While intelligent machines and sustainability made the headlines, many visitors wanted to evaluate the next steps for their existing fleets.

“You got to see all the different product lines and then talk with people about how they stack up to one another,” says Bass, who was able to discuss his specific requirements with the SMS Equipment support team. “I was particularly interested in zero tail swing excavators, so I got to see and hear directly where the product lines are going.”

Grenier was pleased to learn that Komatsu now offers kits for upgrading non-GPS equipment. ”For me, that’s significant,” he says. “It means that if I decide to add grade control to a machine, I don’t have to go to a technology vendor but can have SMS Equipment look after the whole thing.”

There were also literally thousands of specialty vendors. “There were booths selling everything from grade control technology to exhaust system parts,” says Grenier. “There was a company that makes wireless control systems on Vancouver Island. Even contractors from Alberta were trying to sell specialized services in the US market. It’s a great thing to have that many small and specialized vendors. But it took a lot of time to cover that ground.”

The show was also a wonderful opportunity to meet new people. “There were people from all over the world,” says Bass. “I spent some time with a couple of guys that had a company out in Mississippi, and it was kind of cool to talk with them about the kinds of problems we have in extreme cold conditions. They’d never heard of that. Of all the people at the show, I think we’re the ones who put the equipment to the biggest test.”