ICUEE 2017

The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) 2017 Delivers Innovative Industry Trends, Hands-On Experiences, and Enthusiastic Crowds

Running from Oct. 3-5, the 2017 installment of the Exposition, also known as the Demo Expo, was the largest in the show’s history with 28-plus acres of exhibits (nearly 1.24 million net square feet) of the latest utility and construction equipment, products and technologies, and more than 1,000 exhibitors, of which 25 percent were new to the show.

Nearly 18,000 registered attendees (close to the 2015 record-breaking attendance) from all 50 states and more than 50 other countries saw the exhibits, raised money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief and the Call of Duty Endowment, and took advantage of all the show had to offer. Attendee demographics in the utilities category was up 6 percent over 2015 and the utility construction category was up 3 percent over 2015 totals.

Exhibits and Equipment “Test Runs”

ICUEE 2017 featured specialized exhibit pavilions for fleet management, safety and green utilities, China and Korean exhibit pavilions, and the Lift Safety Zone from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).

Hands-on equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations included a 2-mile Test Drive Zone for on-road equipment and technologies.

Education on Industry Best Practices

ICUEE 2017 education focused on utility and construction “hot topics” presented by industry experts to help attendees enhance their safety knowledge, increase efficiencies and reduce downtime on the job.

New Field Classroom sessions highlighted industry best practices first-hand with equipment on the show floor, and the indoor ICUEE Demo Stage expanded the show’s outdoor equipment demo component with more product innovations in action.

Another new feature, ‘Tomorrow’s Topics Today’ sessions from show owner and producer Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), explored industry trends and emerging technologies.

Rounding out ICUEE 2017 education were popular returning programs: the iP Utility Safety Conference and Utility Fleet Conference plus industry certifications.

Special Events and Networking

In response to the unusual number of natural disasters, a new ‘Disasters Taskforce: Preparing for What’s Next’ program tackled disaster preparedness in the aftermath of the current hurricane season, with a former FEMA advisor.

Gretchen Bakke, author of ‘The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future’ was the featured speaker in the new ‘Diversity in the Grid’ luncheon brought to you in partnership with Terex Utilities and AEM.

The ICUEE Industry ‘Give-Back’ Auction returned with the goal of connecting military veterans with quality jobs. All proceeds again went to the Call of Duty™ Endowment, the nonprofit organization founded by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. The auction, plus onsite donations, to benefit the organization raised over $37,000. The Endowment helps military veterans secure high-quality employment and works to raise awareness of the value vets bring to the workplace.

A new “Discover ICUEE” walking tour before show opening offered a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition, and ICUEE 2017 closed with an enhanced ‘Bourbon, Beer & Bites’ networking reception.

The biennial ICUEE is the leading event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends, owned and produced by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

AEM is the North American-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, with more than 950 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related sectors worldwide.

ICUEE Fact Sheet

Official Show Name: The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition

Purpose: The premiere event for utility industry professionals to gain comprehensive insight into the latest technologies, innovations, and trends affecting their industry.

ICUEE features: 

• Hands-on demonstrations of a broad range of construction and utility equipment. 
• An education program inspired by the industry’s hottest topics and led by industry professionals.
• Opportunities to explore the newest industry products and innovations.
• A chance for attendees to network with thousands of industry peers.

Dates and Location: The next ICUEE is set for Tuesday, October 1 – Thursday, October 3, 2019 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Attendees: ICUEE targets utilities providing electric, telecommunications/cable, natural gas, water, and wastewater services as well as the contractors who provide utilities with infrastructure engineering and construction services.

Exhibits and Demonstrations: ICUEE covers more than 25 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits and product demonstrations. Equipment at ICUEE includes (but is not limited to) all-terrain carriers, attachments, components, earthmoving, environmental, light, overhead & maintenance, material handling, recycling, safety, testing, transportation, trenching, trenchless, and trucks & utility materials/supplies. Machinery is exhibited in job-like conditions and attendees can experience first-hand equipment in action, working at ground level, underground, and overhead.

Education: The Demo Expo’s education program features extensive learning opportunities with leading industry experts on the latest safety, regulatory, operational and technological issues affecting the utility and construction industry.

Show Owner and Producer: Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Background: The field demonstration concept was developed in 1964 to help solve an equipment evaluation and communications problem. Illinois Bell invited 12 trencher manufacturers to demonstrate equipment in the same field, on the same day in the summer of 1966. The show was recreated on a more formal basis and continued to grow in 1969 and 1972. Manufacturers of many kinds of equipment from across the country were invited to turn the farmland near Elburn, Illinois, into a productive 3-day utility equipment show. The event moved to DuPage County Fairgrounds for 1975 and 1977, and eventually grew to such a level that Illinois Bell could no longer manage it. The show was turned over to a professional management firm in 1978 and moved to Kansas City for the 1979 show, and Louisville, Kentucky, starting in 1987. AEM provided industry direction, and in the late 1980s became the show’s owner and producer.

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