Hands-On at ICUEE
ICUEE is dubbed the Demo Expo. Why? Because the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., is maybe the best convention center in the United States that allows exhibitors and visitors to dig and operate machines.
The 2011 International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) will feature plenty of digging demos during its show from October 4-6. New safety equipment demonstrations and a new show exhibitor demo schedule have been created. The ICUEE Ride & Drive track for on-road commercial vehicles returns for attendees interested in trucks, truck engines and components. And exhibitors from Ditch Witch to Vermeer will all be hosting enormous outdoor booths where utility professionals can get their hands dirty operating equipment in jobsite conditions while discussing specific needs with industry experts.
Attendees will also have convenient access to industry-specific education and training, plus co-located events and programs, providing even more value for their show experience. Visitors will have access to more than 100 learning opportunities at the show to help them better understand new technologies, sharpen their skills and keep up to speed with the latest industry, regulatory and management trends. Education programs at ICUEE cover underground, above-ground and overhead applications, and sessions are geared to the needs of industry professionals in electric, sewer/water, phone/cable, gas, general construction, government and landscaping jobs.
With 1 million net sq ft slated for exhibitors, more than 570 companies are already set to showcase their latest equipment, technologies, products and services for the utility construction industry. Then there are the demonstrations. New for ICUEE 2011 are crane and rigging safety demonstrations from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), with a focus on ensuring adequate ground support for the machine and load carried. ICUEE will also again feature a general show safety demo area, which has focused on topics such as live-line safety and pole top/fall protection.
On the Ride & Drive track, attendees can test drive commercial vehicles “on the open road” to better examine not only the trucks but also: engines and components, including transmissions; power systems; clutch and brake systems; safety and collision warning systems; fleet, fuel and GPS management systems; and hybrid and alternative fuel systems. Also new for ICUEE 2011 is an exhibitor demo schedule, which will be online at www.icuee.com through the My Show Planner to help attendees plan for the exhibitor equipment demonstrations they want to check out, in addition to exhibit booths and show education sessions.
“Only at a trade show can attendees get first-hand comparisons of what’s ahead in equipment and technologies,” states show director Melissa Magestro. “At ICUEE, they can also test the products to see what will best help their companies succeed.”
The demonstration concept has been a defining characteristic of ICUEE since its inception in 1964 as a modest equipment event by one company in an Illinois farm field. The company, Illinois Bell, invited 12 trencher manufacturers to demonstrate equipment on the same day in the same field in Elburn, Ill., as a means of solving an equipment evaluation and communications problem. Because of its increasing size, Illinois Bell dropped sponsorship and it evolved into the ICUEE of today. It has been in Louisville since 1987.
Advance registration for ICUEE 2011 is open and saves more than 50 percent off the onsite badge fee. Visit the ICUEE website for the latest information on attending or exhibiting at the show at www.icuee.com.
