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Innovation in manufacturing helps companies stay ahead of the curve and pushing forward into newer territory. But if that innovation is not rooted in real-world customer needs and insights, it can easily fall flat as an irrelevant and unnecessary expense—something nice to have that doesn’t actually make a difference for your bottom line.
When you’re working with tight margins and tighter deadlines, spending extra money on decked-out equipment that doesn’t increase your productivity and revenue is not a realistic option. Through our collaborative product design process at Brandt, we ensure our innovations are grounded in what customers actually need—not just what we think they need. We meet with them extensively throughout this process. Our team listens to their concerns and hears what they need, so we can deliver equipment that solves actual problems in effective ways.
Collaborative Product Design
When you depend on certain equipment for your livelihood, you deserve to have a say in how it’s built. That is part of what drives our collaborative design process at Brandt, putting your words to work.
“All our products are made in response to real-world operator and dealer feedback through our collaborative design process,” says Chris Semple, President—Manufactured Products at Brandt. “We are committed to listening to the people who use these machines every single day, so we can turn their challenges and insights into common sense solutions.”
When manufacturing new equipment, we meet with user engagement groups three times to ensure it’s built right. First, we gather intel from operators, dealers, and contractors on where their existing equipment might be holding them back. That might include features that frequently cause errors or make operation more challenging, leading to downtime or decreased productivity. In the same meeting, we also get insight from our engagement groups on what changes could be made to help them be more productive.
In the second phase of the process, our engineers take that information and develop an initial product concept. We then present that concept to that same user engagement group to gather their feedback, so they can help us perfect it.
Taking that feedback, we build a prototype and bring in the user engagement group to evaluate it in person, giving them a third and final opportunity for feedback before we launch the product.
“They didn’t guess—they asked,” says Maynard Friesen, user engagement group participant and VP of Sales and Operations at Q-Line Trucking. “They sat down at the table with us to figure out exactly what we were going to need. And they succeeded in every aspect.”
Your Words at Work and on Display at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
Our success as a manufacturer owes a lot to the people who help us perfect our equipment. That’s why we’re putting their insight on display at the upcoming CONEXPO-CON/AGG- 2026 show in Las Vegas from March 3 – 7.
Our theme for the show, “Your Words at Work,” highlights that the equipment we’re bringing is a direct result of real-world insight from operators, contractors, and dealers, like those attending the show. Quotes from customers who’ve either been a part of our collaborative design process or experienced its benefits will accompany each product at the show.
“This will be our fourth time attending CONEXPO-CON/AGG says Russell Solomon, Director of Sales USA & Mexico—Brandt Industries. “For us, the new folks we meet from all different industries and the great conversations we have with them are always the highlight.”
Brandt will have two booths this year to showcase the breadth of our manufacturing offering. In Booth S26557 in the 1st level of the South Hall, attendees can explore our:
- HX090 and HX120 Hydrovacs
- C350 Mini-Deck Removable Gooseneck Trailer
- H750 West Coast Multi-Axle Heavy Haul Trailer
Our outdoor booth in the Festival Grounds—Booth F40070—will showcase our:
- BHM60A Material Handler
- UBT2526 and UBT2224 Deckover Tag Trailers
- C550 Removable Gooseneck Trailer
- UBD816 Work Ready™ Dump Trailer
- UBT822 Work Ready™ Tilt-Deck Trailer
- Excavator Attachments
Each booth will have meeting spaces where attendees can speak to our territory managers and representatives to ask questions and learn more about our equipment, our support, and our company.
Built for What You Haul: The All-new H750 WC Trailer
Attendees of CONEXPO-CON/AGG this year will be among the first to see our H750 West Coast Multi-Axle Heavy Haul Trailer. This trailer was built with a special axle and suspension configuration to ensure operators in California and the western states can meet strict permit and weight-distribution requirements.
“We needed a trailer to handle heavy loads in any jurisdiction, and Brandt nailed it,” says Larry Keatts, Owner of Peters & Keatts Equipment. “The axle and suspension specs are perfect. You can tell they knew what they were doing when they built the H750.”
The H750 is engineered to handle steep grades, tight corridors, and high-density urban routes with durability and reliable performance under heavy loads. It is the first entry in a future lineup of West Coast-configured heavy haul trailers. Attendees can see this trailer in person at Booth S26557 in the South Hall at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.
North American-built Material Handler
Another new machine we are bringing to CONEXPO-CON/AGG this year is our BMH60A Material Handler. Built with proven John Deere components, this North American-built material handler is engineered to reduce downtime for operators, make operation safer, and increase productivity.
“The cab height’s a game changer, perfect for loading outside trucks,” says Chris Hudson, Operator at Phillips Enterprises. “It’s the most stable, best-handling machine I’ve ever run. Superior to any material handler I’ve been on.”
We heard from material handler contractors who expressed concerns about the lack of material handlers built in North America. That market gap increases downtime when machines need repairs, as contractors often have to wait for parts to be shipped from overseas. To close that gap, we’ve built our material handlers on the base of a John Deere excavator with local parts, ensuring contractors can have the round-the-clock support that can only be delivered with an on-shore manufactured product.
“The fact that the Brandt Material Handler is built right here in North America is a major advantage for our customers,” says Jim Craig, General Sales Manager—Road Building & Aggregates, Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. “And having the Brandt and Deere names on this machine is a huge benefit for us, because of the quality they both bring to the industry.”
CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees can see our BMH60A Material Handler at Booth F40070 in the Festival Grounds.
Operator-friendly Hydrovacs
Our HX090 and HX120 Hydrovacs will be a key feature of our indoor booth this year. These machines were built with a focus on easier operation and eliminating features that frequently lead to issues.
“Our customers expressed a need for equipment that is simple to operate and provides constant diagnostic feedback,” says Director of Truck Products—Brandt Industries, Dan Coley. “We built our hydrovacs to reflect that, ensuring they stay on the job and making money for our customers instead of in the shop.”
To make our hydrovacs easier to operate, we added a quick-start feature. After parking the truck and putting it in neutral, operators can start excavating at the push of a button—using a wireless remote to activate and control the hydraulics, vacuum system, and water pump. We also included a 28’ boom length and enhanced the below-grade movement, so operators can reach farther and dig deeper. Plus, there’s the integrated CANBUS network and HMI controller that inform operators when any part of the system malfunctions or when a critical level is reached.
“The boom reach is phenomenal,” says Jason Taylor, Shop Supervisor at Basin Environmental. “Plus, not having a PTO to shift into a gear, and to just push a button to get your hydraulics and your blower going—that’s pretty big deal for us.”
The quick-start feature is accomplished by the removal of a transfer case. With this change, operators can perform all functions while driving for continuous trenching and quick setup when potholing and daylighting. Removing the transfer case also minimizes failure points. Operators can cover more ground each day, increasing revenue and profitability. The system disengages when driven above the designated speed for safe operation.
Our hydrovacs are also built without an unloader valve on the water pump, so the pump automatically shuts off when releasing the trigger, minimizing wear. And we reduced wiring by 70% compared than with analog “power and ground” electrical systems to eliminate the most common electrical problems.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees can check out Brandt Hydrovacs at Booth S26557 in the South Hall, 1st level.
Tough Enough to Haul It All
Also new to our outdoor booth this year are our fixed deckover tag trailers. These heavy haul trailers are designed to save operators time and carry heavy loads.
“With the equipment our customers are hauling, they needed some tough trailers that won’t buckle under a heavy load,” says Solomon. “We designed these tag trailers with a lower tare weight, so operators can increase the payload and know they’ll hold up.”
Our tag trailers feature cambered beams, which enhance the aesthetics of the trailer, lower the tare weight, and reduce sag under heavy loads, enabling smoother performance. They also include optimized D-ring spacing and a 6’ double-break beavertail for better securement and smoother loading of tracked equipment.
We will be featuring our UBT2224 and UBT2526 Tag Trailers at Booth F40070 in the Festival Grounds at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.
Meet Us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG
This year’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG will feature the best and brightest of the North American construction world once again, and we are looking forward to taking part in the event and seeing everyone who visits our booths.
If you’re attending CONEXPO-CON/AGG and plan to visit our booths, we encourage you to book a meeting with one of territory managers when you arrive. At both of our booth locations, we've designed dedicated meeting spaces specifically for one-on-one conversations with our territory managers and Brandt representatives. We’ll set aside time for real discussions about your equipment needs, the challenges you're facing on your job sites, and how our products can help you work more efficiently and profitably.
Our territory managers understand the regional requirements, permit regulations, and operational challenges specific to your area. They can discuss everything from specifications and configurations to financing options and delivery timelines. And they're eager to hear about the challenges you're facing that existing equipment isn't solving. Our collaborative design process starts with conversations just like these.
We’ll see you in Las Vegas from March 3 – 7, 2026. Stop by Booth S26557 in the South Hall or Booth F40070 in the Festival Grounds to discover how operator insight informs every single one of our products and talk with our territory managers to see how we can put your words to work.
For more information about our CONEXPO-CON/AGG booths, visit conexpo.brandt.ca. You can also reach out to Dan Coley at (330) 805-8308 or dcoley@brandt.ca, or Russell Solomon at (214) 250-1672 or rsolomon@brandt.ca
Photo Courtesy of Brandt
