CONEXPO-CON/AGG, North America’s largest construction trade show, is proud to unveil the 20 finalists for its highly anticipated Next Level Awards, showcasing the cutting-edge innovations and groundbreaking advancements shaping the future of construction and heavy equipment.
These distinguished finalists were selected by a panel of expert judges out of a competitive and diverse field of industry leaders and trailblazing newcomers, and represent the next generation of equipment, technology, sustainability, and efficiency in the sector.
This year, companies had the opportunity to submit in two categories: Technology or Equipment. More than 230 submissions were considered for the following 20 spots.
2026 Finalists
EQUIPMENT
Journeyman® Mobile Mix Plant
Rockeat
FXC™ Steel Cord Belt Fastening System
GenSteer™
Instagrid GO
Adaptive Electrification Management System
Wireless Quick-Release LudwigHook
Hybrid Power Source
Vanair® Manufacturing, LLC, A Lincoln Electric Company
EPEQ® EPRO Power Skid
Yanmar Compact Equipment North America
Yanmar ViO35-7 mini excavator
TECHNOLOGY
SYNCHRO
Bobcat Jobsite Companion
Single Drum Roller with Remote Control
SEISMIC Asphalt
TWIIST – Multivariable Linear Position Sensor
Gravis Rack
ITI (Industrial Training International)
VR Crane Simulator
Smart Quarry Autonomous
“Congratulations to these outstanding finalists. Innovation is what drives our industry forward, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG is dedicated to shining a light on the trailblazers shaping tomorrow," said CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff. "These finalists for the Next Level Awards have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing this sector. We look forward to honoring their contributions on the show floor and our attendees getting the chance to see these advancements up close.
YOUR CHOICE, YOUR VOTE, YOUR INDUSTRY: THE CONTRACTORS’ CHOICE.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees get the final say in which companies take home the Contractors’ Choice trophies. Attendees have the chance to vote on-site for their favorite in each category during show hours from Tuesday, March 3 until Thursday, March 5. They can vote by scanning a QR code in the finalist’s booth and selecting their favorite in each category. Winners will be announced on the Ground Breakers Stage on Friday, March 6 at 10:30 am.
Plan ahead: Find the Next Level Awards Finalists in the official CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Directory
Meet the Finalists
EQUIPMENT
Bergkamp
The Bergkamp Journeyman® is a mobile mix plant designed for Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR) to produce ambient asphalt mixes using virgin or recycled asphalt pavement (RAP).The Journeyman offers mobility, ease of setup, and operational flexibility, making it suitable for sites where other potential solutions, such as in-place recycling is not feasible or hot mix asphalt is not available. Bergkamp, headquartered in Salina, KS, designs, manufactures and services equipment for the pavement preservation and pavement maintenance industry. The Journeyman represents the first line of equipment specializing in asphalt pavement recycling for Bergkamp.
First Green Industries
The Rockeat represents the future arriving ahead of schedule. It proves that we don't have to choose between operator safety and operational capability, between environmental responsibility and industrial power, between innovation and reliability. First Green Industries has built a machine that doesn't just meet the demands of modern industrial work—it redefines what those demands can safely ask of human operators.
The Rockeat sets the new standard against which all future equipment innovation will be measured. This is heavy equipment, reimagined.
Don't let downtime on critical steel cord belts drain valuable time and money. The FXC™ Steel Cord Belt Fastening System (FXC™) from Flexco® can be installed immediately when faced with significant belt damage or when pulling a belt onto the conveyor system. While waiting for a vulcanized splice to be scheduled, this mechanical fastener can be installed with minimal downtime to get the belt up and running quickly.
Steer-by-Wire (SbW) is a foundational technology for enabling advanced control and automation in mobile machines. Husco’s GenSteer™ system represents a breakthrough in fail-functional SbW, delivering redundancy without replication through simple, elegant architecture. GenSteer uses smart system integration rather than complex duplication of hardware and software. It is the world’s 1st SbW system with safety that you can generate yourself. GenSteer sets a new benchmark for safety, cost, reliability, performance, and control for the next generation of wheeled off-highway equipment.
Instagrid GO is a portable power supply built for the most demanding construction and industrial tools. It delivers pure sine wave power with 3.6 kW continuous and 18 kW peak in a rugged 46 lb unit, enough to drive the hardest‑hitting equipment without hesitation. Silent and emission‑free, it removes everything that slows jobs down: refueling, noise, fumes, and downtime. Wherever the work goes, Instagrid GO brings clean, instant power. It’s everything your generator isn’t and everything modern crews expect.
The Adaptive Electrification Management System (AEMS) by Moog Construction simplifies motion control and power management for electric vehicles. It’s a modular solution that integrates key components to reduce complexity and cost, offering easy updates via a common software platform. AEMS manages electrical actuation, power consumption, and enables automated features while configuring component modules for specific machine functionalities.
The Quick-Release LudwigHook is a wireless, radio-controlled lifting hook designed to keep crews safe by eliminating the need for ladders or lift platforms. With the push of a remote, loads can be released from ground level in under two seconds, reducing risk during high or hard-to-reach lifts. Available in 4,400 lb and 11,600 lb working load limits, the LudwigHook features a mechanical fail-safe that remains locked under load even if the battery is depleted, making it not just a tool, but a critical safety device for any lifting operation.
The Stellar® Hybrid Power Source (HPS) is a first-of-its-kind power system that delivers clean, quiet hydraulic power without relying on the chassis engine. Built on automotive-grade lithium-ion technology, the HPS provides 100% emission-free, low-voltage energy to power cranes, compressors, stabilizers and tools — significantly reducing noise, fuel use and idling. Its modular design allows fleets to right-size power capacity and operate seamlessly across both ICE and EV chassis.
Vanair® Manufacturing, LLC, A Lincoln Electric Company
The EPEQ EPRO20 Power Skid is a patent-pending, battery-powered air compressor system that delivers 20 CFM at up to 150 PSI with zero emissions and minimal noise. The skid-mounted system drops into any pickup truck, UTV, van or trailer without installation, wiring or permanent vehicle modifications, eliminating the need for engine idling and fuel-powered compressors on construction sites. Powered by Vanair’s ELiMENT LiFePO4 battery system, the EPRO20 features dual-speed operation (10 or 20 CFM), 30-gallon air storage capacity and a proprietary Smart Display for real-time system monitoring. The system saves 0.5 to 1.0 gallons of fuel per hour while providing clean, quiet compressed air for pneumatic tools across construction, utility and infrastructure applications.
Yanmar Compact Equipment North America
The Yanmar ViO35-7 builds on the proven durability and reliability of the ViO35-6A that operators trust on demanding jobsites. At its core is an advanced three pump hydraulic system that delivers smooth, high power multi-function performance, allowing operators to maintain faster cycle times without sacrificing control during simultaneous boom, arm, swing, and bucket movements. The operator space received a significant upgrade with improved legroom, intuitive controls, and class leading visibility that enhances confidence and safety in tight or congested environments. With the dash 7 series, Yanmar focused on integrating just the right level of technology, such as SmartAssist Remote telematics and an upgraded color display, that provide practical insights which improve uptime, simplify maintenance, and support real world productivity.
TECHNOLOGY
SYNCHRO is the leading 4D solution for visually planning, scheduling, and tracking construction projects. It enables teams to simulate plans and progress, explore what‑if scenarios, and detect issues early to make more informed decisions. By identifying risks in a dynamic 4D environment, teams can reduce errors, rework, and overall project costs. SYNCHRO also aligns stakeholders with clear visual reports and simulations that make complex plans easy to understand and act on. The result is clearer plans, fewer surprises in the field, and more predictable project outcomes.
Bobcat Jobsite Companion is the first AI-enabled solution in the compact equipment industry, enabling the machine to adapt to operators. With Jobsite Companion operators keep their hands on the controls by using voice‑activated automation to manage more than 50 machine functions, automatically optimize attachment settings, and answer questions about operation, including fault codes. It also turns machine hours into clear profitability insight by tracking complete machine costs against job estimates in a single dashboard. This advancement marks the most significant evolution in machine-operator interaction in nearly two decades, designed to enhance precision, efficiency and ease of use for operators of all experience levels.
BOMAG’s remote-control technology puts full control of a single drum roller in the operator’s hands, at a safe distance. With the flip of a switch, operators move seamlessly from in-cab driving to precise remote operation of all key functions. This rugged, intelligent system lets machines work confidently in dangerous or hard-to-reach areas like cliffs, trenches, sinkholes, and contaminated zones. The result: maximum productivity with dramatically reduced risk to people on the job.
Dynapac introduces a SEISMIC shift in asphalt compaction. The intelligent SEISMIC Asphalt system uses sensors and software to automatically determine optimal vibration frequency and continuously adjusts to deliver the appropriate compaction effort when and where needed on the asphalt mat. It’s simple … SEISMIC Asphalt is the default setting, so the operator just selects amplitude and there is nothing else to do. It optimizes compaction efficiency, enhances operator comfort and saves contractors up to 25% less fuel and can lead to fewer passes.
Gefran’s TWIIST is a next-generation multivariable position sensor engineered for mobile equipment operating in harsh environments. It integrates innovative sensing technologies into a single compact and contactless solution, enabling robust measurement and enhanced system intelligence. TWIIST helps machine manufacturers simplify architectures, reduce complexity, and support future-ready control strategies. A shielded configuration is available to ensure reliability in demanding off-highway applications.
The Gravis Rack transforms conventional earthmoving machines into intelligent robots by adding 3D sensing, cameras, and onboard compute across a wide range of equipment brands and sizes. In the cab, the system acts as a copilot—providing real-time cut/fill visibility, analytics, augmented-reality guidance, and people-detection—so operators can work faster, safely, and with greater confidence. The same platform also enables autonomous excavation tasks such as trenching, bulk excavation, and truck loading, allowing operators to command and monitor one or more machines through a single portable tablet interface.
ITI (Industrial Training International)
ITI’s VR Crane Simulator helps organizations build crane operator skills faster, safer, and at scale. Developed in collaboration with leading equipment manufacturers, the innovative platform delivers highly realistic crane simulations that replicate real-world control responses, load behavior, and jobsite conditions—without the risks or downtime of live equipment. Companies use the system to verify operator skills, support certification prep, advance operator competency, and standardize training across crews and locations. By expanding access to safe, repeatable hands-on practice, ITI helps companies reduce risk, accelerate workforce readiness, and address ongoing skilled labor shortages.
Smart Quarry Autonomous combines Komatsu’s proven quarry equipment expertise with Pronto’s advanced autonomous haulage technology to deliver a scalable, affordable path to autonomy. This joint solution empowers quarry operators to address labor challenges and drive efficiency, reliability and safety through simple retrofits and software-driven fleet control — without the infrastructure costs or complexity of traditional AHS systems.
Moasure 2 PRO is a motion-based measuring tool that measures and draws at the same time, designed to capture area, volume, slope, and elevation data for general construction, paving, and site preparation work. Contractors walk the site to collect measurement data, with 2D and 3D drawings delivered instantly on-screen through the free mobile app – all done without a reliance on internet, satellite signals, or line of sight. Moasure 2 PRO often removes the need for traditional surveying tools, reducing time on site, improving material quantity calculations, and simplifying complex measurement tasks. Moasure 2 PRO supports CAD and PDF workflows, making it suitable for estimating, planning, and verification out in the field and back in the office.
The Samsara Asset Tag is redefining how the construction industry protects and manages its most critical equipment, making it easy to track any asset, of any size, in real time. Purpose-built for the toughest jobsite conditions, it combines a rugged, discreet design with Samsara’s industry-leading network and industrial-grade Bluetooth. Powered by the Samsara Connected Operations® Platform, the Asset Tag helps prevent asset theft and loss–especially for small, high-risk equipment–while reducing downtime and keeping projects on schedule with a complete view of fleet and operational data. A four-year battery life and fast installation make it easy to deploy the Asset Tag across thousands of assets–no wiring, no downtime.
About CONEXPO-CON/AGG
Held every three years, CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the must-attend event for construction industry professionals. The show features the latest equipment, products, services and technologies for the construction industry, as well as industry-leading education. CONEXPO-CON/AGG is owned in partnership with NRMCA, NSSGA and AEM and managed by AEM. The next CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be held March 3-7, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on CONEXPO-CON/AGG, visit https://www.conexpoconagg.com.
