Industry trade shows are a regular part of the Pit & Quarry staff’s travel, although our busiest time of the year for those always seems to be in the first quarter.
AGG1 and ConExpo-Con/Agg are, of course, priorities for the P&Q staff. We also make a point to attend niche or related industry shows during the first quarter like World of Concrete, SME’s MINExchange and ISEE’s Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique.
State and provincial shows have also been valuable to the magazine over the years. Being a national publication, it’s a challenge to cover every industry show at that level. But the opportunity to network, learn and gather content at regional events – which often unfold at a less rapid pace – presents a series of good changeups for the magazine.
This year marked the return of two other relevant industry events: Hillhead and MINExpo.
Hillhead in the books
Hillhead, which took place at the end of June in the UK, drew nearly 20,000 visitors. While the show is geared toward producers in the UK, more U.S.-based manufacturers have identified Hillhead as a place to expand their offerings.
Like the national shows that take place in the U.S., Hillhead provides a platform for manufacturers to debut their latest equipment and technology. Some of the wares that debut are engineered and designed specifically for users in the European market, but Hillhead, which is held in a quarry, provides yet another touchpoint to identify industry trends.
A variety of new equipment was unveiled at Hillhead 2024. Check out some of the tech that rolled out and take a look at some of the people P&Q group publisher Rob Fulop visited with in the UK.
MINExpo on deck
2024 is not only a Hillhead year, but it marks the return of MINExpo to Las Vegas.
The show, traditionally held once every four years, is catered toward the greater mining industry, with aggregates serving as one of several segments represented. P&Q’s MINExpo coverage starts this month with a preview, and it continues next month with our September edition that will contain “The Aggregate Guide To MINExpo,” a pullout supplement that can serve as a guide to your show plan.
MINExpo isn’t quite the extravaganza that ConExpo is, but it’s nevertheless a site to behold, featuring equipment like massive mining haulers that only the Las Vegas Convention Center can accommodate.
And again, while not an aggregates-specific show, MINExpo provides a good look at the technology trends that may eventually trickle down from massive mining operations to more “modestly” sized crushed stone, sand and gravel operations.
