This year’s edition of iVT Expo USA was a huge success, with thousands of off-highway vehicle professionals gathering at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago for two packed days of tech discovery, in-depth insights and networking.
Both the expo and the two conferences were filled with interesting conversations as thousands of industry professionals discussed how they can continue to tackle the demands of an ever-changing industry.
The discussions and technology showcased throughout both days reflected an industry moving beyond standalone technology developments towards increasingly integrated, intelligent machine architectures.
Nott Company provided a practical example of this during the NFPA’s Advanced Hydraulics Conference that ran alongside iVT Expo’s Off-Highway Evolution Conference. During the session, Nott Company presented its ground-up electrification of a skid steer, integrating battery-electric propulsion with electronically controlled hydraulics, distributed electrohydraulic actuation, displays and telematics.
Rather than treating electrification as a simple powertrain substitution, the case study demonstrated how the electrical, hydraulic and control architectures of next-generation machines are increasingly being developed as one interconnected system.
At the Off-Highway Evolution Conference, the changing architecture of autonomous machines was examined at OEM level, with representatives from Volvo Construction Equipment and Deere & Company joining a plenary discussion on the different technology paths towards off-highway autonomy.
The panel explored the relationship between AI-driven perception, planning and control, alongside the critical challenges of validation, safety and human oversight as increasingly intelligent systems move towards real-world deployment.
Increasingly integrated, intelligent machine architectures was visible beyond the conference rooms. On the exhibition floor, Applied Fluid Power demonstrated a LiDAR-guided autonomous vehicle capable of detecting an approaching operator, reducing its speed and stopping automatically, while controls, electric drives, IoT connectivity, HMI and remote machine monitoring operated as part of the same integrated system.
Not only was there impressive technology on display throughout the hall, the expo also provided a platform for new product launches, with Pektron North America debuting its integrated 360° Vision and Infotainment System in Chicago. Combining surround-view camera technology, advanced video processing, vehicle connectivity and infotainment within a single platform, the launch reflected the wider trend towards increasingly integrated electronic architectures in off-highway machinery.
Other news from the expo floor, MRS Electronic announced that the company has evolved to become MRX Technology Inc. but that its close partnership with MRS Electronic continues. Allowing for robust industry-leading electronics for off-highway and commercial automotive applications to remain its strong suit. Regional Sales Manager, Yasir, said on LinkedIn, “iVT Expo was a great launch pad and we're thankful to the entire industry for encouragement, support and insights into how this brings greater value to their current needs.”
Both visitors and exhibitors had very positive things to say about this year’s event. Tim Opperwall, Principal Engineer at Husco said, “We’ve been participating in both the expo and the conferences almost since the original event. We see it as a really valuable meeting point for Tier 1 and 2 suppliers. We’re [also] meeting OEMs and other customers, so the whole breadth of different people [makes it] a really valuable experience. Both from a technical standpoint and for showing off the different technology that we’re here to bring to the show”
Steven Skurski, Mechanical Engineer at Toyota Material Handling North America visited on day two of the event and said, “The technology here is great! There's a lot of products that we can use as an OEM to merge into our products and create better products for our customers.”
The next generation of off-highway vehicles will increasingly be defined by how effectively electrification, hydraulics, electronics, sensing, software, connectivity and human-machine interaction can be engineered together. This year’s edition of iVT Expo USA demonstrated that this integration is already well underway.
The event returns to Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago, USA, August 25 & 26, 2027. Make sure you save the date and ensure you secure your place to be part of the global meeting of off-highway vehicle professionals.
