Las Vegas days

The more than 100000 visitors expected to pass through the doors of the 2005 ConExpo-Con/AGG trade show will make this event the largest construction industry event of the year. There will be plenty new to see on the stands of the 2300 exhibiting companies. The guide below lists those specialising in the access sector and the highlights of their displays.

With the ARA Rental Show, also held in Las Vegas in February, being used by many as the venue to launch new products, there perhaps will be less brand new equipment on show for the first time, but there are nevertheless a number of highlights that will be well worth a visit.

Haulotte will be showing both the HA 100 JRT (known in Europe as the HA 32 PX), its tallest articulated boom, and the Star 13 vertical mast (Star 6 in Europe) for the first time in the USA. These machines have been available in Europe for some time.

Genie and JLG will both have new machines on their stands that had their formal launches at ARA. In Genie's case, the stir will be created by the company's latest articulated boom, the Z-135, with a unique patented extending axle configuration, with the axles pivoting in or out on ‘pins’ rather than extending laterally via hydraulic cylinders, with wheel alignment controlled by onboard electronics linked to the steering system.

JLG, meanwhile, will be presenting the two trailer mounts launched at ARA. Also making their first appearance in the USA will be JLG-branded Toucan vertical masts along with the first Liftlux big scissor lift-an 80 ft (24.5 m) unit-produced since the acquisition of the Manlift business from Manitowoc. This is not to imply that Liftlux machines will be available in the USA in the short term. AI understands that the Liftlux units will initially be produced in JLG's Maasmechelen plant in Belgium for sale into the European market.

And after all the rumours over the last few months, UpRight will be displaying its machines at the show to confirm its continuing presence in the powered access sector. AI will in fact be visiting the company's new factory in Baja California, Mexico, where production of its powered access product range has just begun, prior to the show and will report its impressions in the April-May issue.

All in all, the access exhibitors displaying their wares at the Las Vegas show ground provide a compelling case for anybody with an interest in the industry to make their way to Nevada in March for ConExpo 2005-and for those in any doubt, there are also the many attractions available on ‘the Strip ’ to reinforce the message.