There’s an unmistakable energy that hits you the moment you step onto the Festival Grounds at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.
After months of planning, seeing our exhibit and the DEVELON machines on display, March 3–7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come in the three years since we launched our new brand at North America’s largest construction trade show.
We were one of more than 2,000 exhibitors spread across nearly 3 million square feet of exhibit space. Additionally, the trade show offered numerous education sessions for attendees.
The Festival Grounds was the “heavy iron” heart of CONEXPO, featuring massive earthmoving demos, while the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall showcased additional construction equipment.
As I worked in our booth and spoke with our dealers and customers, one thing became clear: the industry isn’t just looking for bigger iron; it’s looking for smarter ways to work.
From the reveal of our next-generation excavators to the dust of our live demo pit, our goal this year was to show that DEVELON is delivering on that need for innovation to “Achieve the Next.”
Whether you were one of the thousands of show attendees who joined us in person or you were following along from your job site, I want to share with you the momentum we felt in Las Vegas.
Here are my five must-know takeaways from the DEVELON booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.
Must-Know #1: -9 Series Excavator Debut
The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the North American reveal of our -9 Series next-generation crawler excavators.
When we pulled back the cover, it wasn’t just showing off a new machine. We demonstrated our commitment to being a leader in the construction equipment industry.
By pairing our DEVELON diesel engines with advanced hydraulic systems, we’ve achieved a level of power-matching that significantly lowers the cost per yard.
However, the real “wow” factor for the attendees was the evolution of the cab. We transitioned to full electric over hydraulic (FEH) for more precise control. Additionally, we introduced a new 12-inch Smart Touch screen and stick steer technology, which allows for travel control via joysticks rather than foot pedals — a major win for reducing operator fatigue.
The -9 Series isn’t just an incremental update. It’s an evolution driven by your feedback. Seeing the reactions from our customers and dealers confirmed that the -9 Series excavators are set to define a new standard for heavy equipment technology and productivity on your job sites.
Uptime protection remains a top priority, and the next-generation excavators come standard with our MY DEVELON fleet management (telematics) system. A cool new feature in our MY DEVELON mobile app is the ability to remotely start the machine by pressing a button. It’s great for prepping the cab on those cold winter mornings or hot summer days.
Must-Know #2: A 20+ Machine Lineup
A primary goal for the show was to demonstrate that DEVELON is a true full-line equipment partner. Walking our booth, visitors saw more than 20 machines representing the full spectrum of the job site — from the nimble precision of our mini excavators to the sheer muscle of our beefy articulated dump trucks.
The booth was a balanced display of heavy and compact DEVELON iron. On the heavy side, we showcased our crawler excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, an articulated dump truck and the DX270WMH-7 wheel material handler.
Additionally, we launched our new DX340LL-7 log loader, which drew attention from our dealers and customers working in the forestry industry. The machine is specifically designed to bridge the gap for timber harvesting crews who need a heavy-duty lifting capacity without sacrificing the agility required for dense logging environments.
On the compact side, we previewed the DTL26 and DTL30 compact track loaders (CTLs). These additions are smaller than the DTL35 compact track loader, and are coming to DEVELON dealerships in 2026.
Our goal is to offer a variety of machines to support our customers’ entire fleets, no matter the application, for job site productivity.
Must-Know #3: Daily Live Equipment Demos
Nothing proves a machine’s worth like seeing it move in dirt in real time. Our demo pit was the heartbeat of the booth, hosting 15-minute live equipment demonstrations throughout the week. The live demos showcased how our new -9 Series crawler excavator, a wheel loader and a dozer could work in tandem to maximize job site flow.
As many guests watched from the sidelines, I was impressed by our team and the choreography of the equipment. We highlighted the incredible precision of our new excavator hydraulics, the grading ability of the dozer and the safety advantages of the Transparent Bucket 2.0 with AI-powered human detection and smart around view monitor (SAVM) camera system on our wheel loader.
A highlight of the demo was activating the autonomous feature of the -9 Series crawler excavator. We refer to fully autonomous DEVELON machines as our Concept-X2 innovation. We believe this is the future of the construction equipment industry, and we continue working on opportunities to increase your job site productivity and safety.
Must-Know #4: Hands-on Operator Experience
At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, our compact equipment Operator Experience area was a big hit, giving operators a dedicated and controlled space to put a DEVELON compact track loader and mini excavator through their paces.
Seeing a contractor climb into the cab, run through a series of tasks and step out of the machine with a smile is the best validation we can get. Whether it was testing the breakout force of the compact track loader or the smooth multi-function hydraulics of the mini excavator, the area proved that power and precision aren’t just marketing buzzwords.
While our big iron often gets the headlines, these compact machines are the everyday workhorses that keep our customers’ businesses moving.
Must-Know #5: Technology and Immersive Experiences
We believe innovation is only useful if it’s accessible. That’s why our mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) simulators were such a vital part of the booth this year. Visitors could see how smart construction tech connects the physical machine to the office. We wanted to move beyond static spec sheets and offer a truly immersive way to understand the guts of our equipment.
Walking through that area of our booth, I saw veterans of the construction industry and young operators alike wearing headsets to explore virtual job sites or “see through” the steel of a -9 Series excavator to understand its internal components.
These digital twin experiences aren’t just for show; they are transformative tools for training technicians faster and more safely than ever before. We’re blending high-performance iron with cutting-edge digital interfaces. We’re proving that the future of construction isn’t just about moving dirt — it’s about moving it smarter.
As the dust settled on CONEXPO 2026, I left Las Vegas with a lot of pride in what our team has built. More importantly, I’m energized by the conversations I had with our dealers and customers. I hope visitors know that DEVELON is committed to their long-term success.
See even more photos and videos from our CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 booth.
"The -9 Series isn’t just an incremental update. It’s an evolution driven by your feedback. Seeing the reactions from our customers and dealers confirmed that the -9 Series excavators are set to define a new standard for heavy equipment technology and productivity on your job sites.
By Morgan Stallings, Sr. Director, Dealer Development
Morgan Stallings spearheads strategic marketing and the growth of the DEVELON dealer network. Leveraging a proven track record in B2B strategy and profit and loss management, he focuses on driving top-line revenue and unlocking long-term value for DEVELON partners and customers.
