Preparing for the 2018 AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo

Houston plays host to AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo March 6-8. Photo: iStock.com/nektofadeev@gmail.com

Co-located with the World of Asphalt Show & Conference, AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo returns after a two-year hiatus.

While the 2016 edition of AGG1 was held in Nashville, Tennessee, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) takes its aggregate industry trade show to Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center March 6-8.

In addition to AGG1 and World of Asphalt, Houston will play host March 4-6 to PCA’s Spring Board and Committee Meetings, as well as the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Annual Convention March 3-5. NSSGA’s Annual Convention March 4-7 will take place in Houston, as well.

“This year we’re going to continue to build on what we started in Nashville, and what we continued in Las Vegas – and that is collaborating with our partners,” says Mike Johnson, president and CEO of NSSGA.

Co-locating multiple construction materials industry events in one location should provide those who convene in Houston with a number of opportunities from which they can choose. But considering the success of last year’s ConExpo-Con/Agg and that a number of aggregate producers performed as well in 2017 as they have in years, the outlook for foot traffic at this year’s AGG1 is positive.

Equipment focused

Another positive sign for the industry: Many of the producers who will navigate the aisles of the George R. Brown Convention Center will be there ready to purchase new equipment. Capital spending is expected to be up this year among 63 percent of producers Pit & Quarry surveyed late last year, and spending is up at least 5 percent among four in 10 aggregate-producing companies.

Forty-four percent of producers tell P&Q they plan to make significant investments in conveying and material handling equipment in 2018, with 35 percent looking to invest in excavators and loaders. One in three producers, meanwhile, says they’ll be making a major purchase in crushing and hydraulic breaking equipment this year.

Some of these investments will undoubtedly be finalized at AGG1. Producers are bound to get the wheels in motion on a number of equipment purchases at the show, as well.

In addition to exploring the trade show floor, AGG1 attendees have the opportunity to sit in on more than 50 education sessions NSSGA has organized through its AGG1 Academy.

Over the course of three days, AGG1 Academy topics will cover a variety of areas tied to the aggregate industry, including plant operations and production, the environment, safety and health, community relations, business management, automation and technology, aggregate research and quality control.

Classes are offered in 90-minute blocks, and the format and flow of the classes vary. Some are lecture style while others consist of panel discussions, case studies and roundtables. AGG1 Academy topics range from introductory-level basics to advanced technical topics. See page 38 for a list of the available sessions.

Show Hours

Tuesday, March 6: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday, March 8: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Looking back

The 2016 AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo and World of Asphalt shows in Nashville, Tennessee, achieved a record attendance of more than 9,000 people, as well as record exhibit and education numbers.

According to show management, the 2016 show attendance increased 18 percent compared to the 2015 shows. Attendees came from all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces and more than 60 countries. Thirty percent of attendees were company presidents/owners, general managers or CFOs.

The show floor covered about 157,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space with more than 500 exhibitors.

More than 20 allied industry, business and government groups served as official show supporters, overseeing the show to ensure the needs of attendees, exhibitors and industry stakeholders were met, according to show management.

The years to come

Nashville, Baltimore and San Antonio are among the latest cities to call AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo home. Once this year’s trade show in Houston is a wrap, here’s where the aggregate industry will convene for its national trade show over the next three years:

2019 – Indianapolis (AGG1)
2020 – Las Vegas
(ConExpo-Con/Agg)
2021 – Nashville (AGG1)