Crush hour at CONEXPO

Befitting the size of its large stand at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, Astec displayed a range of crushing and screening equipment designed to improve productivity and reliability across the material processing circuit.

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Astec has been a part of CONEXPO since 1981, when co-founder Norm Smith introduced the specialist aggregates equipment company to the show.

Over the past 45 years, the company has become one of the event's most notable exhibitors, commanding among the biggest floor spaces in the halls.

This year Astec displayed the biggest lineup in its history, with almost every product on show a new release.

Earthmoving Equipment Magazine caught up with some of the Astec representatives at the stand and asked them about the products they were displaying.

SF20 screening plant

The SF20 is a mobile screening plant developed initially with European transport and safety requirements in mind, including upcoming EN1009 safety legislation due around April 2027. Its compact transport envelope and compliant running gear make it easier to permit and move between sites while still targeting medium and large scale finishing applications.

Astec Product Manager Vice-President, Stephen Whyte, said a Cat 3.6 power unit and redeveloped hydraulic system improve efficiency, simplify servicing, and support multiple variants of the machine, including two deck, three deck, and multi frequency configurations through a modular hydraulic design. The aggressive screen box uses large bearings to maintain sizing accuracy and reliability in demanding applications.

The machine uses Signal, Astec's digital connectivity suite that unifies telematics, diagnostics, and control data across rock to road operations.

The platform is designed to let customers monitor and manage their fleets, plants, and material flows from quarry to job site in one place, with a roadmap that includes machine learning, predictive analytics, and augmented reality assisted service.

On the SF20, integrated Signal telematics turn the machine into a connected asset rather than a standalone screen.