Show History

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is a living example of the incredible advances made by the construction industry. It is a culmination of the industry’s contributions throughout our history and a showcase for our future.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG began as two separate events . . . CONEXPO and CON/AGG.

The first CONEXPO debuted in Ohio in 1909. The event started out as a “Road Show” and was considered a “hazardous experiment.” All forty exhibitors displayed “amazing new devices” that could do the work of 15 horse-drawn units.

The early CONEXPO shows were sponsored by some of the forerunners of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

CONEXPO became more comprehensive with each show, growing at a record pace during the construction industry’s “boom years” after World War II.

In the 1970s, CONEXPO welcomed overseas exhibiting companies. It also began to feature an international business center. In the 1980s, the show made Las Vegas its new home to make room for the growing number of attendees as well as exhibits.

Just like CONEXPO, the CON/AGG show got its start in the early 1900s. It began as manufacturers’ exhibits at annual conventions of the forerunners of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA).

In 1970, the event officially became “The Concrete and Aggregates Show.” In 1996, CON/AGG joined forces with CONEXPO. Together, the shows became an unprecedented scope of equipment, products and services for the construction industry. It also became the definitive international industry gathering place. Attendees and exhibitors saw they could save time and money by attending one show every three years.

The 1999 show broke every record for U.S. trade shows with 1.7 million net square feet of exhibits (more than 157,000 square meters) and 124,000 attendees.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005 became the largest show ever, in terms of attendance and exhibit space.  The 2005 show had more than 124,300 industry professionals attend from around the world, with more than 1.8 million square feet (more than 167,225 square meters) of exhibit space.