The three-day festival brought more than 24,000 visitors to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., including top administration officials, lawmakers, regulators, and the general public, for a first-hand look at the advancements in construction equipment and practices. Seventy-five state-of-the-art machines, hands-on displays and demonstrations brought the industry to life on the nation’s doorstep.
“This event highlights the incredible innovations taking place in the construction equipment sector and we are grateful to our member companies and industry partners for uniting to tell our story,” said Megan Tanel, President of AEM. “We are thrilled to showcase the construction industry in our nation's capital.”
U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, Senior Adviser to President Biden; Mitch Landrieu, Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of Energy; Dr. Geri Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and Innovation; 22 Members of Congress and 15 officials with the administration and federal agencies toured the festival and discussed the policy priorities of the construction equipment industry.
Some of the highlights of the event included an all-electric skid-steer loader and a battery-electric excavator from the Bobcat Company, a battery electric mini excavator from Caterpillar, a fully autonomous tandem roller from BOMAG, and a 20-ton class electric hydraulic excavator equipped with a lithium-ion battery system from Komatsu. Equipment manufacturers are increasingly using alternative-energy, autonomous operations and digital technology to enhance jobsite safety, boost productivity and reduce fuel consumption, while reducing greenhouse gas and other emissions.
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“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is helping to build up the economy and build out the infrastructure we need for a secure and sustainable future,” said Granholm. “The machines that lined the National Mall during AEM’s Celebration of Construction will be building of our clean energy economy, and it was exciting to see the innovations manufacturers are making so that the equipment also lower emissions and cuts energy use.”
In early May, AEM released a new study that outlines how technology has revolutionized the construction equipment industry. By harnessing the power of alternative energy, connecting operators to real-time data and leveraging technologies such as GPD, Liar, and state-of-the-art sensors, equipment manufacturers have significantly enhanced productivity, reduced downtime, increased safety, and improved overall project outcomes.
Advancements in engines and drivetrains, digital control systems and machine telematics will not only help workers complete infrastructure projects more productively, sustainably and for a lower cost, but will also help realize the full benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as the CHIPS and Science Act. As an example, the fuel saved from reducing nonproductive idling across all machines in North America due to the effective use of telematic is equivalent to 25,000 one-way flights from New York City to Chicago.
“The Celebration of Construction on the National Mall is a testament to the industry’s resilience and our role in shaping the future of infrastructure. Equipment manufacturers are investing in purpose-driven innovations and groundbreaking technologies so that we can help build a better world in a sustainable way,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations. “We greatly appreciate Secretary Granholm joining us on the National Mall and thank her for being a steadfast partner in our work to build a modern, sustainable and equitable infrastructure for all Americans.”
