The National Pavement Expo (NPE) has long served as the premier gathering for professionals in the pavement maintenance and construction industries. The 2013 edition, held at the Nashville Convention Center, introduced significant format changes and showcased important equipment innovations that continue to influence how contractors approach their work today. Understanding what NPE 2013 delivered helps pavement professionals appreciate how trade shows drive industry progress and how equipment developments from this era shaped modern sweeping and maintenance operations. For those looking to deepen their knowledge of pavement fundamentals, Asphalt Pavement Engineering Mix Design Construction Methods Rehabilitation provides comprehensive coverage of the underlying principles that every pavement contractor should understand.
Key Format Changes at the 2013 National Pavement Expo
The 2013 National Pavement Expo marked a turning point in how the event structured its programming. For the first time in the show’s history, organizers opened the exhibit floor on the first day of the conference, responding directly to feedback from both exhibitors and attendees who wanted earlier access to the products and services on display.
Extended Exhibit Floor Access
Historically, the first day of NPE had been reserved entirely for conference sessions, emphasizing the show’s strength in educational programming. The 2013 schedule changed this tradition by introducing a two-hour evening preview on January 23. This adjustment allowed attendees to begin exploring the exhibit floor immediately after the afternoon seminar sessions, making more efficient use of their time at the event.
The revised schedule for NPE 2013 included the following structure:
- Morning workshops Three-hour intensive sessions on January 23 covering specialized topics
- Afternoon seminars Ten 90-minute educational sessions running until 4:30 p.m.
- Evening exhibit preview Exhibit floor open from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on opening day
- Full exhibit days Thursday and Friday, January 24 and 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday conference Full educational programming on January 26 with no exhibit hours
Relocated Industry Roundtables
To accommodate the new exhibit floor schedule, NPE organizers moved the popular Industry Roundtables from Wednesday to Thursday and Friday. These roundtables had become a staple of the NPE experience, offering contractors a chance to discuss real-world challenges with peers in an informal setting. The schedule change ensured these discussions would not conflict with exhibit hours, allowing attendees to participate in both without compromise.
New Question-and-Answer Booth
Another notable addition to NPE 2013 was a dedicated question-and-answer booth on the exhibit floor. This booth gave contractors direct access to NPE speakers and Pavement Advisory Board members for informal consulting. The service was available Friday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., providing attendees with personalized advice on problems specific to their operations.
The Q&A booth concept addressed a common gap at trade shows where attendees hear presentations but cannot always ask the follow-up questions most relevant to their business. By creating a dedicated space for these interactions, NPE 2013 strengthened the link between educational content and practical application.
Elgin Sweeper and Challenger Manufacturing Partnership
One of the most significant product announcements at NPE 2013 came from Elgin Sweeper Company, a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation. The company announced a marketing agreement with Challenger Manufacturing Ltd. of Winnipeg, Canada, to distribute a mechanical broom sweeper under the Elgin Sweeper brand name across North America. This partnership brought together Elgin’s established distribution network with Challenger’s manufacturing expertise to fill a specific gap in the sweeper market.
The Elgin Broom Badger Specifications
The resulting machine, the Elgin Broom Badger, was designed as a dual-engine sweeper mounted on an Isuzu NRR 19,500 lb. Class 5 cabover chassis. Notably, the Broom Badger did not require a commercial driver’s license to operate, making it accessible to a broader range of crew members. Key specifications included:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chassis | Isuzu NRR Class 5 cabover |
| Wheelbase | 109 inches |
| Hopper capacity | 4.15 cubic yards (variable to 10 feet) |
| Hydraulic system | Variable displacement, load sense piston pump |
| Auxiliary engine | Tier 4i Kubota 59-horsepower diesel |
| License requirement | None (no CDL needed) |
The compact, low-profile design with a tight turning radius made the Broom Badger suitable for applications where full-size sweepers would be impractical. Brian Giles, Elgin Sweeper’s sweeper products manager at the time, emphasized that the machine offered the same efficient cleaning system found in larger Elgin models while being appropriate for smaller sweeping tasks.
Market Implications for Contractors
The introduction of the Broom Badger reflected a broader industry trend toward right-sized equipment that matched specific operational needs rather than forcing crews to use oversized machines for every job. For pavement maintenance contractors, this meant several practical advantages:
- Lower operating costs Smaller engines and reduced fuel consumption compared to full-size sweepers
- Broader crew availability No CDL requirement expanded the pool of qualified operators
- Improved maneuverability Tight turning radius enabled work in confined spaces such as parking lots and urban streets
- Reduced maintenance burden Simpler systems with fewer components requiring regular service
Contractors interested in the full range of pavement removal and preparation equipment should review Tearing Up the Pavement Modern Cold Milling and, which covers complementary technologies that work alongside sweeping operations.
Leadership Changes at Schwarze Industries
NPE 2013 also served as the platform for Schwarze Industries to announce significant leadership changes. The Huntsville, Alabama-based manufacturer of sweeping equipment appointed Howard May as president, bringing over three decades of industrial manufacturing and operations management experience to the role.
Executive Appointments and Strategic Direction
May had been on assignment at Schwarze since November 2011, previously serving as vice president of operations at Bush Hog, Schwarze’s sister company based in Selma, Alabama. His appointment was part of a broader management restructuring that included two additional key appointments:
- Greg Heyer Appointed vice president of sales and marketing, bringing commercial leadership to expand Schwarze’s market presence
- Kevin Lozen Appointed plant manager, overseeing manufacturing operations and production quality
Jeff Leonard, executive vice president at Alamo Group Inc. (Schwarze’s parent company), noted that May had made an immediately positive impact since arriving at Schwarze. The leadership changes signaled Schwarze’s commitment to strengthening its operations and competitive position in the sweeping equipment market.
What Leadership Stability Means for Pavement Contractors
For pavement maintenance contractors, leadership transitions at major equipment manufacturers can signal shifts in product direction, warranty policies, and parts availability. When experienced industry professionals like May take leadership roles, the result is often improved product reliability and better customer support. Contractors who Pavement Construction professionals should pay attention to these management changes as they often precede new product releases and improved service offerings.
Educational Value of Trade Shows for Pavement Professionals
Beyond the specific announcements made at NPE 2013, the event itself demonstrated why industry trade shows remain essential for pavement maintenance professionals. The format changes introduced in 2013 reflected a deliberate effort to maximize the educational return for attendees while preserving the hands-on access to equipment that makes these events valuable.
Balancing Education and Exposition
The NPE 2013 schedule represented a careful balance between classroom-style learning and practical equipment evaluation. Contractors could attend workshops in the morning, seminars in the early afternoon, and then walk the exhibit floor to see the concepts demonstrated on actual machines. This integrated approach to learning and hands-on evaluation provided several benefits:
- Immediate application Concepts learned in educational sessions could be explored on the exhibit floor the same day
- Peer networking Roundtables allowed contractors to compare notes on equipment performance before making purchasing decisions
- Expert access The Q&A booth gave attendees direct access to industry specialists who could address specific operational challenges
- Efficient time use Extended evening hours on opening day allowed attendees to cover more ground without sacrificing educational content
Applying Trade Show Knowledge to Daily Operations
The equipment and management strategies showcased at NPE 2013 remain relevant to modern pavement maintenance operations. The trend toward compact, specialized equipment that the Broom Badger exemplified has only accelerated. Contractors who understand the relationship between equipment selection, maintenance practices, and pavement longevity are better positioned to deliver quality results. Understanding common pavement deterioration patterns as described in Flexible Pavement Failures helps contractors connect equipment choices to long-term pavement performance outcomes.
Building a Professional Development Strategy
Successful pavement contractors treat trade shows as part of a larger professional development strategy. The NPE 2013 model offers lessons that still apply:
- Review the educational schedule before attending and prioritize sessions that address current operational challenges
- Allocate specific time blocks for both education and exhibit hall exploration
- Prepare specific questions for manufacturers and speakers to make the most of Q&A opportunities
- Network with peers during roundtables and social events to learn from others’ experiences
- Follow up on equipment demonstrations with targeted research and comparison shopping
The format innovations introduced at NPE 2013, from the early exhibit floor access to the Q&A booth, reflected an industry adapting to the needs of its professionals. Contractors who engage with these events strategically gain knowledge that directly improves their operations, equipment selections, and ultimately the quality of the pavement they deliver to their clients.