The World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo hosted its first-ever St. Louis show with resounding success. From March 25-27, more than 11,500 industry professionals gathered at the America’s Center Convention Complex to explore the latest innovations, network with peers, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Gateway City.
More than half (59%) of total attendees were under the age of 45, reflecting the positive future of the industry. Additionally, 10% of attendees were women, underscoring this growing segment of the industry. Visitors traveled from across the country and abroad, some traveling as far as Australia, England, Argentina, and Mexico to take part in the leading asphalt and aggregates trade show and conference, including a special delegation from Nigeria.
The 2025 event featured a record amount of square footage, demonstrating the growth in cutting-edge equipment and technologies from exhibitors. The exhibit floor spanned more than 230,000 square feet of the America’s Center Convention Complex; a roughly 23,000-foot-increase compared to the 2024 event in Nashville, Tennessee.
“This success is a direct result of the collaboration and hard work of all our partners, exhibitors, and staff,” said World of Asphalt Show Director Brittany Schmidtke. “The momentum and growth in the asphalt and aggregates industry is evident by what we saw exhibited on the show floor and ultimately provided a richer experience for our attendees.”
Attendees engaged in more than 120 educational sessions through the People, Plants, and Paving & AGG1 Academy. These conferences covered a wide range of topics essential to the asphalt and aggregates industries.
Lucas Evett with Rose Paving, experienced his first World of Asphalt and AGG1, and said the education sessions are something every attendee should participate in.
“It’s worth it. It’s going to help progress your business, how you interact with people and the day-to-day operations.”
A few of the most popular sessions included “Lean Principles: It’s About People, Process & Change,” “Unleashing the Power of Intentional Leadership: Leading Yourself to Lead Others”, “Autonomous Quarry Trucks 101”, “Extreme Ownership for Business and Life”, “Laydown Best Practices”, and “Compaction 101: Doing the Right Things, the Right Way.”
Jarid Mounce, with Arco Excavation Paving, encouraged future attendees to take in the education sessions.
“Do it, it’s worth it,“ said Mounce. “It’s very helpful, especially if you’re starting off in asphalt. I was expecting to walk in and be like, ‘I already know that’. But I realized really fast there was a lot more to asphalt than just laying it down and rolling it.“
“Boosted by a significant expansion in exhibit space, we’re proud to have executed another tremendous World of Asphalt with our partner, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), as well as the highly valued and well-attended People, Plants, and Paving Conference that drives industry innovation and crew expertise,“ said Audrey Copeland, Ph.D., P.E., President & CEO of NAPA, the majority show owner. “After a year off for CONEXPO/CON-AGG in 2026, we’re excited to bring World of Asphalt to New Orleans in 2027!”
One of the highlights of the show was the new Community Zone, which provided a dedicated space for attendees to relax, work, and network. The Community Zone quickly became a favorite spot, fostering connections and creating a sense of camaraderie among participants.
Attendee Matthew Dekoeyer, United Sales Representatives, said the Community Zone offered him the perfect space to take a break.
“Yesterday, I did 20,000 steps,“ said Dekoeyer. “So having a central spot for everyone to relax a little bit, you have no idea how big of a benefit that is for everyone. I got to sit down and make calls to customers because business is obviously still ongoing during the show. The asphalt plants are still running, so this is good.”
Speakers at the Community Zone included Marvin Joles with Blacktop Banter, who presented tips for maintaining a successful business as well as Ashley Baston who presented on the Women of Asphalt.
“The 2025 AGG1 and World of Asphalt show offered the increased ability for exhibitors and attendees to connect – from the Community Zone area, to the larger show floor space and media one-on-one opportunities,“ said Michele Stanley, interim CEO of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. “Every year the event becomes better with new innovations and updates. We are proud to offer our NSSGA members this unique meeting environment so they can continue to reach their own business goals.“
In addition to the bustling exhibit floor and educational sessions, attendees enjoyed the Rock & Road Reception. The relaxed atmosphere allowed for networking on the show floor on Wednesday evening. It featured live music, mascots from the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues, and treats from roaming characters.
Ashleigh Pinson said the flow of people through the ShoulderMaster booth kept her company busy throughout the show.
“I think it was the location that drew a lot of people here,“ said Pinson. “I think the quality of clients that are coming through, they’re serious and they know what they want. We still leave exhausted at the end of each day, but it’s exciting. We are living on adrenaline at the moment.”
For the second year in a row, Raised on Blacktop and World of Asphalt collaborated to host a sold-out kick-off party. Also sponsored by LeeBoy, Portable Lighting Solutions, Wirtgen, and XBroom, the event brought together nearly 400 asphalt professionals at Busch Stadium, the iconic home to the St. Louis Cardinals, to build relationships and excitement the night before the show’s opening.
New in 2025, 21 exhibiting companies participated in the Media Matchup. This event, held Tuesday night in the newsroom, provided a laid-back atmosphere for exhibitors to engage with media members and present their company’s new innovations or equipment in the industry.
Exhibitors unveiled new products, partnerships and advancements at a record 19 press events.
Volvo Construction Equipment showcased enhancements to its soil and asphalt compaction product lines with upgrades to multiple models and a forthcoming electric model. The company unveiled updates to the SD75 and SD45 soil compactors and the PT125 pneumatic tire roller aimed at enhancing safety, serviceability and the user interface for operators. Show attendees also got the first look at a DD15 Electric asphalt compactor.
IntelliShift unveiled its advanced asset-tracking technology. The system allows companies to monitor equipment location, track utilization and idle time, and mitigate theft and misuse.
XBE announced the acquisition of PriceBee, an emerging provider of construction material price, quote, and order capabilities. In addition, XBE also announced the release of Giant Anchor, a market-focused project pricing platform that increases confidence about the profitable deal range and profit-optimizing price for every bid.
Metso unveiled the Nordberg® HPe™ range expansion and aftermarket kits for the new HPe range. The company also celebrated a major milestone, the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking Lokotrack® mobile crushers.
“It does seem like this industry innovates a lot,“ said Andy O’Brien with the Santa Barbara Public Works Department. “They’re always pushing for something better, how to do it more efficiently and faster. It’s all about fuel and raw materials. The more you can save doing that, especially as a government agency, we have to look at that. I think it’s great.”
Running concurrently with AGG1 was the NSSGA Annual Convention, which featured the announcement of the 2025 NSSGA Leadership including Board Chair Ted Baker, II of Blue Water Industries and the presentation of the Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award to Ward Nye of Martin Marietta. The Annual Membership Meeting keynote was a moderated discussion by football legend Archie Manning.
On the final day of the show, Women of Asphalt celebrated the second annual Women of Asphalt Day. Women and allies from across the country participated in special programming and networking activities.
“We’ve talked to a lot of women,“ says Silver Shark Construction’s Trish Morris, who’s opening an Oklahoma Chapter of Women of Asphalt. “A lot of men have come by and grabbed our cards so they can get their team members signed up. I think it’s great they’re willing to take that step and get their ladies involved as well, even if they’re not here.”
World of Asphalt and AGG1 returns in 2027 when the show travels to New Orleans, March 15-17, 2027.
