MILWAUKEE, WI The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has won innovation honors for its new Tech Experience at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017.

AEM was among a select group winning the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) "˜Power of A' Gold Award. The award annually recognizes organizations that distinguish themselves with innovative, effective and broad-reaching programs and activities that positively impact America and the world.

AEM's 75,000-square-foot immersive Tech Experience at CONEXPO-CON/AGG showcased innovations and emerging technologies that will shape construction and manufacturing. It focused on three key areas critical to the construction industries' future:

"¢ Forward-looking job sites, highlighting equipment intelligence, autonomous vehicles and systems to support safety, maintenance and improved performance and productivity

"¢ Workforce development, where attendees could check out hands-on training, including virtual reality and gamified learning

"¢ Infrastructure development, which explored infrastructure innovation trends and the latest technologies and materials to move people, goods and services

"Keeping pace with technology is vital for our industry and members' success, and with the Tech Experience, AEM amplified the technology on the show floor and advanced CONEXPO-CON/AGG to a new level of thought leadership," said Sara Truesdale Mooney, AEM's Vice President Strategy and Business Development and 2017 Show Director.

"We are very honored to receive this best-in-class recognition from our fellow association leaders," said AEM President Dennis Slater. "A core AEM function and responsibility to its members is to be at the forefront helping them better understand industry challenges, and we will continue to push boundaries to help them achieve success."

Slater cited the example of AEM's new Thinking Forward initiative, designed to help members prepare for and manage critical issues such as big data/analytics, advanced/additive manufacturing and a changing workforce.

Highlights of AEM's Tech Experience at CONEXPO-CON/AGG included the world's first fully functional 3D printed excavator, a Tech Talks educational forum with top global innovators, and the finale of AEM's Infrastructure Vision 2050 crowdsourced competition to develop forward-looking infrastructure solutions, plus a Drone Zone and 3D Printworks.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the international gathering place every three years for the construction industries, spotlighting the latest technologies, products and best practices. The 2017 CONEXPO-CON/AGG and co-located IFPE exhibition in March in Las Vegas attracted nearly 128,000 global attendees and a record breaking 2,800 exhibitors across a record 2.8 million net square feet of exhibits.