Long surge in heavy equipment sales nosedived in 2020, but as market recovers, opinions differ on scale and speed.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction equipment industry has been severe. Rich Smith, Vice President, Products and Services for Komatsu America, took time recently to answer some of ENR's questions about the company's response.

A severe drop in new sales and the need to keep machines virus-free are among the new realities facing the equipment market during the pandemic

It was a busy year at the annual World of Concrete trade show, held in Las Vegas Feb. 4 to 7. An estimated 54,000 attendees came through the show floor over the week, seeing exhibits from 1,310 companies. 

As the world’s largest equipment manufacturers convened in Munich for the Bauma equipment show April 4-14, the overriding question was what has changed in the industry since the last show three years ago.

The crowds swelled through the gates of World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and equipment manufacturers were eager to sell through their stock as a strong construction market hits its stride.

Surpassing even the most optimistic expectations of industry observers, sales of construction equipment are on pace to record double-digit growth for 2018, providing welcome momentum in the face of looming uncertainties about the market’s long-term prospects.