CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
electrification include: • Volvo Penta - showcasing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and future electric driveline components for equipment OEMs. • Bonfiglioli - presenting electric and hydraulic drive solutions that support electrified earthmoving equipment and hybrid systems — critical for lower operating emissions. South African specifiers, especially in urban or environmental-sensitive projects, are watching these tech roadmaps to plan future fleet turnovers in project bids that favour low emissions or zero-emission equipment. Rental providers and new ownership models While global OEMs form the backbone of capital investment, equipment rental companies - which many South African firms use to scale without heavy capex - also have a presence at CONEXPO. At the 2026 show, major rental and service-model innovators include: CASE Construction Equipment - whose display emphasises practical solutions for rental businesses and crews alike. JLG - vertical lifts and access equipment often integrated into rental fleets — helpful for South African rental houses. Manitou and Tadano - mobile lifting and telehandler brands commonly stocked by rentals globally. Brokk and Husqvarna - demolition and accessory rentals that broaden rental offerings. For South African rental businesses, CONEXPO is a window into what equipment end-users will request next, and which OEMs are committed to supporting rentals with parts, training and warranty support in new markets. b
for engineering accuracy. • Autodesk - whose digital design and mobile platforms are increasingly integrated with machine data. • Tenna - IoT-driven fleet tracking and analytics — a partner of rental companies and fleets globally. Data from telematics platforms helps South African fleets improve asset utilisation, schedule maintenance proactively, and benchmark unit
performance across different job sites - all crucial in a market with high operating costs and tight project margins. Electrification and sustainable power- train technologies Electrification and low-emission drivetrains are reshaping equipment choices worldwide - and CONEXPO 2026 is spotlighting this trend. Examples of exhibitors pushing maintenance costs. The sheer scale of the event - thousands of exhibitors including every major OEM and technology provider in earthmoving, haulage, telematics, electrification and rentals - gives South African stakeholders a single venue to validate product claims, meet engineers and negotiate pilot projects before local roll-out. CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 is more than a trade show - it is a strategic sourcing and technology benchmarking event that helps shape what machines South African buyers specify, how fleets are managed, the technologies adopted for productivity, and which partners
Why South African stakeholders should engage deeply The relevance of CONEXPO to the South African capital-equipment market goes beyond travel. In tangible terms: • Procurement teams use global OEM roadmaps to forecast fleet refresh cycles and budget. • Dealers benchmark competitive offers before committing import contracts or regional distribution agreements. • Rental houses map machines that yield the best utilisation in African civil and mining sectors. • Fleet managers adopt telematics standards that reduce downtime and predict
support those investments for years. From Caterpillar and Volvo CE’s heavy
equipment launches, to telemetry platforms from Autodesk and HCSS, electrification solutions from Volvo Penta and Bonfiglioli, and rental- focused equipment from Case and JLG, this expo informs the capital-equipment strategies of entire industries back home. For South African decision-makers, the question isn’t whether to engage with CONEXPO but how to leverage its global insights for competitive advantage in a market where uptime, cost-efficiency and technological leadership matter most.
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2026 10
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