The North American market for heavy equipment is on the upswing as non-residential construction activity, a key driver for these machines, is climbing slowly back up. Look no farther than Las Vegas, where the booms that now dot the skyline are all competing for attention as crane makers get ready for the triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibition, which opens its doors on March 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Among the debuts are lifting giants capable of hoisting more than 1,000 tons, standing hundreds of feet tall and featuring advanced technologies that make cranes safer and more efficient to operate. Equipment makers are emphasizing such tougher and smarter machines for the show, which hosts more than 1,000 new products, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).