Event Review

By Cindy L. O’ Hara

The event featured an impressive 1,500 exhibitors, along with 180 educational sessions catering to both industry vets and newcomers. This year’ s themes highlighted improvements in sustainability, efficiency and how to leverage current( and future) technology to enhance business strategies and operations.

“ The show featured a greater emphasis on new technologies in concrete and masonry construction, including advancements in materials, automation and digital tools,” said Steven Pomerantz, the show’ s senior marketing manager.

Paving the Way to Progress

There is little doubt that the U. S. construction market continues to face workforce challenges, as well as finding more efficient and sustainable ways to build, so it was the perfect venue to see new approaches and inroads being made in the field of automation.

The exhibit halls were filled with manufacturers and suppliers showcasing machinery, robotics and eco-friendly materials.

A major highlight was the showcase of concrete 3D printing, carbon capture for cement production and the latest advancements in robotic equipment designed to boost jobsite productivity and safety.

“ This year’ s show offered exhibitors that were focused on 3D printing, drones or artificial intelligence( AI) along with educational offerings geared to those topics,” said Pomerantz.

Innovative Solutions on Display

Bigfoot Construction Equipment showcased its custom composite and wood outrigger pads, cribbing, ground mats, wheel chocks, rigging gear and more.

The company unveiled its new interlocking stack pads, designed for customizable padding without added bulk. This feature allows operators to adjust the padding as needed, enhancing versatility on the jobsite.

Bigfoot also introduced the new leveling pad, featuring a stackable design with a leveling pad atop a standard pad. This configuration ensures safe and consistent machine leveling, regardless of the terrain.

Bigfoot Construction is the only manufacturer that offers outrigger pads in both black and safety orange, according to the company.

“ While classic black remains a trusted choice, safety orange is a game changer for jobsites where high visibility is crucial,” said Eric Steiner, marketing director of Bigfoot.

“ This bold color enhances awareness of the outrigger system, helping to prevent accidents and improve safety in high-traffic or low-light conditions.”

With a focus on reducing fatalities caused by vehicle incidents, Brigade’ s latest technologies offer features that could change how construction fleets manage safety,

Brigade highlighted new products aimed at reducing construction-related fatalities, which have one of the highest work-related death rates.

The company’ s new AI Distraction Camera, launched in February, analyzes driver behavior for signs of drowsiness, distraction or inattention and provides alerts for hazardous incidents. Additionally, the master document register AI cameras, featuring both driver-facing and forward-facing cameras, offer real-time collision warnings and monitor driver fatigue and risky behavior.

The White Sound BBS-TEK backup alarm and Backeye360AI systems were also

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March 2025 • www. cranehotline. com