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More than 47,400 trade professionals gathered in Las Vegas in January 2026 to connect, collaborate, and uncover the new opportunities shaping the future of the concrete construction and masonry industries.

World of Concrete 2026 featured over 1,300 exhibiting companies across an extensive range of categories. It was a showcase for a plethora of new products from multiple manufacturers.

“The ability to engage with our largest audience of end-users, understand market sentiment and seeing projects develop continues to be key at World of Concrete,” says John Paul Marcantonio, President & CEO, Bosch Power Tools North America. “This event is the destination of the year for the industry.”

World of Concrete will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center January 19-21, 2027.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the highlights from 2026:

MAKITA/MARSHALLTOWN

Makita moved into the electric engine product line with the launch of its 40V max XGT motor unit at World of Concrete.

MARSHALLTOWN is the first OEM to install the new Makita 40V max XGT motor unit on one of its products. The Shockwave E40V will be available this summer.

Designed with seamless integration in mind, the XGT Motor Unit provides OEMs with a faster path to electrification.

Rather than pursue the same path as some of their competitors by making their own equipment, Makita chose to leverage its knowledge of motors and battery technology.

“We’re giving OEMs a seamless, ready-to-integrate electrification solution,” said Mario Lopez, director of product development at Makita. “We believe in letting OEMs do what they do best: build great equipment.

Our role is to provide the motor, battery, and charging innovation to help them get to market faster.”

Unlike any other standalone electric motor systems, the XGT Motor Unit is powered by the same 40V max XGT batteries which 170 other existing Makita tools utilize.

The XGT Motor Unit is engineered for drop-in compatibility, with a universal mounting pattern and flexible configuration options for RPM, throttle response, and power switch location.

It supports three industry-standard drive types, such as clutch shaft, straight shaft, and threaded spindle.

In conjunction with Makita’s announcement of its new motor unit, MARSHALLTOWN unveiled its Shockwave E40V Power Screed as the first OEM to utilize the new motor unit on a product.

“People really like battery-operated equipment because you’re not pulling on a choke, which is where a lot of guys end up breaking it,” said Ashley Swanson, director of marketing at MARSHALLTOWN.

The Shockwave E40V is only the second product MARSHALLTOWN has released with battery power. The first, released around 2018, was its battery-operated Spin Screed, also powered by a Makita battery system.

“The gas-powered unit used to be the top seller and now the two run neck and neck, with overall power and torque nearly identical,” Swanson said.

Prior to 2018 she said the company had not really gotten into the battery-operated equipment space. Over the past several years, more customers have been inquiring about battery-operated options as performance has become equivalent and government regulations have tightened on noise and emissions.

“You can’t be inside and have an internal combustion engine,” Swanson said. “You’ve got to allow crews to finish a job within the rules that are being set by the governing bodies.”

She said when Makita came forward with its XGT Motor Unit, it was a good opportunity for collaboration on advancing MARSHALLTOWN’s electrification options.

Based on the new partnership, Swanson admits that more battery-powered equipment is likely in MARSHALLTOWN’s future.

“We’re heading in the right direction, but it all takes time,” she said.

 For now, distributors can reach out to put orders in for the Shockwave E40V Power Screed, which will be officially available later in 2026.

The XGT motor, which replaces anywhere from a 25 CC to 50 CC gas engine, will officially launch in summer 2026 in North America.

Lopez said Makita is active in development of power replacement strategies for different engine classes.

“Depending on what the engine customer needs, we’re going to have that option for them,” he said.

DEWALT

Two additions were made to DEWALT’s POWERSHIFT battery line at World of Concrete, including a 12-inch Cut-Off Saw and a 1 1/8 inch Hex Demolition Hammer.

Several new tools were added to the DEWALT lineup at World of Concrete.

Two additions were made to the POWERSHIFT battery line, including a 12-inch Cut-Off Saw and a 1 1/8 inch Hex Demolition Hammer.

Both tools are set to be released later in 2026 as individual tools or in kits featuring batteries and a charger.

With both devices, operating on a POWERSHIFT battery, users get approximately 30 minutes of runtime on a single battery, or nearly twice of the previous generation of the tool.

In both cases, runtime depends on the application. For example, with the saw, runtime is contingent on the PSI and aggregate of the concrete being cut.

“With two batteries, you’re going to be able to do plenty,” said Bob Hamlin, senior product manager at DEWALT, noting that for a tool like a demo hammer, it would be almost unheard of for someone to be operating continuously for 30 minutes straight.

POWERSHIFT batteries recharge in approximately 50 minutes.

“If you’re getting 30 minutes on a single pack, and the tool is on and off, because you’ve got to remove material or wait for somebody to cut your lines, then you could have, in theory, continuous runtime,” Hamlin said.

In addition, via an adapter, the demo hammer is compatabile with the DEWALT’S FLEXVOLT battery system.

POWERSHIFT batteries have indicator lights to alert operators when it is down to only a 10% charge.

“The biggest thing with these tools is the power and runtime and we’re able to meet or exceed both of those numbers,” Hamlin said.

Engineered with an all-metal housing and barrel, the 1 1/8 inch demolition hammer delivers up to 45 joules of impact energy.

The tool uses the same 1 1/8-inch hex steel connection as the previous model, meaning a simple turn of the mechanism to change accessories.

Featuring DEWALT’s SHOCK active vibration control technology and able to sync with dust extraction tools, the demo hammer performs similar to its corded pneumatic counterparts.

Hamlin noted that DEWALT is calling the POWERSHIFT 12-inch Cut-Off Saw the most powerful cordless cut-off saw in the industry, regardless of power source.

“All units on the market right now are belt driven,” he said. “We are getting no power loss or power transfer from the motor to the blade through direct drive technology.”

Weighing approximately 26 pounds, the saw slices up to eight linear feet up to 4 3/4 inches deep through concrete, rebar, ductile iron and more on a single charge.

Integrated base wheels enable quick adjustments for optimal cutting angles.

Like other DEWALT equipment, the saw includes wireless control with the water tank, so when the trigger is pulled, there is water on demand, and it stops when the trigger is released.

In addition to batteries, the saw kit includes a diamond blade and an abrasive blade.

HUSQVARNA

There was a lot of focus on Husqvarna’s new battery-powered options at World of Concrete 2026.

For Husqvarna, the highlights at World of Concrete 2026 included unveiling of new products such as the the LF 100 PACE forward plate compactor.

Adoption is a bit slower in the United States versus some other countries, but it’s getting to the point where noise and emission regulations are being approved, forcing contractors and therefore distributors, to transition to offering more battery-powered equipment.

“I think in the near future you’re going to be seeing a lot more of that,” said Darrell Engle, North American product manager for Soff-Cut at Husqvarna.

He noted that the general idea for manufacturers is to get more use of the whole battery ecosystem, therefore having as many pieces of equipment as possible that operate from one battery style.

At World of Concrete, the highlights included unveiling of new products such as the the LF 100 PACE forward plate compactor and the Soff-Cut 150 PACE saw.

Combined, contractors can achieve an efficient cut and compact workflow on the same battery platform.

With one battery, under continuous use, operators are still getting approximately 30 minutes of runtime with the LF 100 forward plate compactor. Conversely, with the new saw, operators can get approximately 320 linear feet of cut on a single charge.

Engle said 30 minutes of continuous use of a forward plate compactor is unheard of.

“With that power head, we basically eliminated the engine oil and filter, so technically, our machine is completely maintenance free,” he added. Nothing needs to be changed except for the drive belt.

The compactors share key components with their petrol equivalents, including an optimized bottom plate, sturdy eccentric weight and high engine speed.

Also, the battery-powered forward plate compactors come with gravityfed water tanks and transport wheels. Engle said Husqvarna's Soff-Cut 150 PACE saw also is powered by the 94V PACE battery system.

It is designed for residential and light commercial applications, featuring a patented low noise blade enclosure and a low-dust blade block system allowing the saw to cut dry and control debris for easier cleanup.

Unlike the plate compactors, the battery indicator turns into a load indicator on the saw, giving operators a chance to optimize cutting speeds.

Husqvarna also launched six new 9 and 11 inch scarifier models including electric, battery and gas-powered.

Makinex won World of Concrete’s 2026 Expert’s Choice Innovation Award in the surface prep category for its new Forced Action Mixer (FAM-120)

MAKINEX

Developed with a focus on resin-bound aggregate contractors, Makinex debuted its Forced Action Mixer at World of Concrete.

Improvements on the mixer were based on work Makinex did with contractors in the field, said Michael Chen, production manager at Makinex Construction Products.

One of the chief challenges for contractors using such equipment is the clean-up time, which can take hours when the resin solidifies within the mixer.

To address the issue, Chen said Makinex’s new mixer features a replaceable liner that will reduce the time it takes to clean it.

In addition, he said for contractors seeking to mix multiple products, the liner can easily be replaced, a consumable product distributors like being able to stock up on.

Chen said the unit can be utilized with or without the liner.

The new mixer uses a controlled forced action mixing process rather than a traditional paddle action, delivering more uniform results with high-viscosity materials while reducing dust and cleanup time.

It is powered by a sealed, AC-geared motor with 1,100 W output, supporting the 37.1 gallon (140 L) mixing capacity.

According to Chen, the lid is more concave and inverted shape, so spills are reduced.

Additional features include adjustable legs to accomodate different heights and rear wheel transport wheels to simplfy loading and unloading easier.

World of Concrete served as a launch pad for Bosch’s new EXPERT 18V tabless battery platform.

BOSCH

As is tradition, Bosch Power Tools unveiled a plethora of new tools and equipment at World of Concrete.

John Paul Marcantonio, president/ CEO Bosch Power Tools North America, said power management and cordless technology remains among the biggest drivers in the industry as their team of engineers seeks to to develop new avenues around how that translates into performance for the tools.

The show served as a launch pad for Bosch’s new EXPERT 18V tabless battery platform.

Using tabless 21700 cells, all the batteries offer more power with a continous output current of greater than or equal to 90 amps and max power of 2,000 watts.

Essentially replacing Bosch’s current core 18V batteries, the EXPERT batteries remain fully compatible with all existing Bosch tools.

“We’re the only global manufacturer of power tools that has never broken the battery platform,” Marcantonio said. “This battery range is backwards compatible 20 years, and we won’t break it moving forward either.”

He said users can increase their runtime and charging speed with the new EXPERT batteries while using their existing tools.

Overall, the EXPERT 18V battery packs, available in 4, 6, 8 and 15 Ah, are slightly larger than current core models.

The slight change in size comes with the additional benefit of offering better protection from drops, dust and debris.

Each EXPERT battery pack also features Bosch’s cool pack 2.0 technology and has a status indicator button.

A key change to the EXPERT batteries relates to how they are inserted and removed from the tools.

The central recess has been made uniform across all battery packs, providing a location for users’ fingers while inserting or removing a battery from a tool.

To ensure a smoother transition, the activation button for removal was shifted to slide down into the pack, instead of the more awkward slide fuction.

DRILL AMERICA

World of Concrete was an opportunity for Drill America to present its latest line of concrete construction-related drill bits and chisels including SDS PRO carbide 2 cutter, 4 cutter and MAX multi-cutter, SDS Plus, SDS MAX, MFD Multimaterial, rebar cutters, and SDS extraction bits.

Drill America held its first-ever World of Concrete press conference to introduce it’s latest products.

These new concrete-related products are specifically made in Germany.

“This is a collaboration of America and Germany to bring that quality through our American company and our American touch, and your friends that you’re already working with on the rep side who you know and trust and can give you the information, the detail and the specs to help you get along with this,” said Andrew Barnett, chief marketing officer at Drill America.

With the new lines, he said Drill America is very much involved in the concrete construction world, cutting through a mix of rebar, brick and concrete.

“We’re trying to provide a really nice spread where someone can get started with us or make a switch to us and we can earn their trust,” he said.

In addition to the specific concrete construction products, Barnett also highlighted Drill America’s Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits.

Surface treated with gold oxide to increase durability, hardness and reduce heat, the bits are manufactured to National Aerospace standard 907, permitting speeds up to 30% greater than conventional high-speed steel.

“I think the real attractiveness of these bits is that if you’re doing a job and you’re working on say refurbishing the RV, and you got to get through wood, through steel and aluminum, acrylic, that drill can get through all those materials,” Barnett said.

Another significant takeaway about the GSC bits is the durability to start without a pilot hole.

The GSC Series Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits were recognized in both 2024 and 2025 with Pro Tool Innovation Awards.

“We are now expanding what we can do with these to really run the gamut of drill bits you might be using for your jobs and still have this capability,” Barnett said. “We want to be the guys who are known for having the stuff that other people don’t.”

Crown Polymer highlighted its assortment of floor coating solutions such as the warehouse flooring overlayment shown here.

CROWN POLYMERS

Numerous high-performance epoxy, urethan-based floor coating products, including expansion into recoatable ceramics and terrazzo were highlighted by Crown Polymers at World of Concrete.

As the company is expanding, Dustin Le, president of Crown Polymer, said they are focusing on growing the large commercial business such as food processing plants, biotech/pharma industries and increasing sales support to meet that strategy.

Products such as CrownPro 8195, a low-odor and fast-curing, twocomponent high-solids abrasion, chemical and stain resistant, fast curing aliphatic polyaspartic finish coat meets the food and beverage industries safety and sanitation mandates.

For the unique demands in the pharmaceutical industry, Crown has engineered specialized terrazzo and epoxy floor coating solutions where precision, cleanliness, and compliance with stringent regulations are paramount.

In addition, Crown Polymers offers floor coating solutions that adhere to strict standards for manufacturing and production areas.

Additionally, the company is encouraging distributors to focus on smaller industrial projects and the residential market.

“We have full breadth of products,” Le said. “We are an innovator, we are volume producers, we are customer friendly, and we know the business.”

A key to the company’s success is the sustainable partnerships in maintains with both distributors and contractors.

When seeking new partners, Le said they are looking for someone who has been in the business, carrying the product and not only have the volume but also the ability to produce when they come on big projects.

He said if either the distributor or contractor understands concrete and tools, those are the partnerships Crown Polymer is looking for, because if you understand concrete, that’s 80% of the battle.

“Our technical team will come out and work with the distributor and the contractor to spec the job, support it and make a joint call with the distributor,” Le said.

It is a common misconception by contractors that adding floor coatings as a service is an easy, low-cost side hustle with quick profit.

“In reality, it is a labor-intensive industry, requiring proper training to understand the chemical and formulation challenges like moisture issues, improper mixing, and bubbles, which can ruin the finish,” Le said, noting that it is also critical to know how to properly prepare a surface.

“In our business, we stick to what we’re good at,” Le said. “If the concrete is solid, the surface prep is excellent, then we’ll be fine.”

Crown is looking for sustainable, long-term and trustworthy relationships with distributors and contractors.

“If you don’t select the right partner, you are doomed to fail” Le said.

Johnson Level’s 5800 Extendable Box Beam level and 3-inch adjustable vial were among the multiple products the company had available for demos during World of Concrete.

JOHNSON LEVEL

Johnson Level set-up demos of multiple products for World of Concrete attendees to try out and offer feedback on.

Highlighted products include the 5800 Extendable Box Beam, 3-inch adjustable vial level and a digital angle gauge.

Craig Walters, senior product manager at Johnson Level, said the 5800 Extendable Box Beam is a play off the company’s extendable plate levels released a few years ago.

“The difference is, this has the extension arm, and the frame are precision-milled on the same plane, so it functions more like a traditional box beam when that constant contact is needed,” Walters said.

The telescopic extension customizes the level’s reach, while integrated rulers on both the frame and extension clearly show the total extended length.

“The key with this is, it really fills that space when you don’t have the perfect level,” Walters said.

He noted that the unique aspect of the adjustable level vials was shifting the adjustable wheel off to the side.

Most products currently on the market have users manually grabbing the vial, making it hard to see the bubble during any adjustment.

“It’s really hard to get that bubble centered when you’re manually pushing it,” Walters said. “This way you get real precision control, even if you are holding it.”

Lastly, he referenced the new dual-screen digital angle gauge.

 “The top screen is something I don’t think anyone is really doing or has done,” Walters said. The new gauge features five-unit display modes, including degrees, inches per foot, percentages, fractions and millimeters per meter.

Guardian unveiled its new range of fall safety harnesses at at World of Concrete press conference.

GUARDIAN

Culminating nearly 18 months of work with end users, Guardian unveiled its new range of fall safety harnesses at World of Concrete.

“We really wanted to revamp the Series harness line and make it for the users, because ultimately, they’re the ones using it,” said Sean Wirth, senior product manager at Guardian. “We can sit behind a desk or in a lab all day and come up with the next greatest gizmo and gadget, but unless it’s helping the users be more comfortable, be cooler, ease of use on the job, it’s all for naught.”

Rather than focusing on how it should be used, he said the company specifically tailored the new harness designs to a form the workers would want to use.

“You can put all the innovations on it, but the end users don’t want a harness that is too much, too bulky and not intuitive,” he said. “It needs to be straightforward, lightweight, comfortable and breathable.”

Like the Series line before it, the Defender line features three styles, with the base Defender, the Defender Ultra and the Defender Ultra Plus.

“It can go from light work all the way to heavy duty work, lower price point all the way to higher price point, so no matter what your application is or what your price point is, we will have a harness solution for you,” Wirth said.

Among the upgrades are improvements to the hip chassis design.

The Defender and Defender Ultra feature the HexHip chassis and the 36-O harness chassis is featured on the Ultra Plus.

Both styles keep the legs and torso more independent and mobile, preventing any pinching or tugging in unwanted areas when users are crouching or bending.

Wirth said every Defender harness is going to come with two tool tether attachment points to help prevent dropped objects or tools.

From a comfort perspective, he said there is the DiaLock torso adjusters, which prevent web creep and ensure an all-day proper fit.

 Based on jobsite observations, Wirth said Guardian has installed two auto-resetting lanyard keepers on the back of the harness.

“We found that users would connect to either their side D rings or even their back torso level,” Wirth said. “The reason they were doing this is when they weren’t using that connector leg, but they were bending down doing work those connector legs or hooks would get in their way, so they moved them to their back to get them out of their way.”

He said another observation on the jobsites related to the need for more accessory loops.

Harness users were connecting an assortment of radios, crane whistles, gloves, folders and more to their harnesses.

“Everything that could be connected was trying to be connected somewhere on the shoulder pad, but there was no dedicated spot for it, so we went ahead and added shoulder or accessory loops on every shoulder pad, and it’s an easy connection for whatever accessory they have,” Wirth said.

Also, Defender harnesses include an integrated SRL attachment slot, leaving the D-ring free.

SAKRETE

For 2026, Sakrete, which offers multiple brands that complement it’s product offerings, is celebrating 90 years of operation.

For 90 years, Sakrete has been offering a variety of complementary products for trade professionals looking for concrete, mortar mixes and maintenance products related to concrete work.

“Everybody knows the high strength concrete mix assets, a lot of the core products, but all the repair goes along with it as well so contractor can really offer a full breadth of services to their customers,” said Brian Breslin, product manager at Sakrete. “We have everything they need to get that done.”

He noted that with concrete work, you don’t always have to rip everything down and start over.

“You can do a lot of great work with repair products,” he said. To simplify selection, Sakrete product bags are marked with different icons to indicate the intended use.

“A lot of pros know what they need, but there’s a lot of DIYers and distributors, so it really helps them dial in,” Breslin said. “We have whatever you need to get your job done.”

Sakrete offers everything from the basic concrete mix to the more premium or fast traffic products that are ready for walking or vehicle traffic within 24 hours or less.

Likewise, on the masonry side, Breslin said the Amerimix products, which are ready to use, so contractors don’t have to worry about field mix or losing a percentage of materials.

“We’re always going to be getting you a reliable mix, so you don’t have to worry about it,” he said. “We try to have everything as straightforward as possible.”

Breslin said with Sakrete and Amerimix, it’s always going to be good quality, good reliability and consistent.

Werner keeps workers safe while working at height with a full line of harnesses which have been refreshed with new comfort features and color-coding to call out safety features

WERNER

Eric Miller, vice president and general manager of fall protection at Werner, said part of the process of working at height includes consideration of what happens if someone does fall.

Werner harnesses include the company’s Chair-In-The-Air safety system built-in, to allow workers to get into a safe position and take some of the chaos out of any fall.

The entire Werner harness line has recently been refreshed with comfort features and color-coding to call out safety features and offer clearer brand identification, making it easier for both distributors and end users to identify the correct product.

Among the improvements, the overall construction of the harnesses is made from more durable material for improved safety and longer service life.

MIller said the harnesses feature WebAlert inspectable webbing to help identify wear or damage.

Additional resusable lanyard keepers were installed to address stowing additional lengths on twin leg devices.

Werner offers multiple styles tailored for specific applications and user needs.

This article originally appeared in the April/May 2026 issue of Contractor Supply magazine. Copyright, 2026 Direct Business Media.