Excavators, combines, forklifts and other mobile off-highway equipment are becoming more automated, electrified and digitized to help improve productivity and efficiency for machine owners.

The continual evolution of these machines is bringing a range of technological developments to the sector, much of which will be highlighted at iVT Expo USA 2026. This annual event has grown to become one of the events to attend if you design off-highway machinery or technology used in these machines.

I remember attending the first U.S. edition in 2022 — the show originated in Europe a few years prior and continues to host a show there in the spring each year — and although that one was small, even at that time it felt different. I recall many people I spoke to at that show were happy with the conversations they were having with others.

iVT Expo USA has since grown larger, but that sentiment has remained with each edition.

What makes this event different from the many I’ve attended throughout my career is the fact that it is focused on the engineers and the information they need to design the next generation of mobile equipment.  

To provide this, the show features a mix of conference sessions and tradeshow geared toward this engineering audience. Conference sessions offer opportunities to learn about trends and design initiatives occurring within the industry while the exhibit floor allows attendees to see in person the technologies they may be interested in using within their own designs.

And while the show has continued to grow, it remains a manageable size, making it easier to attend sessions and walk the exhibit floor — which is not always feasible at larger industry tradeshows where there is so much to see and take in.

What to Expect at iVT Expo USA 2026

During iVT Expo USA 2026, attendees have the chance to learn about technology trends in the off-highway equipment industry and see the solutions being developed to meet these trends.

The exhibition portion of iVT Expo USA, called the iVT Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo, showcases the wide range of technologies engineers may be spec’ing for their machine designs.

Technology categories on display will include:

• Power & Propulsion such as batteries, electric motors, pumps and transmission systems
• Automation & Control such as electronic control units (ECUs), sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity solutions
• Operator Experience & Safety such as displays, vision systems, acoustics and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) products
• Mechanical & Hydraulic Systems such as actuators, hydraulic motors, and thermal systems
• Materials & Electrical Components such as connectors, wiring, electronics and production materials
• Design & Engineering such as software and development tools

The exhibit floor will now also include the New Product Showcase, a dedicated area where new technologies for off-highway equipment will be displayed.

Conference Sessions to Highlight AI, Electrification, Automation and Other Design Trends for Off-Highway Equipment

iVT Expo USA 2026 will also include an extensive conference program aimed at updating attendees on the trends shaping current and future off-highway equipment designs.

On August 19, the show kicks off with three plenary sessions comprised of panel discussions with industry experts to discuss topics including autonomy in off-highway equipment and technology opportunities in military vehicles.

The plenary session I’m most interested in that day is a panel discussion led by The National Fluid Power Association’s (NFPA) president and CEO Eric Lanke entitled “AI-Enabled and Automated Machines: Current OEM Needs and Hydraulic Solutions.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days it seems, and its use with fluid power systems — which are integral to the operation of off-highway machines — is still evolving. So I’ll be interested to hear what the panelists for this session, all of whom come from different areas within the hydraulics industry, have to say about how AI is influencing fluid power and machine designs.

After the plenary sessions, the iVT Off-Highway Evolution Conference kicks off with an afternoon filled with sessions focused on electrification and alternative fuels. These topic areas remain critical to the development of off-highway equipment as machine owners continue to look for ways to reduce their operational costs as well as their impact on the environment.

Then on August 20, conference sessions will be divided into two topic areas:

• Architecture, Autonomy and Digitalization
• HMI, UX, In-Cabin Ergonomics and Security.

These sessions will cover topics ranging from safety sensors for enabling autonomy, communication architectures, and design factors to consider when developing human machine interface (HMI) and user experience (UX) solutions.

The NFPA is back this year as a show partner, and is once again hosting its Advanced Hydraulics Conference as part of iVT Expo USA 2026. These sessions provide a look at the latest technological developments taking place within the hydraulics industry for mobile machinery applications.

Like the machines into which they are integrated, hydraulic component and system designs are also being influenced by electrification, automation, and other industry trends, all of which will be highlighted in this year’s sessions.

There will certainly be a lot of great insights to gain on the mobile equipment industry at iVT Expo USA 2026 which I’m looking forward to sharing with Power & Motion’s readers in the weeks ahead so you can stay on top of this important customer market.