LOUISVILLE, KY — The Utility Expo made its return to Louisville, Kentucky, with a record-setting gathering of over 21,000 utility construction professionals from all 50 states and 60 countries, converging at the Kentucky Exposition Center. These industry experts came together to experience firsthand the latest equipment and technologies in the utility sector.

“From every perspective, this year’s Utility Expo surpassed all expectations, offering an abundance of sights and experiences for attendees,” said John Rozum, The Utility Expo Show Director. “Our goal is to bring utility pros together with exhibitors and equipment manufacturers to advance the utility industry and showcase how the equipment, products, and technologies help keep our communities working and thriving."

The Utility Expo, the largest trade show in Kentucky and third largest show in North America, featured over 900 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and solutions for the utility construction industry. Exhibits covered a record 1.5 million net square feet and included the show’s signature interactive product demonstrations. Registered attendance of over 21,000 smashed the previous attendance record set in 2019.

Offering information and insights on the latest trends, innovations, and best practices is a hallmark of every edition of The Utility Expo. This year’s show featured an education lineup that provided a mix of field classrooms, educational workshops, and free sessions talking about everything from new technologies, traffic safety, underground utility locating, and sessions that allowed for participants to earn professional development hours.

“Our education offerings at the show range from peer-to-peer demos to professional instruction to free drop-in sessions,” Rozum said. “Whether you prefer to learn in the classroom or in the driver’s seat, The Utility Expo has you covered.”

While safety has always been at the forefront of The Utility Expo’s education lineup, this year the show joined forces with three other organizations to bring an expanded lineup of offerings.

As part of the new Safety Symposium, the American Traffic Safety Services Association brought a wealth of safety-related educational workshops to the show. In addition, certification training related to flagger certification and traffic control technician, were also offered.

The Utility Expo also collaborated with the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), to bring the NUCA Lounge to the show, that served as a central gathering point for its members attending The Utility Expo. NUCA also offered a confined-space-entry safety course for attendees at the show.

This year saw the return of The Jobsite, from Planet Underground that hosted hourly, free peer-to-peer demonstrations of Predictive Analytics Software, Electromagnetic locating, Ground Penetrating Radar, Subsurface Utility Engineering, Underground RFID Marking Devices, and GIS Mobile Applications.

The Jobsite allowed attendees to experience exactly what it is like to work on a site, but also spread the word about the importance of damage prevention and how equipment can play an important role in protecting underground utilities.

Located in the North Hall Lobby, The Utility Expo’s Community Zone was a place for attendees and exhibitors to enjoy:

• Networking
• Seating and charging stations
• Prize giveaways
• Live music, along with complimentary food and drink
• Bourbon sampling
• The Utility Expo Show Store with exclusive merchandise
• An information desk to answer show and Louisville questions

"We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of this year's The Utility Expo,” Rozum said. "The record-breaking attendance, exhibitor engagement, exceptional educational content, and groundbreaking innovation all reflect the incredible dedication and passion within the utility industry. We're grateful for the support and participation of all involved."