Automation and Electronic Control to be Key Themes at CONEXPO 2026
Key Highlights
- Bosch Rexroth’s Enrique Busquets offers his insights into the trends that will be showcased at CONEXPO 2026 and what he looks forward to seeing at the show.
- Technologies aimed at increasing construction equipment productivity, including automation and electronic control, are expected to be key highlights.
- System optimization and enhanced safety technology developments are also expected as these are areas in which many construction equipment OEMs are focusing their design efforts.
Hydraulics remain integral to the functionality of construction equipment and other mobile off-highway machinery. As such, hydraulic components and systems will be a key technology area of interest at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 — a large construction industry event taking place March 3-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Each edition of CONEXPO, which takes place every 3 years, provides a look at the technologies and trends shaping the construction equipment industry as well as the hydraulics and other components utilized in these machines.
Want more CONEXPO-related content? Visit our dedicated CONEXPO 2026 page featuring additional Q&As with hydraulics companies that will be at the show, news about about the show and other content related to one of the biggest events for the construction equipment and fluid power industries.
To get a sense of what trends are likely to be showcased at CONEXPO 2026, Power & Motion spoke with Enrique Busquets, Vice President Mobile Hydraulics at Bosch Rexroth, to learn what he expects to see from the hydraulics sector at this year’s show as well as how hydraulic systems for construction equipment are continuing to evolve.
*Editor's note: Questions and responses have been edited for clarity.
Power & Motion: What are some of the technologies or other aspects you are most looking forward to seeing at CONEXPO 2026?
Enrique Busquets: I’m looking forward to seeing technologies that simplify the implementation of advanced functionalities and bring significant impact to our customers, including technologies like electronic controlled pumps (eOC/eCC) that enable better pump control; modular control valves that enable high precision and efficiency (RM/RS); and electronic systems (sensors, controllers and joysticks) that enable machine automation and safety improvement (BODAS). I believe these three factors have a positive impact on the machine’s productivity.
Power & Motion: What do you think will be some of the biggest themes or technological trends exhibited at this year’s show? Are there new trends entering the hydraulics and construction equipment industries that are likely to be showcased, or will it be some of the same trends we’ve seen over the years such as automation and electrification?
Enrique Busquets: Automation and electronically controlled systems are likely to be large themes this year. Specifically, automation suites that enable assistance and automated functions that enhance worksite safety.
Like Bosch Rexroth’s BODAS Portfolio, I also see electronically controlled systems that dynamically adjust machine behavior based on machine cycles to trend this year. Rexroth’s portfolio includes eOC/eCC as well as RM/RS valves.
Power & Motion: Electrification has been a dominant trend in recent years, but seems to have cooled some in the past year or so. Is electrification still an important development area for Bosch Rexroth and its customers in the construction equipment and other mobile equipment applications?
Enrique Busquets: Yes. Bosch Rexroth has core competence and extensive know-how in electric motors, and we are actively working to bring these solutions to the off-highway market. We understand that electrification introduction for this segment [in] the U.S. market is undergoing an “ROI phase,” meaning that customers are actively working to reduce machine cost to reach a better business case.
Several product technologies are evolving in the electrification market, and soon we should reach a reasonable ROI (return on investment). This is a very strong trend and movement in our industry in other developed economies around the world, and Bosch Rexroth is ready to provide solutions for all machine manufacturers.
Power & Motion: Are you able to share what themes or technology areas Bosch Rexroth will be showcasing at its CONEXPO booth this year?
Enrique Busquets: Bosch Rexroth will be showcasing many products and solutions at Booth S-80245 this year, including:
- Electronic Open Circuit Pumps – eOC
- Efficient Axial Piston Motors – A2FM
- Modular Mobile Control Valve – RM
- Electronic Joysticks
- Rexroth Freedom Flow – Graphic environment to program electronic controllers.
Power & Motion: What are some of the features or capabilities OEMs in the construction equipment market are looking for currently from their hydraulic components and systems?
Enrique Busquets: We see two main evolving themes -
System optimization: OEMs are looking for more efficient components but are also open to new ways to optimize the machine operation via electronics. As an example, in certain cases you can remove a self-leveling valve using an inertia sensor and a closed loop control system [connected] directly to the hydraulic valve.
Enhanced Safety: OEMs are also looking for technologies that enable their machine to reach higher safety levels, i.e., safety controllers, and safety systems that bring more safety for operators/machines/pedestrians on the job site. As one example of such technology, our Collision Avoidance System (CAS) detects pedestrians or objects in the trajectory of the machine and [sends] alerts to the operator in case of critical situations — eventually, it can stop the machine before the collision.
Power & Motion: How do you see the use of hydraulics in construction equipment continuing to evolve in the next 5 years?
Enrique Busquets: Hydraulics are one of the core technologies for off-highway machines, and we at Bosch Rexroth believe that this will remain the case for many applications for the foreseeable future. We believe that new technologies like electronic controls and electric motors will complement and enhance the overall machine efficiency, productivity and operation — either by hydraulic hardware simplification (complex logic being executed via software) or enabling the hydraulic component to operate in the most efficient zone for a giving operation.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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