CONEXPO 2026: How Construction and Manufacturing Brands can Gain Visibility and Earn Authority with B2B PR
CONEXPO 2026’s influence and industry footprint proves why strategic B2B PR and earned authority is critical for construction and manufacturing brands.
Held March 3–7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the event spans nearly 3 million square feet of exhibit space and draws more than 140,000 industry professionals and 2,000 exhibitors to the show floor. Manufacturers, OEMs, technology providers, contractors, industry experts, and infrastructure leaders gather from around the globe at the Las Vegas Convention Center to showcase advancements in construction equipment, digital jobsite technology, fluid power systems, automation, electrification, and sustainability solutions through a series of education sessions and hands-on demonstrations.
This year also includes a highly visible Guinness World Records™ attempt for the most people wearing high-visibility vests, spotlighting safety and industry unity while generating national and trade media attention. It reinforces that CONEXPO is not just a construction trade show — it is a headline-worthy platform for an industry at the core of the American economy.
Most notably for exhibitors, there are more than 400 registered media representatives attending. Editors, journalists, publishers, and content creators are actively searching for trend stories, expert commentary, credible data, and innovation worth covering.
The scale is extraordinary, but that alone does not guarantee visibility or influence.
The Visibility Reality: 2,000 Exhibitors, 400+ Media
With thousands of companies competing for attention, not only for booth traffic and customer conversations, but also for 400 registered media representatives covering the show, differentiation is not about who shows up. It is about who is remembered.
Journalists at CONEXPO are asking larger questions:
What trends are defining the next three years in construction?
Which technologies are solving measurable jobsite challenges?
Who has credible data and field results?
Which executives can speak beyond product features and into industry direction?
In an environment this dense with innovation, companies that communicate clearly and strategically are the ones that break through all the noise.
Showing up at CONEXPO is easy, but being remembered is rare.
Trade Shows Create Visibility. Earned Media Builds Authority that lasts.
A trade show lasts for days. Authority compounds over the years.
Many companies approach CONEXPO with a press release and a booth announcement about their latest innovations. But in today’s market, especially AI-driven search environments, earned media must serve a larger purpose. When companies secure:
Coverage in respected trade publications
Executive interviews tied to industry trends
Bylined thought leadership articles
Expert commentary grounded in field data
They are doing more than just generating publicity. They are building authority signals that shape how they are perceived and drive long-term growth and profitability long after the booth comes down.
Why Earned Visibility Matters in an AI-Driven Environment
Engineers, procurement leaders, analysts, and even journalists increasingly rely on AI systems and large language models for research. As a result, authoritative third-party coverage carries new weight. These systems draw from:
Published industry reporting
Credible expert commentary
Technical analysis
Consistent thought leadership
In this environment, next level earned media does more than influence today’s buyers. It contributes to how your company is interpreted within the broader digital ecosystem.
Over time, consistent and credible visibility helps establish your organization not just as a vendor, but as a trusted voice among industry leaders.
Public Relations as a Lever Within Earned Authority
Public relations remains a powerful tool, but its role has evolved. At a show the size of CONEXPO 2026, strategic communications can:
1. Elevate executives from product spokespeople to industry contributors
2. Connect innovation to larger industry narratives
3. Extend Influence beyond booth traffic
4. Build durable authority signals that endure beyond the event
When integrated into the broader authority strategy, PR becomes more than exposure; it becomes infrastructure.
When a manufacturer enters the show with proprietary jobsite data and an executive prepared to comment on regulatory or workforce trends, journalists don’t just see a product — they see a source. That shift changes the conversation from ‘What are you launching?’ to ‘Where is the industry headed?’
Inprela at CONEXPO 2026
At this year’s show, Inprela is supporting clients not simply through media outreach, but by aligning executive positioning, industry narratives, and earned coverage so their innovations are framed within the larger conversations shaping construction and heavy equipment manufacturing.
Because at CONEXPO, innovation is everywhere, but enduring authority is not.
The Strategic Question for Manufacturers
If your company is exhibiting this year, consider:
Are you creating short-term visibility or long-term authority?
Does your messaging clearly differentiate you from competitors?
Are your executives positioned as credible contributors to the conversations that drive where the industry is headed?
Will your expertise remain discoverable and influential beyond the event?
Is your presence reinforcing your role in the future of the industry?
Trade shows drive exposure and earned authority compounds influence.
In 2026, when earned media, search and AI ecosystems intersect, the companies that shape the narrative are the ones that shape the market.
If your organization is ready to strengthen its visibility, authority, and thought leadership within the construction and manufacturing sectors, Inprela specializes in strategic communications built specifically for industrial brands.
CONEXPO happens every three years; brand authority is built every day. Connect with us and let’s claim your place in the conversation.
