The recent ConExpo-Con/Agg 2008 and the co-located IFPE 2008 expositions set records for attendance, exhibit space and number of exhibiting companies, reports the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, show sponsor. In addition, ConExpo-Con/Agg was officially the largest trade show of any industry in North America this year.

More than 144,600 industry professionals from around the world attended the event during its five-day run March 11-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The show covered more than 2.28 million net square feet of exhibits, taken up by 2,182 exhibitors, and was 21% larger than the last show, held in 2005. In addition, IFPE 2008 was the largest in its history with 129,000 net square feet of exhibit space, used by 469 exhibiting companies — a 16% increase in space compared to the 2005 show.

A record number of international industry professionals visited the shows — more than 28,000, which is 19% of total attendance and represents 30% growth compared to the last edition of the shows. International attendance from the Latin American and Caribbean marketplace increased 50%, while attendance from China, India and Turkey doubled. There also were significant increases from Canada, Australia, Russia and the Middle East.

The next edition of the triennial shows will be held March 22-26, 2011 in Las Vegas. Check online for details: www.conexpoconagg.com, www.ifpe.com.