2025 is shaping up to be a crucial year for the construction equipment industry and the manufacturers who make the equipment that builds the world around us all. It’s why, just a few short weeks from now, dozens of AEM member companies will be onsite in the nation’s capital to showcase equipment manufacturing’s cutting-edge innovations, workforce development efforts, and sustainability initiatives at the second Celebration of Construction on the National Mall.
From May 14-16, 2025, AEM will lead members and industry partners in highlighting the future of construction in Washington, DC. And with this year’s gathering right around the corner, AEM sat down with Michael Gidaspow, chief digital officer at member company Komatsu North America, to discuss why the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall is such an important event, why his organization is proud to support it, why the construction industry should be celebrated, and more.
AEM: The Celebration of Construction on the National Mall is a significant event for AEM, our members, and the industry. From your standpoint, why is it so important for Komatsu to support it and be a part of it again in 2025?
Gidaspow: The Celebration of Construction on the National Mall is very unique event, and one unlike any other that Komatsu participates in and supports. We are afforded the opportunity to engage legislators in Washington, D.C. and showcase our industry to the general public. And for us at Komatsu, the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall serves as a tremendous opportunity to promote the industry and highlight all the exciting and relevant things happening in construction today. More than anything else, though, it’s just a really fun event. We look forward to being a part of it once again this year.
AEM: Given the excitement surrounding the event and its popularity, it’s almost surprising to think the inaugural Celebration of Construction on the National Mall was two years ago already. What did Komatsu take away from being a part of that first event in 2023?
Gidaspow: There was so much to enjoy and appreciate about that first event two years ago. Again, it was such a unique experience to interact with the general public in a way that we don’t often have the opportunity to do at many of our other trade shows. It’s why Komatsu worked so diligently to make our booth family-friendly and attractive to young people for the 2023 event, because we recognize the value and importance of inspiring the next generation to get excited about the idea of working in our industry.
There’s just so much happening in construction today – futuristic technology, cutting-edge innovations like autonomy and Internet of Things, even carbon neutrality. An event like the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall gives us a chance to share it all with the public and be able to showcase the role Komatsu plays in the story of our industry.
It also offers several opportunities to meet with and interact with other important stakeholders. For example, in 2023, we got a chance to meet with the U.S. Department of Energy and show its representatives one of Komatsu’s electric product offerings. We were able to engage in some great conversations, and it provided us with a uniquely valuable opportunity to educate people who write the laws in this country about our needs as an industry and the important things we can accomplish together.
AEM: From a general public perspective, this event is very much a celebration of the construction industry, equipment, and technology. It very much is exactly that, but so much networking, information sharing, education, and discussion happens with legislators, regulators, and other folks whose decisions impact our industry. What is the impact of those discussions, and why do they benefit our industry so much?
Gidaspow: Making our presence known and having our voice heard in Washington, D.C. is just so important. We had some really good conversations and follow-up because of our participation in the 2023 event.
However, for us at Komatsu, the real value came from being able to highlight new and cutting-edge technology. It’s so important for us as an industry to be able to highlight how it can really make an impact on how we build the roads and infrastructure that we rely on in this country, as well as all the ways we’re working to make this technology better.
AEM: So many events AEM organizes are geared toward our membership or our industry. The Celebration of Construction on the National Mall, however, is a very public event with people coming out and learning about equipment and technology firsthand. In your opinion, why should the general public take part in this event?
Gidaspow: The public sees big, durable pieces of equipment, and they don’t realize all the technology that’s behind it. Consider the Internet of Things. Our industry has been using telematics for decades. Then there’s autonomous vehicles. We’ve had them in service in mine sites for decades. We have AR/VR technology. We use artificial intelligence. There’s so much technology in our industry, and that’s something we can really get the public excited about when they see it up close at an event like the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall.
AEM: What has you most excited for the 2025 event?
Gidaspow: I can’t think of a better place to host our equipment than the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It’s just a beautiful backdrop for an event. And what we want to showcase as Komatsu is our strong U.S. manufacturing presence. We’re a net exporter: Komatsu exports over $1 billion more in goods from the U.S. than it brings in. We really view ourselves as a global company with leadership that was born in the U.S. and from the U.S., and an organization that does so much for the community and the economy.
AEM: The construction industry is so important to AEM and our members who support it. Why do you feel like construction and its equipment should be celebrated at an event like this one?
Gidaspow: Our equipment builds the infrastructure that we utilize every day. And if we look at the technology side of things, we keep trying to have more advancements and link our digital solutions better to make it as easy as possible for our customers to have information at their fingertips and receive information in an actionable format. That deserves to be recognized and celebrated, and Komatsu looks forward to doing just that at the 2025 Celebration of Construction on the National Mall.
