Attendance at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008, March 11-15 in Las Vegas, is expected to top 125,000, besting the 2005 event's number of 124,200 industry-professional attendees. New education sessions, outdoor competitions and challenges, approximately 2,000 exhibitors, and focused programs for small fleet owners are just some of the offerings that Milwaukee-based organizer Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will have on hand for ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008, staged at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Once again co-located with the National Fluid Power Association's International Exposition for Power Transmission technical conference, the event is expected to occupy more than 2.2 million net sq. ft. on convention floor and outdoor parking lot space. Both shows will feature the latest equipment, product innovations and technological advances of the aggregate, construction materials and power transmission industries.

Among the expected highlights of this year's event are:

• Seminar Program

  More than 120 education sessions and certification programs and conferences are grouped into 10 industry- and issue-specific tracks: aggregates; asphalt; concrete; construction project management; earthmoving; equipment management; management; personal development; recycling/environmental; and safety. The sessions are presented by industry professionals and some of the more popular topics are presented more than once to accommodate busy schedules. For the first time, continuing education units are offered with the completion of these education programs.

  Aggregate seminars cover topics such as: Improving Crusher Performance; Screening Efficiency; Virtual Aggregates in Concrete; Ethernet Communications in a Quarry; Remote Operation and Automated Batching; and Effective Use of Wireless Technologies.

• Best Practices for Small Fleet Management

  New this year, on the last day of the show, March 15, a special free program will provide practical solutions for the specific fleet management needs of small business owners specializing in commercial, industrial and public construction. Topics include budgeting and staffing, productivity, work scheduling, and monitoring usage and cost in an applications-specific environment. The program will demonstrate how to save 2 to 5% in fleet maintenance budget annually. Take-aways include an outline and sequence of the areas a manager can measure, watch and generally pay attention to in the quest for efficient control of the small fleet maintenance operation.

• Innovation and Solutions Center

  Attendees will benefit from an expanded education program showcased at this new center on the show floor. Experts in the field will present real-world solutions for current and future design applications. Several sessions also will unveil new research and development taking place at the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power — the industry's new Engineering Research Center funded in part by the National Science Foundation. These sessions are free to all registered attendees and will be held March 11?14.

• International Mixer Driver Championship

  This first-ever live competition will be held during ConExpo. Sponsored and conducted by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, participants will be judged using a point system in three areas: driving a challenge course, performing a walk-around visual inspection, and completing a written examination. Awards will be presented for first, second and third place.

• Construction Challenge

  The final competition of 60 high school teams involves three challenges related to the construction industry, including infrastructure awareness, awareness of construction-related jobs, and construction and manufacturing. The competition takes place in the Grand Lobby of the convention center in AEM's booth.

• IPAF Safety Zone ? Click It!

  Booms are a safe way to work and the tool of choice for working at height. Learn why professionals always wear a full-body harness in boom-type aerial work platforms at this fast-paced live demonstration. Sponsored by the International Powered Access Federation, Click It! is a nationwide campaign to boost safety.