The Utility Expo is a massive congregation of Utility Construction Professionals from all 50 states and over 60 different countries spanning various areas of the infrastructure sector. It’s a three day event held every other year in early October, sometimes late September at the Kentucky International Fair and Expo Center. The Utility Expo spans 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space including both indoor and outdoor displays of machinery and equipment. In 2025 The Utility Expo brought in 22,600 attendees, up from 21,000 attendees during the previous show in 2023. Utility Professionals and Construction Contractors have the ability to engage with more than 900 unique vendors and manufacturers ranging in areas of utility construction and infrastructure management.
Being that this was my first time visiting The Utility Expo in person the first thing that I almost immediately took note of was how big everything was. When you first walk into the outdoor exhibit space you are greeted by cranes and buckets that are seemingly touching the sky. In years past I’ve ridden past the expo space and I could see some of the displays from the expressway but you really don’t get a sense of just how large some of the equipment is until you’re there in person looking up at it.
Hilti
From the standpoint of tools, storage and organization are clearly all of the rage at this point. Each and every manufacturer prominently displayed either an expansion of their existing modular storage systems or they premiered a new one. Hilti was one of those manufacturers premiering their initial storage offering ProKit. Up close the system is even more impressive than what you get from various images online. The look and feel are on par for what we’ve come to expect from Hilti. The only thing that may be a bit desirable is the adaptability of the system over the long haul.
Makita
Makita had a pretty impressive display. I think they could consider putting a little more effort into displaying and promoting trade specific tools at various trade shows. Having traveled to at least seven other tool focused trade shows in the past year I can say that Makita only really jazzes things up at World of Concrete.
Milwaukee
Needless to say I spent more than a fair share of my time in and around the Milwaukee booth on all three days. DeWalt didn’t have a presence at the event so that just meant that I spent double the amount of time that I normally would visiting with the team from Milwaukee. This turned out to be ideal since we are coming right off of their Pipeline Event just a few weeks ago. Many of the new products that Milwaukee premiered at that event made a showing at the Utility Expo giving me a first hand look at a variety of solutions.
The absolute star of the show for Milwaukee was the M18 Branch Conduit Bender. Though this isn’t the first time that it’s been seen out in the wild it was the first time that I had the opportunity to watch it in action up close. To say that this thing is anything short of amazing would be a flat out lie. This is going to change the way that conduit is bent into form from now on. I anticipate many copies of this to come to fruition over the coming years but we will all remember where we were when we saw the phenomenon take shape.
M18 FUEL™ BRANCH CONDUIT BENDER w/ AUTO-ZERO™
5150-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/5150-20
1” EMT / 3/4” RMC Conduit Bending Shoe
49-16-0001
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/49-16-0001
1/2” EMT Conduit Bending Shoe
49-16-0012
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/49-16-0012
3/4” EMT / 1/2” RMC Conduit Bending Shoe
49-16-0034
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/49-16-0034
The 366 piece Master Mechanics set has been on the horizon for what seems like forever. As a matter of fact I believe it was first presented at either Pipeline 2024 or SEMA 2024. Regardless, it’s been well over a year and the hype surrounding this product offering has been intense pretty much the entire time. The setup looked amazing in several videos online but once you get to touch and feel the setup you’ll quickly gain a newfound appreciation for it.
366pc. Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set with PACKOUT™ Drawers and Dolly
48-22-9495
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/48-22-9495
Staying in the lane of more automotive specific applications the newly released M18 HotShot Jump Starter is an absolute game changer. Having been on the market for just a handful of months thus far the excitement around this product has stayed relatively high and consistent. The time it takes to jump start an automotive battery is best in class. Basically the Hot Shot Jump Starter is easily in a class of its own with competitors far-far behind.
M18™ HOTSHOT™ Jump Starter
3841-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/3841-20
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 750 MCM Dieless Crimper
2877-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2877-20
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 11T Dieless Latched Linear Utility Crimper
2876-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2876-20
1/4″ – 7/8″ Streamline® ACR Pivoting Press Ring Kit for M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tool
49-16-2661MX
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/49-16-2661mx
M18 FUEL™ Covered Conductor Cable Stripper
2937-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2937-20
M18 FUEL™ Covered Conductor Cable Stripper Kit w/ Adjustable Bushings
2937-21
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2937-21
I purchased my 1-3/4 SDS Max almost exactly three years ago and I must say that it is my favorite tool that I don’t get to use very often at all. It’s one of those tools that you won’t reach for it but a couple of times in a given year but each time you find yourself needing it you’ll be relieved to have it available. It’s made easy work out of tasks that are literally back breaking. I was eager to see the latest, greatest version of what I already have and Milwaukee had both the 1-3/4″ as well as the 1-9/16 versions on full display. They also premiered a brand new Ground Rod Driver that makes that task much simpler by eliminating the weight on the user and instead placing it on the tool itself. It might be a handful of months before the SDS Max Rotary Hammers are available but when they arrive they will be very well received.
M18 FUEL™ 1-9/16″ SDS Max Rotary Hammer w/ ONE-KEY™
2917-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2917-20
M18 FUEL™ 1-3/4″ SDS MAX Rotary Hammer w/ ONE-KEY™
2918-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2918-20
SDS Max Side Load Ground Rod Driver
48-62-4070
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/48-62-4070
The Electrofusion Processor looks like something straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Upon further investigation you’ll be quickly educated on just how effective this tool is especially for the tradesmen that it was specifically designed for. In realizing that I would likely never see one of these in the wild I made it a point to get a look at the machine from as many different angles as I possibly could.
MX FUEL™ Electrofusion Processor
MXF545-XC
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/mxf545-xc
At first look this tool looks a bit bulky and very unnecessary. However when you see it in action you’ll quickly realize how necessary and impactful this solution will be in the field as far as quick, clean and straight cuts through small diameter steel tubes. Having done some work in the fabrication space I know just how frustrating it can be to make straight cuts through steel pipe at less than two inches in diameter. Oftentimes securing the work piece and making the cut at the same time creates a decent challenge in ensuring that everything is done up to a certain standard. This tool gives you the ability to get your cuts right every single time. While it may not be necessary for everyone, the ones that do need it and end up using it will be better because of it.
M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in.-1 in. Steel Pipe Cutter (Tool-Only)
3469-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/3469-20
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 5” Underground Cable Cutter w/ Wireless Remote
2875R-21
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2875r-21
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 3” Underground Cable Cutter
2776-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2776-20
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 1590 ACSR Cable Cutter
2777-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2777-20
M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Cable Cutter with 750 MCM Cu Jaws
2672-20
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2672-20
Storage solutions seemingly get more and more important as time goes on. Milwaukee continues to expand upon its commitment to those storage solutions as they have successfully launched a wide range of products that are suited for all working conditions whether they’re stationary or mobile.
PACKOUT™ Rack Kit
48-21-8070
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/48-21-8070
If nothing else happened, Milwaukee definitely made it clear that they still own the tradeshow space in a variety of ways. From live giveaways that keep attendees in their booth for hours at a time to educated and articulate reps that are there to put on a show.
Notable Exhibitors
Case Construction
John Deere
Vermeer
Ditch Witch
CemenTech
Bobcat
Caterpillar
Altec
Badger
GM Envolve
RAM Professional
Klein Tools
Miller Electric Mfg.
Fronius USA
Vanair – A Lincoln Electric Company
Next Show Information
October 5-7, 2027
https://www.theutilityexpo.com
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
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