While the City of Pittsburgh honored its Super Bowl champions with a parade on Feb. 7, exhibitors enjoyed their own cavalcade of visitors at the Pittsburgh Construction Expo.

Despite a jam-packed celebration downtown for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the construction show, held inside the ExpoMart on Feb. 7 and 8 in nearby Monroeville, was remarkably well attended. As one visitor to the expo put it, “Sure, going to the parade would be fun, but this is business … I need to be here.”

Exhibitors were likewise impressed with both the attendance and visitors’ genuine interest in purchasing equipment.

“I thought the traffic at the show was real good,” said John Greager, sales manager of Three Rivers Equipment of Sewickley, PA. “The people who attended the show had a genuine interest in the equipment and what we were doing; they were there to get product knowledge, not just to kill some time. I felt we got some quality leads. Anytime you exhibit at a show, you hope to get a sale from about two or three percent of your total scans, and I think that’s what we’re going to get.”

Jeff Golias, owner of Golden Eagle Equipment, North Huntingdon, PA, agreed that the show was well worth participating in.

“If I sell one machine because of a show, then it was worth it as far as I’m concerned.” Golias began. “Not only did I sell some equipment, but I also compiled many great leads; we were able to plant a lot of seeds for equipment sales for the upcoming spring. Traffic for us was very good … very good. Most people were looking for their future equipment needs; looking for what’s new; what financing is available. We’re definitely back for next year’s show.”

Throughout the two-day expo, a steady stream of contractors representing both large and small businesses, kept the more than 100 exhibitors busy (and happy). Several visitors even spent their entire day with their families at the show.

While strolling up and down the aisles at the show, guests were rewarded with many door prizes. The grand prizes went to Kevin Britenbaugh, president of Britenbaugh Construction, Glenshaw, PA, who won a 26-in. flat screen TV, and to Paul A. Schwan, of Trumbull Corporation, Pittsburgh, who won a weekend getaway at nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

Pennsylvania One Call System held several seminars during the two-days. James Kolar of Gulisek Construction in Mt. Pleasant, PA, attended the seminar titled, “Reduce Your Risk — Understanding Locating.” “The seminar enhanced what I know,” he said. “It offered me pointers … there are things that you can learn by watching how they’re done, but seminars like this enhance that by providing background information.”

As for the show, Kolar enjoyed that, too. “I’ve seen a lot of equipment here that I like. Boy, I’d love to walk out of here with most of it, if I could.”

CEG Productions already is planning the third annual Pittsburgh Construction Expo to be held in February 2007. And for those of you on the eastern side of Pennsylvania as well as New Jersey and Delaware, the Philadelphia Construction Expo is fast approaching. Exhibit space for the show, to be held at the Fort Washington Expo Center on March 7 and 8, 2006, is sold out. We look forward to seeing you there, as well as seeing all of you in Pittsburgh again in 2007.

Today's top stories

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

Fay Preps Way for Pittsburgh International Airport Modernization Project

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Muddy Water Dredging Christens Marlin Class Dredge

Indiana Officials Mark Start of 2024 Construction Season, Promote Safety

Leica Geosystems Launches its First Machine Smart Antenna — Leica iCON gps 120