ICUEE 2019: a positive and promising edition

We already discussed about the expectations, before the event, for this year’s International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) here on Diesel International. Looking, now, backwards to what happened during the event, 2019 actually turned out to be one of the best years for the ICUEE. In particular, the exposition, that took place at the Kentucky Exposition Center, registered record numbers of utility and construction professionals converging on Louisville.

ICUEE 2019: EXPECTATIONS BEFORE THE EVENT

Record figures for ICUEE 2019

Registered attendance topped 19,000, from the United States, Canada and more than 65 other countries worldwide. John Rozum, ICUEE show director, said: «We shattered our attendance record on Tuesday. Our 70 registration kiosks were printing 25 badges per minute between 8 and 10 a.m., so we knew the temperature wasn’t the only thing running hot that day».

The edition of this year saw the partecipation of over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and solutions for the utility construction industry. Exhibitors covered a record 1.34 million square feet exposition area. Exhibits included hands-on equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations.

Rick Johnson, ICUEE 2019 show chair and CEO Emeritus of Charles Machine Works, expressed his satisfaction: «It was gratifying to see such positive energy among attendees and exhibitors. ICUEE is such a tremendous opportunity to make lasting industry connections that help participants continue to grow and stay competitive».

New activities to experience

This year the visitors had the opportunity to experience also a new equipment demonstration area, new education programs, and new networking opportunities. The show’s new UTV Test Track featured utility terrain vehicle displays and test-drive courses for hands-on evaluation of machine capabilities.

Lee Styslinger III, CEO of Altec, said: «Team Altec enjoyed spending time with show attendees celebrating 90 years of innovation and customer satisfaction at ICUEE 2019. ICUEE always serves as a great opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with our customers».

ICUEE also looked to attract the next generation of workers: a new Career Skills Event brought hundreds of high school students from throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana to the 2019 show to interact with exhibitors and learn about possible industry careers. AEM, show owner and producer, cooperated with Bridging America’s Gap for the event, which included different learning stations, talks with industry professionals and tours of the show floor.

Improved educational and networking opportunities

New education offerings included more field classrooms on the show floor and new lunch-and-learn sessions. Desi Matel-Anderson, FEMA’s first chief innovation officer, returned to ICUEE in 2019 to lead three Disaster Simulation Labs. A new Emerging Technologies Pavilion also joined expanded Safety and Fleet Management exhibit pavilions on the indoor show floor.

The ICUEE 2019 show badge included access to the show’s first-ever ICUEE Live! at Fourth Street Live! Concert in downtown Louisville’s Fourth Street Live! dining and entertainment complex, for a networking event that featured local music from The Crashers & Soul Circus. The closing Bourbon, Beer & Bites networking reception also returned this year.