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BHS, Inc. at the 2026 MHEDA Annual Convention: Our Review
July 23, 2026
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Categories: Blogs, Material Handling, Announcements, Industry Knowledge Base
Author: Kelly Buatte
This May, BHS, Inc. exhibited at the 2026 Annual Convention of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) in Nashville. As Vice President of Business Operations, it was my privilege to represent BHS at our table on the exhibition floor.
As a leading Midwestern manufacturer of material handling solutions, BHS has been a member of MHEDA since 2019, but this was the first time we were able to attend the Annual Convention. Here are my top takeaways from the experience, along with some tips for future exhibitors.
1. The 2026 MHEDA Exhibitor Showcase was the perfect size.
Along with BHS, about 100 businesses had tables in Nashville. With all the exhibitors and visitors, more than 280 companies had a presence at the convention, representing every corner of the material handling industry: manufacturers, dealers, distributors, and more.
That was enough variety to support valuable networking. But it wasn’t so many that you’d overlook anyone. Some trade shows are so big you couldn’t possibly see everything, and you miss out on valuable contacts.
Not at MHEDA 2026. This was a true networking event, and it allowed us to meet like-minded leaders in a more personal way than what would be available at bigger shows.
2. MHEDA events give you a chance to tell the industry who you are.
At BHS, we made our name creating industry-standard solutions for handling forklift batteries. Our first products were our flagship Operator Aboard Battery Extractors. It’s no surprise that many people in the material handling industry still think of us as a battery-handling company.
But for well over a decade, we’ve been manufacturing ergonomic material handling equipment that goes way beyond the battery room. Lift Tables, Tugger Carts, Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors — if it moves material, we can build it.
The MHEDA convention was our opportunity to update the industry about our growing product lines, and we took full advantage! We were able to educate industry personnel on all of our material handling offerings — and that led to several leads and opportunities for our Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors, Modular Dock Platforms, Industrial Carts, and more.
3. Planning to exhibit at MHEDA? Bring your 3D printed models.
At MHEDA, exhibitions must fit onto a single table. For heavy duty material handling equipment like BHS’, that means there’s no room to demonstrate actual products.
Fortunately, our engineers found a solution (as they tend to do). We 3D-printed scale models of some of our top offerings, including a Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor, an Order Picker Cart, and even one of our Mobile Showrooms, which bring BHS solutions straight to dealers for hands-on experience. The models were a huge hit (and quite a bit easier to carry around the convention floor).
4. At MHEDA, strong visuals bring people to your table.
The BHS marketing team created special banners and graphics of key material handling products for our display. These visual displays helped to compliment our overall focus on increasing brand awareness within the material handling market.
If you plan to exhibit at the 2027 MHEDA Annual Convention & Exhibitor Showcase, we’d recommend lots of pictures. The more you can show off your products, the more industry contacts you’ll get to meet.
5. MHEDA conventions are unique opportunities for industry-specific education.
I learned a lot in Nashville. The MHEDA convention featured several keynote speakers and breakout sessions organized around the show’s theme of “Harmony in Motion.” I found the content on leadership, economics, and inspirational stories to be relevant. I left with new ideas about how to achieve more in both my professional and personal life.
In short, this won’t be the last time we attend the MHEDA Annual Convention. We certainly recommend this trade show for all dealers, distributors, and manufacturers in the material handling industry.
Missed your chance to connect with us at the 2026 MHEDA convention? Feel free to contact us by phone, email, or live chat anytime.
