Now that the holidays are past us, it’s time to think about the next big season. That’s right, show season!
The next few months bring some of the biggest shows in our industry, starting this month with the Underground Construction Technology International Conference, followed by the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in February and then the No-Dig Show in March.
It starts at the end of this month with UCT from Jan. 29-31 in Fort Worth, Texas. Nearly 200 exhibitors will be showcasing equipment and technologies used to maintain utility piping systems. The show markets itself for individuals representing water, sewer, gas, telecom and electric.
Less than a month after that, the WWETT Show will be taking place in Indianapolis from Feb. 20-23 at the Indiana Convention Center. More than 600 exhibitors will be displaying the latest in technologies in over 350,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Some of the markets covered at the WWETT Show include hydroexcavation, industrial vacuuming, utility location, safety equipment and confined space. If you’re looking for a way to diversify your company, this is the show to attend to see other industries such as septic pumping, sewer cleaning and onsite installation, just to name a few.
While those shows have an educational component, one of the bigger shows when it comes to education and case studies comes in March with the North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s No-Dig Show from March 17-21 in Chicago.
Last year 2,047 attendees were at the No-Dig Show, which dubs itself the largest trenchless technology conference in North America, where professionals attend to learn new techniques that will save money and improve infrastructure.
FINDING WAYS TO GROW
If you can’t attend all three shows — which I would highly recommend — then you should at least pick one. Attending any of these shows will broaden your knowledge of the industry and even help you grow your own company with new technologies or methods of doing the same work.
Speaking of growing the business, both of the contractors featured this month — Ontario-based Fairway Utilities and Alberta-based Northstar Hydrovac — have both seen growth, but they achieved it in completely different ways.
Northstar Hydrovac grew by focusing solely on hydroexcavation work and not swaying from that service. Fairway Utilities, however, transitioned from a commercial electrical contractor into a more diversified underground-utilities company, with an emphasis on hydrovac work.
YOUR OTHER OPTIONS
If going to a show isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other places where you can go and see what the newest technologies are in the industry. One of those places is right here in Dig Different in the Product Focus and The Latest Products features.
Flip through those pages to see if there is something that can help your company.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
So, where are you going to bring your company this year? I’d like to hear what your goals or plans are for 2019. Feel free to email me at editor@digdifferent.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Enjoy this issue!
