Equipment manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and leaders in Australia’s road and civil construction space took up the unique opportunity to engage with the wider transport and infrastructure industry at the first Roads & Civil Works Expo.
The inaugural trade event was held in conjunction with the established International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show and the debut of Waste Management In Action.
The new trade shows followed the organisers’ decision to redesign the International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show after the 2014 instalment to also incorporate a live Test Track and exhibition spaces dedicated to showcasing the latest equipment, products and services in Australia’s waste, roads and civil sectors.
“Having the opportunity to experience equipment live and in action on the Test Track was a highlight for many visitors and showed how different Melbourne is to other events of its kind around the world,” says Show Director Simon Coburn, pointing out the two new events were also well received.
“Adding two additional shows to the line-up was a logical decision. Both waste management and road and civil construction play a powerful role in the Australian economy and are directly linked to transport, so physically bringing them together was a great opportunity for everyone involved,” he explains.
Association partnerships and support
Many industry associations and organisations came on board to support this year’s Roads & Civil Works Expo, and used the event to engage with industry.
Roads & Civil Works Expo Foundation Partner Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) had a strong presence at the show, taking up one of the outdoor pavilions to connect with industry.
Michael Caltabiano, CEO of AAPA and his team were present to show what AAPA members are doing, highlighting their success, while also emphasising the next generation in training within the road worker space.
Experts from show foundation partner and leader in the Australia bitumen market Viva Energy were in attendance to talk with clients and provide information on the products and services the business is able to offer the country’s road industry.
Peak civil construction industry association and expo Association Partner Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) was at the show to talk to the wider Australia road and civil industry about the association’s role within Australian market and its extensive range of training courses. John Kilgour, CEO of CCF Victoria, and other association representatives were present to engage with visitors and talk about the organisation.
Visitors to the AustStab’s stand in the outdoor space were able to see an impressive road stabiliser up close and personal, and gain important insight into Australia’s growing stabilisation sector at the same time.
Members from the pavement recycling and stabilisation industry association and expo Association Partner were on hand to talk to attendees about how stabilisation works, while emphasising the organisation’s key pillars – collaboration, narration and education.
Antero Bonifacio and the team from show bag sponsor GraysOnline were out in force to promote the company, handing out caps, balloons and more.
The online retail and auction company specialises in the valuation and sale of industrial and commercial plant and equipment used the Roads & Civil Works Expo as a platform to promote its unique services.
Outdoor space
The Roads & Civil Works outdoor exhibition space held a wide array of different products and services over the course of the event.
Service body builder MFI Service Bodies showcased two impressive units in its exhibition space, including its core commercial service and maintenance model as well as a recreational vehicle for “extreme remote travelling” as Director Dallas Needham puts it.
MFI specialise in custom fleet design with a focus on safety, ergonomics, innovation and quality.
Kubota Tractor Australia, a leading supplier of agricultural, construction and power equipment in the Australia roads and civil sector, also had a big presence at the show.
The manufacturer tapped into the potential of the Roads & Civil Works Expo to bolster its established industry profile and show off its range of construction equipment, including its impressive Compact Track Loader units and renowned excavator units
Ross Buchner and his team from Trans Tank International handled a number of enquiries about their eye-catching range of polyethylene tanks and trailers, including many from New Zealand.
The company manufactures rotationally moulded polyethylene tanks and trailers and used the expo to promote its range of up to 15,000-litre tanks to the roads and civil and waste sectors.
Steel tank specialists Austank had their range of storage and process tanks for the petroleum and chemical industries on show in the expo’s outdoor space.
Project Manager Alex Stevicic and his team were engaging with attendees and promoting their extensive range of tanks, ranging from 2000 to 10,000 litres, looking to tap into the cross-section of attendees from the roads and civil, waste and transport sectors.
Simon Jones and Rick Lethlean from Water Wise Water Trucks looked to tap into the cross-section of attendees to the show by displaying the company’s range of hose reels, control systems, spray valves and other components for water trucks.
The company used the opportunity to show the industry some of its products up close as well as launch its new P651 Pneumatic Water Canon.
“We worked really hard with local suppliers on this. It’s a good turn-key solution,” says Mr. Jones.
Schwarze Industries Australia showcased its range trusted environmentally friendly, regenerative Bonne Brooms sweepers at the show, promoting the brand at the same time.
Product Manager Cliff Allen was at the expo to talk about the SE6T, SE6R and SE6 models and their reliability and versatility in a range of applications for regional councils, civil contractors.
Likewise, Western Australia-based Rhino Buckets & Attachments was looking to promote its services to the wider Australian market.
“What we’re trying to do is get our brand out here,” says Rhino’s Tony Tindal. The company mainly supplies Western Australia, but Mr. Tindal and his team were using the Roads & Civil Works Expo as a platform to showcase its innovative construction and excavator buckets and attachments to the Victorian industry, including its unique sieve buckets and ripper attachment.
CoolCab’s Director Gregg Chapman was at the expo showcasing his company’s innovative 24-volt DC-driven air conditioning system designed for vehicles or equipment that sit idle for long-periods.
Also in the area was Sullair’s latest portable air compressor – the 185a – that combines the company’s state-of-the-art technology with practical design, and was also on display to those attending the show.
Stabilcorp’s continuous development and ingenuity saw it showcase a new model of its revolutionary road maintenance widening and repair unit – the ShoulderMaster.
Craig Pinson and the Stabilcorp team were on hand to talk about the benefits of the new gravel model unit, designed to help contractors and councils working in regional areas with predominantly gravel roads. The company’s new tow-along stabiliser trailer, the SpreadMaster, was also on show.
Visitors to the Roads & Civil Works outdoor space were welcomed with one of Muscat Trailers’ impressive Falcon Live Bottom Trailers.
The trailer can unload where other trailers can’t due to its unique conveyor belt system in the trailer floor. It is ideal for a variety of transport applications, including sand, gravel, hot mix asphalt and recycled material cartage.
Trout River Australia promoted its quality products and services along with its versatile and durable live bottom trailer.
The unique trailer units are safe alternatives to tippers and Trout River’s range includes a wide variety of attachments, such as the chip spreader, diffuser, side conveyor, shoulder chute, spreader and specialised adaptations.
Ultimate Plant Trailers (UPT) brought its custom expertise to the expo by showcasing one of its tri axle trailers in the outdoor space.
Attendees were able to see the unit up close and personal and witness the detail and care going into the company’s custom-built trailers.
Spoutvac Industries and Bosch Rexroth collaborated on bringing their technology to the waste and civil work sectors, with Spoutvac showing off the capabilities of its industrial Vacuum, Hydro Excavation, Drain Cleaning and Industrial Combination trucks through a series of exciting demonstrations.
Visitors were given insight into how they can tackle roadside vegetation maintenance in a new and innovative way through SlasherTeck’s unique roadside maintenance unit.
SlasherTeck had all four components of the overall unit on show, including the Front-Mounted Slasher, the Reach Arm Mower Head, Side Shift Tilt Hitch and its real-time global positioning asset management tool – SOAMS.
Safety focus
Many innovative safety solution providers used the inaugural Roads & Civil Works Expo to exhibit the latest in road safety products and technology.
Boylan Group’s Workzone Wili was out and about during the entire event to showcase some new safety concepts.
The life-like robotic road worker was just one of many new products on show from the safety solutions provider, which include the company’s new workzone radar and a scaled speed check radar.
“It was a great soft launch for our products,” says Alan Hay, Boylan Group Director Strategic Analysis, Road Safety, who, along with company founder Peter Boylan and the team at Boylan were on the stand to engage with industry.
Saferoads, a specialist in road safety solutions sector, was exhibiting its latest safety technology, hoping to promote its cutting-edge technology and safety ethos.
On display were safety products such as Saferoads’ variable message signs (VMS), its next-generation Ironman Hybrid Barriers and its RoadQuake traffic calming systems.
Also promoting its range of VMS units was Data Signs. The traffic management equipment specialists exhibited its newly launched Dual VMS unit, which sits on a single axle trailer and can be separated into two units: a “two-in-one” product as Michael Shade, the company’s Executive Manager – Sales & Marketing, puts it.
Peter Pavey and the team from Ingal Civil Products were on hand to share their expertise and provide insight into the company’s crash cushions, safety barriers and market-leading Safe-Top 180 Truck Mounted Attenuator.
Road safety and traffic control equipment provider A1 Roadlines also displayed its eye-catching Truck Mounted Attenuator and expert services to attendees to the expo’s outdoor space.
Hoping to also to showcase its unique safety solutions to show attendees was Wayne Duckworth from Highway Care, who with Coates Hire, showcased its cutting-edge safety products.
The company continuously strives to develop new and existing road safety products, one of which was an eye-catching inclusion to its exhibition space – its BarrierGuard 800 steel safety barrier.
Indoor Space
Like the outdoor area of the Roads & Civil Works Expo, the indoor space contained innovative and unique service providers hoping to engage with the wider Australian infrastructure sector.
Matt Underwood was manning the Sure Gro stand and talking to visitors to the expo about the company’s expertise in land management, soil erosion control, revegetation, landscaping and civil applications, as well as its innovative Safelox product.
Safelox quickly and securely slides over star pickets and fastens with a cable tie and cap to help ensure worksite safety barrier fencing doesn’t blow in the wind or fall in extreme weather conditions.
Simon Lee, Director at Airstar Australia, talked to interested parties about the company’s innovative Sirocco range of glare-free, portable and lightweight lighting balloons, ideal for applications in road and civil construction.
The team at Dial Before You Dig was available to chat to interested parties about the company’s unique service. Dial Before You Dig is a free referral service for information on locating underground utilities anywhere in Australia.
Artcraft, a leading supplier in the manufacture of quality signage and traffic control equipment, also had a colourful and eye-catching range of products on display at its booth.
The Earthco Projects stand in the expo’s indoor space highlighted the company’s unique services and product range, including its PolyCom Stabilising Aid, which allows councils and contractors to reuse, rehabilitate and recycle existing materials in road pavement.
Brad Adams from Phillro Industries was on hand to talk about the company’s latest specialist equipment for civil contractors.
The company specialises in airless spray, spray guns, spray equipment and fluid transfer equipment used in project surface finishing and coating. Their stand included a range of products such as the Elcometer coating inspection equipment range and the Graco LineLazer V 250DC, Dual Colour Striper.
Construction equipment attachment specialist Norm Engineering showcased its earthmoving attachments for mini loaders, skid steers, excavators, backhoes and tele handlers in the expo’s indoor space.
Likewise, Himac Attachments also exhibited its unique range of equipment attachments designed and specifically manufactured for earthmoving and agricultural machinery operating in harsh Australian condition.
Trakblaze Business Development Manager Scott Mayman manned the company’s booth at the expo to promote the company’s specialist weighing systems, used in multiple sectors across the wider Australian infrastructure market.
Trakblaze used the opportunity to also introduce the innovative Velocity patch/pothole repair system from the UK company of the same name.
Fuel card pioneer WEX Australia provided insight into its leading fleet, corporate and prepaid payment solutions across a wide spectrum of business, specifically using the Roads & Civil Works Expo to engage with this side of the Australian construction and transport sector.
Coates Hire, a leading equipment hire company in Australia, showcased its range of services in the indoor space at the expo, with product specialists Jason Snoodyk and Liam Shellard on hand to talk with potential clients. Coates Hire supplies equipment to a wide variety of markets, including government, engineering, building construction and maintenance, mining and resources, manufacturing and events.
Asphalt plant and equipment manufacturer ALmix Asia used the Roads & Civil Works Expo to help bolster its growing profile within the Australian market.
The ALmix team looked to engage with the private sector and road contractors about its cutting-edge plant equipment, including its own unique hybrid plant – the Dratch Plant – which is a combination of batch and drum mix technology for the purpose of higher production capabilities.
Southern Geosynthetics Supplies Manager Wayne Alexander was promoting the company’s range of quality geosynthetic products in the expo’s indoor space.
One key focus for Mr. Alexander was promoting the HaTelit C Reinforcement Grid, a paving product used to help prevent cracks in asphalt pavements.
Providing a fun and interesting expo experience was ASPECT Digital, a specialist 3D and virtual reality design company.
Visitors could put on a virtual reality headset and be exposed to a digital environment, the applications of which can be used for applications in architecture and building design, training and even stakeholder engagement.
Procon MRM Transport Telematics was at the expo to engage with industry and promote its expertise in transport solutions. The company is a provider of machine-to-machine platforms and software-as-a-service applications and solutions for insurance, finance, fleet management, heavy transport, logistics, containers and trailers.
Jaybro provided information on some of its unique civil and safety products, including the innovative bitumen binder asphalt product: UltraCrete Instant Road Repair from UK company Instarmac.
The 2016 event a solid turnout of approximately 6500 attendees per day, and the most product premieres in the International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show’s history.
Mr. Coburn concludes, “Due to the continued support of our exhibitors and media partners, the Show was a terrific success given the economic environment it had to navigate. We have already begun work on the 2018 Show and are more determined than ever to provide the best and most expansive platform for the industry.
“As part of that process, we value feedback from industry as we endeavour to grow the event further and deliver real, tangible value to the industries we serve.”