LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Exposition Center is filled this week with heavy machinery, a massive collection of utility equipment converging in Louisville for one of America's largest conventions. But what may look like fun in games at the Utility Expo is all about precision, focus, and learning how to keep your home and business working smoothly.
The third-largest expo in America, it comes to Louisville every two years, sharing a local economic impact of $16.4 million.
"Louisville is our second home," said John Rozen, director of the Utility Expo. "The show has been here since 1987, which makes it almost 50 years here in town."
The 2023 Utility Expo at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Sept. 26, 2023. (WDRB Photo)
Rozen said the equipment is made up of all the newest products and services that will be used by contractors and utility companies to keep the lights on and water flowing across America. He said those components — fresh water, waste water, electricity, internet and natural gas — all go through the Utility Expo.
And it's a massive buildout. More than 850 vendors from all over the country are taking up on 1.4 million square feet of exhibit space. And the Utility Shows calls the Kentucky Expo Center home because it allows contractors to test their projects in the ground, many moving dirt or digging several feet deep for demonstrations. Many of these crews will be some of the first lines of help following a natural disaster. When a family loses everything, these are the men and women who help power first responders, especially when it involves flooding.
"We will actually plug in with a lot of those crews and safely excavate where they can do their job and restore services," said Bobby Love, vice president of national accounts for Badger Infrastructure Solutions and a vendor at the expo.
Some of the units can cost more than $1 million, a small price to pay when it comes to the global reach of the expo. It brings attendees from all 50 states and 60 different countries. And the Utility Expo has won several awards in recent years from the Trade Show News Network, per Louisville Tourism, including:
- The Greatest Trade Show of 2019
- Largest Trade Show of 2021
- The Fastest-Growing Gold 100 Show in Sheer Numbers in Net Square Feet in 2023
The event is held every other year in Louisville, a contract it has with the city through 2029. It runs through Thursday at the Expo Center.
"We're proud to be here, happy to be here," Rozen said. "The people of Louisville have been great hosts for all these years."
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
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