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Carl Molesworth

Landscapers & Contractors Expo Prompts a Question
March 30, 2008

I drove down to Puyallup, Wash., last month to check out the second annual Washington Landscapers & Contractors Expo. I missed the inaugural event in 2007, but with equipment shows so sparse in the Northwest compared to other parts of the country, I figured it would be worth a look this year.

I was right. The show, held at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center Showplex in Puyallup, Wash., featured the latest in construction and landscape supplies, compact to medium equipment, power products, technology -- and trucks, truck bodies and trailers. Suppliers also showcased caliper trees, shrubs, organic fertilizers, pond features and many other new products.

The exhibitor list ensured that the show would spotlight the top lines from most of Washington’s major equipment distributors. Among these, I noted Brim Tractor displaying its newly acquired JCB line of construction machinery. Primarily known for selling New Holland tractors, hay equipment and farm equipment at seven locations in Washington and Oregon, Brim is taking the plunge into the construction market with JCB and should do well.

Show activities included demonstrations of the latest technology in everything from high-efficiency mowers to skid steer loaders to landscape supplies. New to the show this year was the Big Tree, featuring demonstrations of pruning techniques, tree planting, and working with hazard trees and root barrier systems – all on a live tree.

In the Landscape Skills Zone, industry experts conducted seminars on such topics as Erosion Control, Equipment Maintenance, Best Practices, Building Retaining Walls and Laying Paving Stones. The Construction Zone, also new this year, provided practical knowledge and continuing education credits for contractors on Bidding & Estimating, Bonding & Insurance, Digging Dangers and Commercial Vehicle Best Practices.

For all that, I thought the Landscape Expo deserved a better turnout than I saw while I was there. It made me wonder what it would take to make a really booming construction equipment show in the Northwest. The Oregon Logging Conference has tried to incorporate construction elements but essentially remains focused on forestry. The old utility show in the Portland area has faded away. What gives?

Other regions have mini-ConExpo type events. What would you like to see in a Northwest construction show? Where should it be held? Who should organize it? What time of year? Tell me what you think.

Posted by Carl Molesworth on March 30, 2008 | Comments (0)