OEMs Showcase Digitalization and Electrification of Construction Equipment at CONEXPO 2023

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 will be the place to see the newest construction equipment hitting the market. As fluid power systems, particularly hydraulics, as well as other motion control solutions are vital to the operation of heavy machinery, the show will provide an opportunity to see not only new equipment but also what trends are driving OEM designs.

A wide array of equipment manufacturers will be on site at CONEXPO, co-located with the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), showcasing their machinery and more. Similar to IFPE, electrification and automation are expected to be among the dominant technology trends as both have picked up steam in recent years to improve sustainability efforts and productivity.

Following is just a sampling of what OEMs will have on display at the year's biggest show for those in the construction and fluid power/motion control industries.

John Deere's Exhibition Space will be Largest to Date

The construction side of John Deere will share a combined exhibition space with Wirtgen, which it acquired in 2017, at CONEXPO 2023. The companies will have a total booth space of 80,000 sq. ft.; its outdoor booth in the Silver Lot will encompass 70,000 sq. ft. and the remaining 10,000 sq. ft. will be in the new West Hall and dedicated to future technologies as well as the engine brand John Deere Power Systems.

Having a single booth for John Deere and Wirtgen brands will enable a cohesive space in which customers can see the latest machinery and construction technology from both. The companies plan to display 68 machines, several of which will be equipped with smart technologies from both brands.

As electrification is a growing trend in the construction industry, John Deere and Wirtgen plan to display nine electric and hybrid-electric machines between them. Among those machinesis likely to be John Deere's first fully electric excavator, the 145 X-Tier launched in January at CES 2023.

John Deere and Wirtgen will be located in the Silver Lot at booth S5020 and in the West Hall at booth W40844.

John Deere and Wirtgen will show a total of 68 machines at CONEXPO, nine of which are electric or hybrid-electric models.

Komatsu Exhibiting Technology Focused on Productivity Improvements

Construction and mining equipment OEM Komatsu plans to show not only its latest machines but also technologies which can be integrated into them to improve productivity and efficiency. The company said in its pre-show press release it will showcase a range of technology that can benefit businesses no matter where they are on their technology journey.

Besides improving productivity and efficiency, Komatsu noted many of its technologies can provide other benefits as well such as extending machine life, enhancing safety, and meeting increased environmental requirements. In addition to these technologies, the company also plans to highlight its sustainability/electrification roadmap and workforce optimization tools.

Several pieces of equipment will be on display at Komatsu's booth as well, including its latest electric and hybrid excavators. A dozer and excavator equipped with its intelligent Machine Control (iMC) technology which integrates various smart products and digital solutions will be among the machine displays as well as brand-new and recently introduced equipment.

Komatsu will be located in the West Hall at booth W42044.

Various Komatsu technology solutions will be on display aimed at improving productivity and efficiency for machine owners.

Hyundai to Show Range of New Machines

Rental Equipment Register (RER), an affiliate publication of Power & Motion, reports Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas plans to have a large exhibit at CONEXPO 2023 that will include a wide range of new, current and future machine models.

Three new compact excavators will be shown, two of which feature load sensing hydraulics with adjustable auxiliary flow. Among the many new machines it plans to display, Hyundai will also have two alternative-powered prototype excavators - one powered by a hydrogen-fueled engine and the other a compact, electric-powered machine.

Read the full release on RER's website.

Hyundai will be located in the West Hall at Booth W42501.

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New Holland Construction Returns to CONEXPO

New Holland Construction, one of CNH Industrial's construction equipment brands, has announced its plans to exhibit at CONEXPO 2023 after a multi-year hiatus. At the show the company plans to feature its full portfolio of machines from compact excavators to skid steer loaders.

The company also plans to introduce several new pieces of equipment which have not been displayed prior to the show.

"This is a great opportunity for our industry to re-engage with itself, including our partners, dealers, colleagues and customers from across the U.S. and globe," said Tyler Mills, Head of New Holland Construction North America, in the company's press release announcing its return to the show. "Simply put, that’s what this event is all about: the people. We’re thrilled to be back in-person and showcasing construction equipment that helps the industry get the job done better, faster and more efficiently."

New Holland will be located at the Festival Grounds, Booth F9052.

Liebherr to Emphasize Digitalization and Alternative Energy

Liebherr intends to use CONEXPO 2023 as a platform to highlight its latest advancements and technologies which emphasize digitalization, alternative drives and efficiency. It will have a large 60,000 sq. ft. outdoor booth in the Festival Lot at which various machines and technologies will be on display.

The company plans to have over 30 machines at its booth showcasing seven of its product segments including:

earthmoving,
material handling,
concrete technology,
mobile and crawler cranes,
tower cranes, and
deep foundation machines.

In the South Hall as part of IFPE, Liebherr's components division will highlight its latest technologies, which include various hydraulic and other motion control related components. On the company's dedicated CONEXPO page, it states Liebherr-Components will also have a focus on digital solutions and alternative drive components.

Among those listed on the site are the bearing clearance monitoring system, shown at bauma 2022, and the new DPVO 550i open circuit pump. The pump features a nominal size of 550 cm3 and is designed to be robust enough for use in harsh applications such as mining and plant engineering.

Liebherr is located in the Festival Lot at booth F9253 and in South Hall at booth S80821.

Liebherr plans to focus on the concepts of digitalization, alternative drives and efficiency at its machine and components booths.

Caterpillar Highlighting Engine- and Battery-Powered Equipment

Caterpillar Inc. also plans to have its largest exhibit to date at CONEXPO 2023; the company's outdoor booth in the Festival Lot will encompass 70,000 sq. ft. and be anchored by a large demonstration arena. Its engine division will be located in South Hall and plans to highlight its latest developments in internal combustion engines and lithium-ion batteries.

Over 30 machines will be on display in Caterpillar's outdoor lot which will include current machines, battery-electric prototypes and new model unveilings. The company will also hold equipment demonstrations highlighting capabilities of its machines as well as its integrated technologies.

Daily spotlight demonstrations will also be held during which specialists from Caterpillar will dive into key industry topics such as efficiency and the evolution of technology.

As part of its outdoor lot, Caterpillar will also have three hubs focused on Technology, Services and Sustainability which aid customers in getting their work done in a productive and efficient manner. At its Sustainability hub, the company will show various products which can aid with these efforts in various ways. Four of Caterpillar's battery-electric machine prototypes and charging solutions will also be on display.

Caterpillar will be located in the Festival Lot at booth F9127 and its engine division in South Hall at booth S84329.

A rendering of Caterpillar's booth at CONEXPO 2023 which includes a large demonstration arena.

Volvo CE Exhibiting Electric and Autonomous Equipment

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced it will exhibit the latest machines in its line of electric-powered construction equipment. These include the ECR25 Electric compact excavator and the L25 Electric compact wheel loader.

The first deliveries of these machines in North America has begun. Volvo CE recently upgraded the machines to include a maximum speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h); noise levels were also reduced by utilizing a new hydraulic pump and relocating the main control valve from the cab to the front frame.

According to a press release from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), owner of CONEXPO and IFPE, Volvo CE will also show its EC230 electric excavator, a mid-size machine currently available only in select markets and undergoing testing at a fossil-free construction site in Sweden. The company also plans to show its Zeux autonomous concept wheel loader and HX04 prototype hydrogen articulated hauler.

Sustainability will be a key focus for the company's exhibit said Stephen Roy, president, Region North America at Volvo CE in a pre-show press release from the company. The theme for its booth is 'Change Starts Here. We're Ready for It.' "We’ll be showcasing the machines and services that will help our customers succeed in a fast-changing industry that’s increasingly focused on sustainability."

For those who cannot attend the show in person, Volvo CE will also host a virtual platform where visitors can take part in machine walk-arounds, educational sessions and interact with those attending the show.

Volvo CE will be located in the Festival Lot, Booth F8926.

A rending of Volvo Construction Equipment's booth which will feature the company's latest electrification and automation products.

Wacker Neuson Bringing Electric Machines to North American Market

Construction equipment manufacturer Wacker Neuson plans to showcase various machines at CONEXPO 2023, with a particular focus on its electric-powered equipment. The company intends to display its 1.7-ton battery-powered excavator, the EZ17e which has been available in the European market and will launch in North America in late 2023 or early 2024.

Various other zero-emission machines within Wacker Neuson's portfolio will also be on display, including the debut of what it says it the industry's first battery-powered reversible plate with direct drive, the APU3050e. This along with other battery-powered tools such as its rammer and concrete vibrator are all powered by the Battery One battery and charger system to provide a vendor-agnostic solution that makes it easy to power all tools on a job site.

Wacker Neuson also plans to show its new EZ26 zero tail excavator and the ET58 tracked excavator feature advancements in performance and efficiency.

Two new utility track loaders will be premiered at CONEXPO, the SM60 and SM120, as well as the company's new ST27 compact track loader.

Wacker Neuson will be located in the West Hall at booth W43501.

Wacker Neuson's EZ17e battery-powered excavator will soon be entering the North American market.

VOLTEQ Exhibiting Battery-Powered Mini Skid Steer Loader

At its booth, VOLTEQ Equipment will show its SKY 1000 which the company said is the world's first lithium-ion battery-powered tracked mini skid steer loader. VOLTEQ will also show new prototype machines and electric-powered models.

The SKY 1000 is a 100% electric machine powered in part by three electric motors. It features an integrated charger and robust design for use on harsh construction job sites. Its quiet, emissions-free design enables use indoors and outdoors for a variety of applications beyond construction including agriculture, landscape and more.

Replacing the engine with batteries and motors helps to reduce maintenance as there is no oil or filters to replace. Over 15 attachments, hydraulic or electric, can be used with the SKY 1000. The company said switching attachments requires the simple push of a button due to the use of fast hydraulic locking pins in the attachment system.

VOLTEQ Equipment will be located in the North Hall at booth N13106.