Develon Focuses on Growth at 2026 European Dealer Conference

Continuing growth was the central theme of the second Develon European Dealer Conference held at the end of February 2026 in Rome in Italy. The company normally organises these meetings every two years and the last one, which was the first under the Develon brand, was held in Valencia in Spain in 2024. The 186 attendees in the audience at this year’s meeting in Rome included 125 personnel from 66 dealerships from 24 countries. These were joined by five members of the HD Construction Equipment executive team from Korea, as well as staff from various areas of Develon in Europe.

Rome Provides Perfect Setting for European Dealer Meeting

Held over two days, the conference provided the perfect platform for Develon dealers to meet with others from inside and outside their areas from across Europe, as well as Develon personnel to meet, speak, listen, discuss and share best practices. Rome, the Eternal City, provided an exceptional setting for the conference. As a global hub where history, culture and progress converge, Rome provided an inspiring environment for exchanging ideas and celebrating achievement. Hosting the event there underscores Develon’s commitment to innovation in a city that has continuously shaped the course of civilization.

This year’s meeting at Crowne Plaza Rome Hotel on Via Aurelia Antica opened with a presentation from TK Choi (HD Construction Equipment Executive Vice President) that provided an overview of Global and European Business. This included information on the newly formed HD Construction Equipment, the global market outlook, sales goals and strategic business direction. The business expansion of aftermarket and product support operations was also covered by other executives.

Jayden Lim (Head of HD Construction Equipment Europe/CEO Develon Europe) then spoke about the company's achievements, new product introductions and the continuing expansion of the company facilities and its dealer network in Europe.

Further Expansion for Develon in Europe

Since the last European Dealer Conference, major developments have included the opening of Develon’s new Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Boom in Belgium, marking a major step in its strategy to enhance customer service and accelerate growth in the European market. With a storage area of 24,000 m² and an inventory of 47,000 stock units, the new Belgium PDC is designed to bring services closer to customers and to allow Develon to respond more swiftly to diverse and evolving demands in the European construction equipment market.

Develon also opened a new Company Owned Store in Germany, establishing Develon Deutschland in Mannheim to create a new strategic base in the country.

Adding to this, Develon opened a new Customization Center in Antwerp, as an integrated EU machine modification center. This facility was created to configure and deliver machines more quickly and efficiently to the European market. It enables machine preparation and set-up according to specific customer requirements, improving responsiveness and overall service levels. Most recently, another Customization Center has been opened in the UK in Southampton on a similar basis to the Antwerp operation, marking the achievement of another milestone in a busy and successful two year period.

Alongside the evolution of the Develon brand in Europe, the company continues to develop innovative technologies shaping the future of the construction industry and how work is done. Over the past two years, Develon has strengthened its foundation with a new product line-up, including the launch of 24 new models, highlighted by the successful introduction of the Series 9 smart crawler excavators.

Collaboration and Dealer Awards

The Rome conference provided a platform for invaluable insights, collaboration and opportunities to continue the collective success of both dealers and the manufacturer within a very competitive construction equipment industry. In recognition of their achievements in 2025, a number of performance awards for dealers across Europe were presented including:

• Best Dealer in Sales Award: DMO (Italy)
• Best Importer in Sales Award: Centrocar PT (Iberia)
• Best Heavy Machines Dealer: James Gordon (UK)
• Top Compact Machines Dealer: HMD (France)
• Best Customer Care: Intrac (Eastern Europe)
• Best Aftermarket Enhancement: Garnea (Eastern Europe)
• Best Product Expert: Real Machinery (Nordics)
• Best Brand Ambassador: Garnea (Eastern Europe)

The first day of the conference concluded with a gala dinner, while the second day featured a collective leisure activity in Rome – Discover Rome. Participants set off in groups on a vintage car driving experience through the city, stopping at various locations to complete challenges as part of a friendly competition. The activity showcased several classic vehicles, including vintage Fiats, Alfa Romeos and other iconic models.