Integrated Solutions and Smarter Controls to be Highlights at CONEXPO 2026
Key Highlights
- Brianna Henderson of Bailey International provides insights into the technological trends she expects to see showcased at CONEXPO 2026.
- The shift toward development of fully integrated solutions as well as smarter controls are expected to be among the key highlights from hydraulics and construction equipment manufacturers.
- Automation and electrification remain important design trends with a greater focus now being placed on real-world results.
Hydraulic component and system designs for mobile equipment applications continue to advance to meet evolving performance requirements. And there will be no better place to see these advancements than CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, one of the largest events for the construction equipment industry and the various technology suppliers to it, including the fluid power sector.
Among the technology themes Brianna Henderson, Senior Marketing Manager at Bailey International, expects to see at this year’s CONEXPO is the shift toward more fully integrated solutions as well as advancements in smarter controls.
Both fit in with the trend she sees in the industry of simplifying the equipment experience for both machine OEMs and end-users.
Power & Motion spoke with Henderson about these and other trends she anticipates will be on display at CONEXPO 2026 as well as some of the desired technological features construction equipment manufacturers are looking for in their hydraulic systems.
*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?
Brianna Henderson: We’re most looking forward to seeing firsthand how the industry is shifting from individual components to fully integrated solutions. The real innovations are usually the integrations that reduce downtime, simplify service, and make equipment more dependable in the real world.
Power & Motion: What do you think will be some of the biggest themes or technological trends exhibited at this year’s show?
Brianna Henderson: Personally, I believe we’ll see a lot of focus on smarter controls and, overall, simplifying the equipment experience for both manufacturers and operators.
Power & Motion: 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?
Brianna Henderson: Automation and electrification are still important, but lately the conversation is getting more realistic and targeted. OEMs are moving past trend-chasing and focusing on what actually improves performance and holds up under real jobsite conditions.
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 your company and its customers in the construction equipment and other mobile equipment applications?
Brianna Henderson: Yes, electrification is still important, but it’s becoming more geared toward where it truly delivers value. In heavy-duty mobile equipment, electrohydraulic systems remain essential for both power density and precision, and our focus at Bailey is on helping customers build dependable solutions that can actually be supported in the field.
Power & Motion: Are you able to share what themes or technology areas your company will be showcasing at its CONEXPO booth this year?
Brianna Henderson: At CONEXPO 2026, we’re looking forward to showing how integrated hydraulic and electronic solutions can reduce downtime and complexity in real-world equipment. We’ll be debuting a new proprietary cylinder line and highlighting our expanded work truck solutions, with an interactive booth experience that brings our technologies together.
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?
Brianna Henderson: OEMs are looking for hydraulic solutions that are reliable at scale, configurable without becoming complicated, and backed by fast, responsive support. They want systems that are easier to build, easier to maintain, and designed to keep equipment running when it matters most. And that’s exactly what Bailey is committed to supporting.
Power & Motion: How do you see the use of hydraulics in construction equipment continuing to evolve in the next 5 years?
Brianna Henderson: No doubt hydraulics will remain foundational in construction equipment, but I think we’ll see an evolution through tighter integration with electronic controls. The future is less about replacing hydraulics and more about making hydraulic systems more efficient, more diagnosable, and more serviceable to protect increasingly precious uptime in the field.
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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