Record Utility Expo

The Utility Expo made its triumphant return to Louisville, Ky, with a record-setting gathering of over 21,000 utility construction professionals from all 50 states and 60 countries, converging at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

These industry experts came together to experience firsthand the latest equipment and cutting-edge technologies that bolster the utility sector.

This remarkable event drew an unparalleled assembly of industry leaders, decision-makers, and stakeholders, firmly cementing its position as the foremost event in the sector.

“From every perspective, this year’s Utility Expo surpassed all expectations, offering an abundance of sights and experiences for attendees,” said John Rozum, The Utility Expo show director.

“Our goal is to bring utility pros together with exhibitors and equipment manufacturers to advance the utility industry and showcase how the equipment, products and technologies help keep our communities working and thriving.”

The Utility Expo, the largest trade show in Kentucky and third largest show in North America, featured over 900 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and solutions for the utility construction industry.

Exhibits covered a record 1.5 million net square feet and included the show’s signature interactive product demonstrations. Registered attendance of over 21,000 smashed the previous attendance record set in 2019.

The Relationship Between the Utility Industry and The Utility Expo

The construction of utility infrastructure plays a pivotal role in modern society, offering a multitude of benefits that are indispensable to society’s well-being and progress.

At its core, modernized utility infrastructure provides reliability, ensuring a consistent provision of essential services like electricity, clean water, and Internet connectivity to homes, businesses, and industries. This reliability, in turn, forms the foundation for economic growth by facilitating industrial production, attracting businesses, and generating employment opportunities.

Utility construction professionals flock to The Utility Expo as it serves as an unrivaled hub for networking opportunities within the industry, fostering invaluable relationships that can drive their careers and businesses forward.

Moreover, attendees are drawn by the promise of gaining profound industry insights. This event serves as a conduit to the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in utility construction, ensuring participants remain on the cutting edge of their field.

“I like coming to The Utility Expo so I can put a face to a name when talking with vendors,” said Ryan W. who works for a utility company in New York.

“We get to see what is new that will help make the job easier and safer.”

The equipment showcased by the exhibitors offered a firsthand look at the newest tools and machinery, allowing professionals to test and assess their relevance to their work. Educational sessions and workshops equipped attendees with training and certifications that elevated their skillsets and career prospects. The Utility Expo is a dynamic nexus where networking, knowledge, innovation, and business opportunities converge, making it a must-attend event for utility construction professionals.

“By all measures, this was an outstanding Utility Expo with more to see and experience than ever before,” said Jim Glazer, The Utility Expo show chair and president of Elliott Equipment Company.

“The Utility Expo is always a tremendous opportunity to make lasting industry connections and take advantage of education that helps participants continue to grow and stay competitive.

At Eliott Equipment Company, we look forward to this important event for our industry where we can show off our equipment and products we offer the industry.”

The Utility Expo is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations, and trends. The show is best known for equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations.

“We came to The Utility Expo to see what’s new,” said Jason B., a utility contractor from North Carolina. “We want to see what we can improve on and what we can do better for our customers.”

Expanded Educational and Networking Opportunities

Offering valuable information and insights on the latest trends, innovations and best practices is a hallmark of every edition of The Utility Expo. This year’s show featured an education lineup that provided a mix of field classrooms, educational workshops, and free sessions talking about everything from new technologies, traffic safety, underground utility locating and sessions that allowed for participants to earn professional development hours (PDHs).

“Our education offerings at the show range from peer-to-peer demos to professional instruction to free drop-in sessions,” said Rozum. “Whether you prefer to learn in the classroom or in the driver’s seat, The Utility Expo has you covered.”

An emphasis on safety

While safety has always been at the forefront of The Utility Expo’s education lineup, this year the show joined forces with three other organizations to bring an expanded lineup of offerings.

As part of the new Safety Symposium, the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) brought a wealth of safety-related educational workshops to the show. In addition, certification training related to flagger certification and traffic control technician, were also offered.

The Utility Expo also collaborated with the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), to bring the NUCA Lounge to the show, that served as a welcoming central gathering point for its members attending The Utility Expo. NUCA also offered a confined-space-entry safety course for attendees at the show.