExpo 2011 management committee and president of Gradall Industries, said; "There was such a tremendous upbeat feeling at the shows; it was really great to see our industry looking ahead with some enthusiasm after the recession".

The exhibition attracted more than 2400 exhibitor, taking more than 2.34 million net square feet of exhibit space. The IFPE fluid power component of the show was the largest ever, and Conexpo's exhibit space was the second largest in its history.

The next ConExpo will be held on 18-22 March in 2014, again at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, US.