By Brittany Weltcheff, World of Asphalt Show Manager
After three long years, the asphalt industry is set to converge on Nashville this month to explore the latest equipment, technologies and innovations.
The show floor is filled with exhibitors, the exceptional speakers and sessions are prepped, and the attendees are purchasing tickets by the day. World of Asphalt 2022 is set for March 29-31 in Nashville, Tennessee. AEM, along with The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), is looking forward to welcoming back all asphalt industry professionals for three days of valuable networking, educational opportunities and industry exploration.
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What to Expect
Contractors are more than ready to come together in person to find new solutions, connect with their peers and OEMs, as well as share their perspectives on the present and future of their industry. Now having spent three years since the last World of Asphalt was held gaining experience, dealing with challenges and engaging in essential work, many within the industry have expressed just how much they’ve missed the human connection and lasting memories that go along with in-person experiences. After all, a virtual chat in a digital “exhibit hall” just doesn’t compare to a great conversation with an industry peer over a cold beer.
At World of Asphalt, half of the audience in attendance is heavy construction pros from companies large and small, with material producers, dealers and government officials rounding out the group. And with over 400 exhibiting companies, specializing in everything from asphalt paving equipment to jobsite technology, every asphalt industry professional is bound to find something to see, hear and learn on or around the show floor. In-person, exhibit company experts are also well-equipped to answer questions in detail and help attendees gain an up-close-and-personal look at a potential solution or purchase.
“While I had known about World of Asphalt since its inception, I had never been. To prepare for becoming NAPA chair in 2016, I went to my first World of Asphalt in 2015, and I was an instant fan. I was so impressed with the display of state-of-the-art equipment, the latest tech, and how many people from the industry were there. The conversations and people you meet on and off the show floor are just incredible. To me, it really is the industry’s gathering place.” -- Kevin Kelly, NAPA Lifetime Member
What to Learn
A lot can change in three years, and it’s important each and every crew has the knowledge and solutions to ensure success out on the job. Attendees can pick from over 150 education sessions with NAPA’s People, Plants, and Paving conference, held in conjunction with the trade show. Sessions explore important topics around team management, plant performance and operations, paving techniques, quality and preservation, as well as environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S).
What to Do
This group knows a thing or two about working hard out in the field and on the show floor, as well as playing hard in the afterhours. During the last hour of the show on day two, sponsors will host a Rock & Road Reception with free beer in their booths. These opportunities to catch up, talk shop and enjoy some libations really are the “cherry on top” to in-person events like World of Asphalt.
Show organizers are also excited to welcome back the Women of Asphalt council, who will partner with the show this year to showcase the work it does to support women in the asphalt industry. The council will hold a special education session, a roundtable on increasing diversity and host a very popular booth mixer. With their signature pink and palpable excitement and enthusiasm for all things asphalt, they’re hard to miss!
After the trade show closes, attendees can enjoy a lively and music filled evening. Nashville is Good to Go with more than 250 area restaurants, bars and attractions, pledging to keep Music City safe and sound with an enhanced focus on the safety and well-being of customers.
About World of Asphalt
World of Asphalt, along with the co-located AGG1 Aggregates Academy and Expo, continues to grow, with exhibitors still knocking on the door to get into a sold-out show floor. Twenty years ago, World of Asphalt held its inaugural event as a collaboration between NAPA and AEM, with almost 30,000 net square feet of exhibits. Fast forward 20 years and we are set to hold the largest World of Asphalt Nashville has ever seen, with more than 400 exhibitors covering 193,000 net square feet.
A lot of new products, services and technologies have been developed since this audience gathered in 2019, and exhibiting companies couldn’t be more excited to show the industry the latest tools and cutting-edge technology impacting their jobs, both now and in the future.
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