CONEXPO 2026: dynamic simulation mobile hydraulic systems

From March 3 to 7, 2026, SmartFluidPower attended CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas as a guest at the VIS Hydraulics booth.

CONEXPO is one of the leading international events dedicated to construction equipment and technologies for mobile applications.

For us, it was a valuable opportunity to engage directly with designers, component manufacturers, and system integrators from different countries and across multiple Fluid Power application sectors.

Beyond presenting our simulation software and consulting activities, the exhibition was above all a chance to listen: speaking with professionals who design hydraulic systems every day helps us better understand the technical challenges emerging in the development of modern machines.

Dynamic behavior and growing complexity in mobile hydraulic systems

A recurring theme in conversations with visitors has been the dynamic behavior of hydraulic systems.
 
Many of the most critical issues do not emerge under steady-state conditions, but during operational transients, when hard-to-predict phenomena may appear—such as pressure oscillations, actuator instability, or uncontrolled response times.
 
These challenges are becoming increasingly common in mobile hydraulics applications, where the integration of advanced control systems, faster actuators, and more compact hydraulic architectures increases the overall complexity of the machines.
 
As a result, system behavior becomes less intuitive, and some problems only surface during testing phases—or even during field operation.
 
In this context, interest is growing in dynamic simulation tools for hydraulic systems, which make it possible to analyze circuit behavior from the earliest design stages, before any hardware is built.

Key needs that emerged during the exhibition

During CONEXPO-CON/AGG, we met professionals involved in the design of components, integrated systems, and complete machines.
 
A shared goal emerged from these conversations: to understand and predict the dynamic behavior of systems from the earliest development stages.
 
Interestingly, many small and mid-sized U.S. companies face challenges very similar to those we have encountered for years across Italian and European businesses.
 
In particular, there is a clear need for simulation tools that are accessible, quick to use, and easy to integrate into the day-to-day workflow of engineering teams.
 
Among the most frequently mentioned needs:
 
• Analyze pressure oscillations and circuit instabilities before building prototypes 
• Evaluate the dynamic behavior of pumps, valves, and actuators within the full system—not just as standalone components 
• Support design decisions early in development, reducing the number of test-bench iterations
 
These discussions confirmed a clear trend: more and more companies are looking for tools that allow them to anticipate system-level issues before the testing phase, improving the efficiency of the overall development process.

Why direct conversations matter in Fluid Power

In a highly technical field like Fluid Power, direct dialogue with designers and engineers remains essential.

International trade shows offer a unique opportunity to:

  • meet the industry’s global players
  • understand the market’s technology directions
  • discuss real-world design challenges
  • build new technical collaborations

Attending CONEXPO alongside VIS Hydraulics made this exchange possible with an international community of professionals working on the next generation of machines.

Special thanks

We would like to thank the VIS Hydraulics team for hosting us at their booth, and everyone who stopped by to discuss simulation, design, and the dynamic behavior of hydraulic systems.

The conversations we had during the show are a starting point for new collaborations—and for continuing to develop tools that support the design of tomorrow’s Fluid Power systems.

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