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CONEXPO 2026 Offers Trend To Smart Machines

LAS VEGAS—Power Systems Research (PSR) sent a team of analysts to the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 Show to talk with exhibitors and about the state of the industry and to learn more about new products.

You can read their impressions of the show, their takeaways from talking withexhibitors and attendees about the state of the industry, and the information they gathered about innovative new products.

Interestingly, the PSR team didn’t see big movement to battery power. They saw more hybrids and hydrogen power moving forward. Battery seemed to be relegated to smaller machines.

Another takeaway is that machines are getting smarter. Beyond the machinesthemselves, reports Jim Downey, Vice President-Global Data Products, many equipment manufacturers are investing heavily in software, telematics and connected platforms. This equipment gives contractors better insight into equipment performance and maintenance.

Artificial intelligence and operator-assist technology were seen in many spots across the show floor. Companies including Bobcat Company, Hitachi Construction Machinery and John Deere highlighted new in-cab systems designed to support operators and improve jobsite productivity. Bobcat demonstrated its voice-activated Jobsite Companion, Hitachi showcased its Assist Program, and John Deere Wirthgen Group detailed its SmartDetect and SmartDetect Assist technologies.

See more product information in the show Product Showcase here. PSR

LAS VEGAS—Many visitors to the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 show here March 3-7 arrived from the cold and snowy Midwest and East Coast.  The show exhibit areas covered 2.9 million square feet; with some of the exhibit areas being outdoors attendees felt the warmer than normal temps this time of year where Las Vegas had a record temperature of 86F on March 1.  Those warmer temperatures lingered throughout the week.

This year’s show at the Las Vegas Convention Center drew an estimated 2,000 exhibitors and while attendance figures were not available as we prepared this report, observers said traffic was very heavy and attendance was expected to surpass the record 139,100 figure set at the last show in 2023.

Power Systems Research (PSR) sent a team of analysts to the show to talk with exhibitors and attendees about the state of the industry and to learn more about new products.

A list of the products that PSR representatives found interesting is available in the CONEXPO-CON/AGG Product Showcase later in this report.

There were several major exhibitor launches at the show, including John Deere’s introduction of 18 new products, including the 210, 230, and 260 P-Tier excavators. Komatsu: Debuted the HM460-6 (its largest articulated truck) and the D175AX-10 dozer. Liebherr: Displayed the LR 1700-1.0 Crawler Crane, the tallest and heaviest machine at the show with a 700-ton lifting capacity.

More innovative products are described in the CONEXPO Product Showcase below.

IMPRESSIONS

Several key impressions were obvious to members of the Power Systems Research team. This year’s show focused on the profitability of using the new systems of autonomous and connected technology that had been demonstrated in 2023.

One major trend we saw at the show was that equipment driven by hybrid power rather than a total electric solution seemed to be most favored. In 2023, there were a greater number of OEMs showing full electric powered prototypes; this year, while there were electric machines present, the focus seemed to be more on hybrid solutions utilizing a combination of IC engine and battery electric powertrain.

Our PSR team also came away with these observations:

• Smart Machines proactively offer problem solutions and fuel-saving steps; they don’t just identify and signal problems, they begin addressing them immediately.
• Alternative Power has become a reality in equipment power. Equipment at the show demonstrated battery power, hydrogen power, and diesel power.
• Using AI to increase safety and productivity is an important and developing management tool.
• Connected Technology where equipment fleets can be monitored from a central location to optimization equipment utilization, evaluate operator productivity and proactively monitor for any potential issues and help prevent downtime.
• Smarter Equipment. Beyond the machines themselves, many equipment manufacturers are investing heavily in software, telematics and connected platforms designed to give contractors deeper insight into equipment performance and maintenance. In other words, OEMs are increasingly positioning themselves as technology providers, not just equipment manufacturers.
• Artificial intelligence and operator-assist technology were especially prominent across the show floor. Companies including Bobcat Company, Hitachi Construction Machinery and John Deere highlighted new in-cab systems designed to support operators and improve jobsite productivity. Bobcat demonstrated its voice-activated Jobsite Companion, Hitachi showcased its Assist Program, and John Deere Wirthgen Group detailed its SmartDetect and SmartDetect Assist technologies. Designed to help operators stay focused, improve awareness and streamline tasks, these technologies reflect a growing emphasis on smarter machines that work alongside the operator.
• Operator Comfort Is a Growing Priority. As equipment becomes more advanced, manufacturers are also putting renewed focus on the operator experience inside the cab. The thinking is simple: a more comfortable operator is often a more productive operator. As jobsites push for greater efficiency, cab comfort is becoming more than a luxury—it’s a productivity tool.
• Across the show floor, companies highlighted upgrades designed to make long days on the jobsite more comfortable. From ergonomic seat designs to improved joystick placement and better visibility, cab design is becoming a central part of equipment development.
• CASE Construction Equipment, John Deere and DEVELON showcased joystick and control improvements, while Bobcat Company highlighted its new Pro line featuring heated air-ride seats.
• Autonomous Machines Target the Labor Shortage. Artificial intelligence appeared throughout the show, but autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment drew some of the biggest crowds.

Automation has become a major focus for equipment manufacturers as they look for ways to improve safety, productivity and precision on the jobsite. At the John Deere and Wirtgen Group booth, attendees gathered around the company’s 460 autonomous dump truck, one of the newest additions to its growing lineup of automated machines.

One driver behind this push is the industry’s ongoing labor shortage. A big chunk, nearly 40%, of the current workforce is approaching retirement age while fewer young workers are entering the trades.

Autonomous equipment isn’t expected to replace operators entirely, but it can help contractors complete tasks more efficiently with smaller crews. In some cases, technology may also appeal to younger workers who are more comfortable interacting with advanced digital systems and remote controls.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 PRODUCT SHOWCASE

More than 2,000 exhibitors showed off new products and services at CONEXPO-CON/AGG during the five-day show. The following is a listing of interesting products we saw, organized by equipment type, and listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer. Note that this list is not comprehensive, but we have selected some of the areas we thought would be of most interest to you.  We did not attempt to rate the products; our goal simply was to present to you some of most interesting products we saw.

AUTONOMOUS & ROBOTIC SYSTEMS

Bobcat Companion App. A central orchestration hub allowing a single site manager to supervise up to four autonomous skid steers simultaneously from a tablet. This “force multiplier” technology addresses the operator shortage by moving one worker from a seat to a supervisory screen.

Bomag Remote Roller. Enables high-precision soil compaction via a remote-control interface, removing the operator from high-vibration, high-dust environments into a localized, climate-controlled command center.

Caterpillar CS12 Self-Drive. A fully autonomous soil compactor utilizing satellite-independent path-finding to achieve 2cm pass accuracy without a cab operator. It uses LiDAR to navigate “GPS-denied” environments like deep canyons or urban alleys.

Hitachi AHS Rigid Dump. An advanced autonomous hauling system designed specifically for deep-pit mining and large-scale earthmoving. Its proprietary “Path-Finding AI” allows for fluid navigation around temporary jobsite obstacles without human intervention.

Komatsu Smart Quarry 2.0. A system-wide AI logic that dynamically reroutes autonomous haul trucks based on real-time crusher load and queue times. It optimizes the entire jobsite cycle rather than just individual machine performance.

EARTHMOVING & HEAVY EQUIPMENT

Case 580EV Production. The industry’s first mass-market electric backhoe, delivering a full 8-hour shift of performance with zero on-site emissions. This is the “Gold Standard” for contractors bidding on municipal and indoor utility contracts.

Case TV450B Heritage. A high-performance compact track loader featuring the highest torque-to-weight ratio in its class. Designed for aggressive grading and heavy lifting, it bridges the gap between compact agility and heavy-duty power.

Caterpillar Cat AI Assistant. A voice-activated “agentic” interface that allows operators to request real-time diagnostics and fuel-efficiency coaching mid-cycle. It acts as an in-cab mentor for less experienced operators.

Develon DX22-H Engine. A breakthrough multi-fuel engine designed for heavy excavators, capable of running entirely on direct hydrogen combustion. This allows firms to decarbonize heavy-duty operations without relying on battery weight.

Dynapac Seismic 2.0. An intelligent drum system that automatically detects soil density and adjusts vibration frequency in real-time. This prevents over-compaction, reduces fuel burn, and eliminates “drum bounce” damage.

Hyundai HX230 Next Gen. Features “See-Through Bucket” technology, using augmented reality and external cameras to project a transparent view of the dig site on the in-cab monitor. Dramatically increases safety and precision.

LIFTING & COMPACT EQUIPMENT

Bobcat introduced a new machine. The RX3 (Rogue), next generation, all-electric, and autonomous concept loader.

Scag 2500X . The new tracked dump buggy from Scag is designed for material handling, featuring high maneuverability and low ground compaction while hauling up to 2,500 pounds. The versatile hydra-drive dump buggy is powered by a Vanguard 23 hp commercial grade engine and offers front-pivot and swivel-pivot functionality for precise dumping on the jobsite. 

SENSORS, SOFTWARE, & IOT

Caterpillar VisionLink 2.0. A unified data ecosystem that utilizes open APIs to aggregate telematics from multiple competing OEMs into a single executive dashboard. It eliminates the need for toggling between different manufacturer portals

Flexco FXC Belt Repair. A rapid-response mechanical fastening system that allows operators to bridge conveyor belt tears and resume production in under 20 minutes. A critical tool for aggregate and quarry operations where downtime equals lost revenue.

Gefran TWIIST Sensor. A multivariable linear position sensor providing micron-level feedback for the high-precision automated hydraulic cylinders used in 3D grading. It is the “brain” behind the accuracy of the newest graders.

Hitachi Landros AI. A predictive maintenance platform that uses machine learning to forecast hydraulic component failures up to 50 operating hours before they occur, allowing for scheduled repairs rather than emergency shutdowns.

Ifm 3D Guard Cam. A specialized safety camera that uses AI to distinguish between inanimate jobsite obstacles (cones, barriers) and human workers, triggering automatic braking only when a person is detected.

Moasure 2 PRO. A motion-based measuring tool that allows users to map complex 3D jobsite volumes and perimeters simply by walking the terrain. Data is instantly exported to CAD software for rapid bidding.

Samsara Asset Tag G3. A low-profile, energy-harvesting GPS tag that provides real-time location tracking for non-powered assets like buckets, attachments, and trailers. It requires zero battery changes over its lifecycle.

TRAINING & SIMULATION

Iti VR-X Sim 5. A high-fidelity virtual reality simulator featuring haptic feedback that mimics the physical resistance of different soil types. It allows for safe, low-cost “seat time” before a trainee ever touches a live machine.

ENGINES

Hyundai. H2ICE. Hydrogen engine. In-line 6-cylinder, 11.1L displacement, Euro 6 (Zero-CO2), EPA Tier 4 Final, EU Stage V.    PSR