Picture over seventy pieces of machinery lined up under a bright blue sky in the nation’s capital. The National Mall, which is home to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, welcomed dozens of companies, many of them equipment OEMs, to showcase the latest and greatest the equipment industry has to offer. The hands-on exhibits provided over 24,000 visitors a close encounter with machines powered with alternative energy, simulators aimed at attracting new talent to the workforce, and accessibility to many of the men & women responsible for designing, manufacturing, and selling the equipment that builds America. Among the thousands walking the mall’s pathways were lawmakers and decision makers, touring the booths to discuss policies important to the construction equipment industry.
We took advantage of the nice weather and a short direct flight from Vermont to DC, to check it out. It was wonderful seeing many familiar faces, which included a heated game of cornhole with the Dynapac crew. FYI, team Kristie & Jamie, beat team Jim & Sean. Kristie alleges she had never played before, but that’s an argument for another newsletter. The level of enthusiasm surrounding the equipment was hard to beat, not only from the adults in attendance, but also the kids! We heard from one exhibitor about a kid, maybe 10-15 years old, asking detailed questions about specific automation technology. Access to this type of innovation at an early age can be transformative and shape the next generation of the workforce. It’s great to see! This was the first event of its kind for the construction industry but not the first of its kind for equipment. Last year, over 36 organizations and companies got together at the National Mall for the Celebration of Modern Agriculture.
