For 59 years, Equipment Today has delivered valuable equipment intelligence to readers, helping you optimize the return on investment on your construction equipment, solutions and technologies. And every year for the last 14 years, the Contractors’ Top 50 New Products Award has served as the voice of the industry, representing your equipment priorities and preferences when it comes to exploring new market offerings.
The annual Contactors’ Top 50 New Products Award is designed to recognize the best new product introductions and enhancements throughout the construction industry, covering products released within a one-year period.
Based on nominations and page view data of new products featured in Equipment Today and on ForConstructionPros.com from April 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, our editorial team follows audience insights to identify the year’s top picks, exhibiting innovation, quality, efficiency and productivity in the commercial construction environment.
A defined set of criteria outline eligibility and fit, and ensure that the areas of the industry in which these products are used align with the priorities of our readers.
TOP 50 THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Hosted by Equipment Today and ForConstructionPros.com, the Contactors’ Top 50 New Products Award program began as a first-of-its-kind effort, letting construction equipment owners and end users serve as the judges in pinpointing the recipients of the award.
In its early years, the program’s winners were determined based on reader inquiries on new products featured in the print magazine over a 12-month period, along with page views on ForConstructionPros.com.
Initially, award winners were grouped into categories based on product type or application, such as Earthmoving, Demolition, Trucks and Transportation, Lift Equipment, Roadbuilding and Worksite Products.
Throughout the years, reader preferences across different categories waxed and waned, following construction industry trends and the general economic climate each year. For instance, in 2016, due to high interest, it was deemed necessary to break down the Earthmoving category into Light and Heavy subcategories, as the variety of offerings within these categories increased. In later years, as the industry adopted emerging technologies and began integrating this tech into their operations, the program saw an influx of new product releases across entirely new tech categories (for example, software applications, virtual reality, drones, wearable tech and more) and the introduction of more advanced and varied project applications, the program made adjustments to encompass broader classes of products.
In 2022, the program underwent a refresh to include nomination-based new product considerations, embracing a different reach and additional product considerations. This shift incorporates the product interests of both Equipment Today’s print and online audiences, and also takes a wider lens to new products in general. Also new in 2022, each awarded product in the print publication featured a unique, branded QR code and corresponding link. With a quick scan using the camera on a mobile device, readers are able to easily navigate to each product on ForConstructionPros.com to access additional information, including videos, brochure downloads and updated images.
THE PULSE OF THE INDUSTRY
This year, the award program marks its 14th installment, having named 700 innovative new products as winners across the span of its lifetime.
Since establishing the Contractors’ Top 50 New Products Award in 2010, the Equipment Today and ForConstructionPros.com editorial teams have reviewed thousands of product releases, covering every corner of the construction industry. The process requires taking an in-depth eye to many of today’s latest launches and evaluating their relevance, importance and overall value to the industry. No matter the year, the breadth of product options is always plentiful, and the process is always insightful.
In the form of an industry pulse check, the Contractors’ Top 50 serves as a gauge of the interests and focus of our readers, as well as the industry as a whole. The program provides a glimpse into not only the minds of fleet owners, managers and operators, but also into market trends. Referencing the program’s historical and current data alongside current industry developments, patterns begin to emerge, highlighting new trends. While the end goal is to identify the top new products, the process itself can help provide direction for the topics our team might be monitoring for months to come.
Among this year’s contenders, 73% of nominations offered new product releases, while 27% provided enhancements to already existing products. Across the board, these products aim to serve contractors across several of the following key areas of the construction industry: general building construction (82%), highway and construction contractors (77%), electrical, demolition, mechanical, masonry/stonework contractors (59%), distributors and dealers (46%), construction material producers and utilities power co-ops (43%), as well as others allied to the industry (30%).
After reviewing hundreds of products, our team is proud to present this year’s winners, who represent an array of innovative solutions positioned to improve your operations’ productivity, efficiency, safety and comfort. Read on to learn more about this year’s class of new products representing excellence in the construction industry.
The portable AssetView Stealth Tracking System is the industry's first battery powered GPS tracking with integrated tamper detection and adaptive tracking for long battery life. The candy-bar sized Stealth is the solution for wireless monitoring of any powered or unpowered asset to improve logistics, manage inventory and curb theft. The innovative, self-contained GPS tracking solution installs in seconds, requires no external power and can last up to 10 years on just two AA batteries. Its proprietary Adaptive Tracking delivers long battery life while actively alerting on curfew violation, movement or geofence breach as well as allowing the user to switch to Recovery Mode over the air. The AssetView Stealth is waterproof, impact resistant and has no long term contract so customers can deactivate and reactivate without penalty. It's industry first tamper detection immediately alerts via email and text, as well as providing its instant location, if the device is removed from its hiding place on the asset. Product highlights include:
No external wiring or antenna — Quick, unwired attachment to any asset in a true “hide and track” installation
Internal battery power — Powered by 2 x AA Lithium batteries, customer replaceable
Tamper Detection — Immediate text and email alerts if the unit is removed
Long battery life — Self-powered up to 10 years on daily updates, up to 2.5 years on more detailed tracking
Wireless, two-way communication — Activate recovery mode or set movement alerts over the air from the software or mobile app
Waterproof IP 68 and IK07 rated design — For deployment in harsh environments
Tip & Impact detection — Immediate notifications of potential safety issues or asset abuse
Compact and completely portable — Stealthy and small, may be rotated between company assets and hidden easily
Complete GNSS coverage — Faster, more accurate locations by utilizing all 5 satellite constellations
Global cellular coverage — Track assets across borders
Month-to-month agreement — No long-term contract, deactivate and reactivate anytime without penalty
The Cat 988 GC Wheel Loader delivers reliable operation. It offers up to 5% less fuel consumption and up to 15% lower maintenance costs than the Cat 988K. The 988 GC can deliver production within 6% of the 988K in truck loading applications. This wheel loader is optimized as a 45-tonne (50-ton) truck match loader. Its 3,909-millimeter (12.8-foot) dump clearance delivers loading up to the Cat 775G truck. It offers up to 670 tonnes/hour (740 tons/hour) performance in shot rock truck loading applications and up to 527 tonnes/hour (581 tons/hour) for load-and-carry operations.
The 335 P-Tier Compact Track Loader, available with SmartGrade Ready including 2D grade control or 3D SmartGrade, was designed to offer customers optimal power, technology and innovation on the jobsite. Boasting a brand-new one-piece cab design with premium options, enhanced technology features, and an overall increase in operating power, the 335 P-Tier prioritizes operator comfort, capability and performance. By utilizing the standard eight-inch premium touch-screen display interface, customers can experience better insight and customization of machine settings and viewing information. Lastly, the fully redesigned operator station was built from the ground up, is sealed, pressurized, and isolated from the frame to help improve operator comfort and productivity.
The Milwaukee Tool MX FUEL 20-inch Plate Compactor is designed for compacting flatwork, foundations and utility trenches. Offering cordless compaction performance, the machine can handle different types of compaction material such as crushed rock and stone, road base, asphalt or even patio pavers. Compatible with all MX FUEL REDLITHIUM battery packs, Milwaukee’s plate compactor provides instant power; requires no regular maintenance; and produces less noise and vibration and zero emissions. The battery-powered plate compactor can operate in both forward and reverse directions, giving users control over preferred paths.
The SANY SY335C LC Excavator offers heavy-duty digging and lifting performance on construction sites. This machine is powered by a 280.3-hp Cummins L9 engine and can dig up to 22 feet, 4 inches deep. Equipped with a long undercarriage, the excavator generates a maximum swing speed of 9 rpm. The boom measures 20 feet, 2 inches for extended reach in rugged work areas. Standard auxiliary circuit configurations include one-way and two-way primary auxiliary and two-way secondary auxiliary circuits with dedicated auxiliary rotate pump.
Nominations for Equipment Today’s 2025 Contractors’ Top 50 New Products award open Monday, March 3, 2025. Visit eqtoday.co/CT50criteria to review the submission criteria and help us highlight the best new product introductions in the construction industry.
DPL Telematics
DPL Telematics
Caterpillar
John Deere
Milwaukee Tool
SANY
