When CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 opens its doors, Merlo America will transform 12,000 square feet of the Festival Grounds into something the construction industry has never seen before: Merlo City. This immersive exhibit reimagines how equipment is displayed, organizing machines and attachments around real-world jobsite applications rather than traditional product categories. For contractors, builders, and construction professionals seeking to understand how telehandler technology is evolving, Merlo City offers a hands-on look at the future of material handling. The approach mirrors the kind of thoughtful construction planning found in projects like Understanding Mount Rushmore Carving the Spirit of America, where complex work is broken into purposeful stages.
The Vision Behind Merlo City: Application-Focused Equipment Display
Traditional trade show booths group equipment by class all telehandlers in one row, all attachments in another. Merlo City rejects this approach entirely. Instead, the exhibit is designed as a series of themed zones, each modeled after a different type of U.S. city or jobsite environment. Each zone demonstrates how Merlo telehandlers and attachments perform in specific real-world scenarios.
Why Application-Based Displays Matter for Contractors
For contractors evaluating new equipment, seeing a machine in isolation tells only part of the story. What matters is how a telehandler performs on an active jobsite with the right attachments configured for the task. Merlo City addresses this by letting visitors move through environments that mirror their own working conditions.
Key benefits of this application-focused approach include:
- Direct comparison of machine performance across different jobsite scenarios
- Clear visualization of attachment compatibility and switching workflows
- Realistic demonstrations of reach, lift capacity, and maneuverability in context
- Opportunity to evaluate electric versus diesel models in relevant applications
- Hands-on interaction with controls and systems in simulated operating conditions
Sectors Represented in the Exhibit Zones
Merlo City covers five major sectors where telehandlers play a critical role. Each zone is designed to reflect the unique demands of that sector.
| Sector | Key Applications | Featured Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Material lifting, roof loading, steel erection | High-capacity telehandlers, rotating models |
| Agriculture | Feed handling, bale moving, silage work | Compact telehandlers, log grapple |
| Utilities | Pole setting, transformer placement, line work | Rotating telehandlers, winch attachments |
| Municipal | Roadside maintenance, sign installation, debris removal | Compact electric models, box winch |
| Forestry | Log handling, site clearing, timber management | Log grapple, tire handler, heavy-duty units |
This sector-based organization allows contractors to focus on the zones that match their own operations, making efficient use of limited time at the show.
Telehandler Technology on Display: Machines and Capabilities
Merlo will showcase a broad range of telehandler models at Merlo City, spanning the full spectrum from compact urban machines to high-capacity rotating units. The lineup reflects broader trends in the equipment industry toward greater versatility, electrification, and operator comfort.
High-Capacity and Rotating Telehandlers
High-capacity telehandlers form the backbone of heavy material handling on large construction sites. These machines offer lifting capacities exceeding 10,000 pounds with reach heights that allow operators to place loads on upper floors of buildings under construction.
Rotating telehandlers add an additional degree of freedom. The cab and boom rotate independently of the chassis, allowing the operator to place loads without repositioning the entire machine. This capability is especially valuable on congested jobsites and for utility work where space is limited. The combination of rotation with high lift capacity makes these machines suitable for tasks that would otherwise require a crane.
Compact and Electric Units for Urban and Indoor Work
Urban construction sites present unique challenges: tight access points, noise restrictions, and emissions regulations. Compact telehandlers address these constraints with smaller footprints and tighter turning radii. Electric models take this further by eliminating exhaust emissions and reducing noise to near-silent operation.
Key advantages of compact electric telehandlers include:
- Zero emissions for indoor and enclosed site work
- Reduced noise levels for residential area compliance
- Lower maintenance requirements compared to diesel engines
- Immediate torque delivery for precise load placement
- Suitability for applications where ventilation is limited
These units are well suited for renovation projects, tunnel work, and municipal maintenance where environmental considerations increasingly influence equipment selection. For builders looking at how construction practices are adapting across different project types, the principles discussed in Learning From Building Experience Shared Know How highlight how practical knowledge drives better equipment choices.
Attachment Versatility: Expanding the Telehandler
A telehandler is only as useful as the attachments it can carry. Merlo City will showcase a range of attachments that transform the telehandler from a simple lifting machine into a multi-purpose material handling tool.
- Tire handler Enables safe removal and installation of large tires on earthmoving equipment, reducing manual handling risks.
- Log grapple Allows the telehandler to grip and transport logs and timber, serving forestry and land clearing operations.
- Box winch Provides controlled pulling and tensioning capability for utility and municipal applications.
- Carriage with fork positioners Standard pallet handling with hydraulic fork adjustment for precise load engagement.
- Work platform Converts the telehandler into an elevated work platform for overhead tasks at height.
The ability to switch between these attachments quickly on the jobsite reduces equipment idle time and means one machine can perform the work of several dedicated tools.
Attachments Avenue: An Interactive Approach to Equipment Education
One of the most talked about features of Merlo City is Attachments Avenue, an interactive zone where attendees can test their knowledge of attachment selection and material handling scenarios. Through a game-style experience, visitors work through realistic jobsite challenges and choose the right attachment for each task.
How the Interactive Experience Works
Participants at Attachments Avenue are presented with a series of material handling scenarios based on real construction challenges. For each scenario, they select the appropriate attachment from a range of options. The interactive format turns equipment education into an engaging exercise that reinforces practical decision-making skills.
Scenario examples that participants might encounter include:
- Moving pallets of brick on a congested residential build site which attachment provides the best reach and precision?
- Removing large tires from a scraper fleet in a maintenance yard does the tire handler attachment fit this machine model?
- Clearing timber from a land development site is the log grapple the right choice, or would a different approach work better?
- Setting utility poles along a highway right-of-way what combination of rotation and winch capability is required?
This hands-on learning approach helps contractors and operators build confidence in attachment selection before they commit to purchases. The same kind of informed decision-making applies to other construction investments, from choosing materials to planning project workflows. Understanding how to integrate new equipment into existing operations is a skill that carries across all building disciplines, much like the principles behind How to Add a Steam Shower Wellness Experience to Any Home require careful selection of components and systems for a successful outcome.
The Racing Simulator Challenge with James Roe
Beyond the equipment displays, Merlo City will feature a racing simulator challenge with INDY NXT driver James Roe. This addition brings an element of motorsport engineering to the construction equipment conversation, highlighting parallels between precision machine control on the racetrack and on the jobsite.
The simulator offers attendees the chance to experience the same focus on control, timing, and spatial awareness that professional drivers rely on. These skills transfer directly to operating telehandlers in tight spaces and challenging conditions.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026: Why This Show Matters for Construction Professionals
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the largest construction trade show in North America, held every three years in Las Vegas. The event gathers equipment manufacturers, contractors, engineers, and industry professionals from across the construction sector for one week of product launches, live demonstrations, and educational sessions.
What Makes CONEXPO-CON/AGG Different from Other Trade Shows
- Scale With over 2 million square feet of exhibit space, the show is large enough to accommodate full-scale equipment demonstrations and immersive exhibits like Merlo City.
- Frequency The three-year cycle means every edition features significant new product introductions and technology leaps that have developed since the last show.
- Audience Attendees include decision-makers from small contracting firms through to multinational construction enterprises, making it a critical networking and procurement event.
- Education The show offers hundreds of educational sessions covering topics from equipment maintenance to construction technology and business management.
- Live demonstrations Unlike static showroom displays, CONEXPO-CON/AGG allows manufacturers to demonstrate equipment under load in realistic conditions.
Planning Your Visit to the Festival Grounds Exhibits
The Festival Grounds at CONEXPO-CON/AGG host some of the largest and most innovative exhibits at the show. These outdoor spaces accommodate equipment that is too large for indoor booths and allow for live operation demonstrations. For attendees planning their show itinerary, allocating sufficient time to the Festival Grounds is essential.
Tips for making the most of your CONEXPO-CON/AGG visit:
- Review the exhibitor list and map before arriving to identify must-see booths and demonstrations
- Wear comfortable footwear the event requires extensive walking between indoor and outdoor venues
- Bring business cards and prepare specific questions for manufacturers about equipment specifications and pricing
- Attend educational sessions that align with your specialization to gain insights you can apply immediately
- Take notes and photos of equipment configurations that could solve challenges on your current projects
The construction industry continues to evolve, with equipment manufacturers pushing toward greater efficiency, reduced emissions, and improved operator experience. Events like CONEXPO-CON/AGG and exhibits like Merlo City give contractors the opportunity to see where the industry is heading and make informed decisions about their equipment investments. The same forward-looking thinking that drives innovation in material handling also applies to structural and material innovations across the building sector, as seen in the developments discussed in U S Tall Wood Building Prize Opens Doors.
Making the Most of Telehandler Technology on Your Projects
Whether you attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG in person or follow the launches remotely, the innovations showcased at Merlo City have practical implications for how you approach material handling on your jobsites. Telehandler technology is moving toward greater specialization, with machines and attachments that address specific sector needs rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions.
Key takeaways for contractors evaluating telehandler options include the importance of matching machine capabilities to your most common applications, considering electric or compact models for urban and indoor work, investing in a range of attachments to maximize machine utilization, and staying informed about industry events and product developments. The Merlo City exhibit represents a shift in how manufacturers communicate with the construction industry moving from product specifications toward application-based education that helps contractors make better purchasing and operational decisions.