Waukesha, Wis. (March 9, 2026) — Husco’s innovative new GenSteer platform won a 2026 Next Level Award in Las Vegas during CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026, the construction industry’s largest international trade show.
The Next Level Awards recognize innovations that advance safety, performance, and productivity in the construction and off-highway industries. Husco’s award for GenSteer took home top honors in the equipment category.
“On behalf of everyone at Husco, I am incredibly honored that our team has been recognized with a 2026 Next Level Award,” said Austin Ramirez, Husco’s president and CEO. “GenSteer showcases Husco at its best: Working collaboratively to bring innovative new ideas to the marketplace. By solving a persistent challenge that has been holding back the digital future of off-highway vehicles, GenSteer enables a significant step forward. We are thankful that the Next Level Awards have recognized these efforts.”
The award recognizes that Husco has solved an issue that has been holding back digital innovation in farming, construction and other industrial vehicles for years. They did it by identifying an untapped source of emergency backup electric power: The person holding the steering wheel.
Husco’s GenSteer™ platform is a groundbreaking solution that promises to unlock the digital future of industrial vehicles. GenSteer, a patent-pending breakthrough, solves cost, complexity and safety issues that have been roadblocks to technological advancements in these vehicles – until now.
Industrial vehicle manufacturers have long wanted to implement Steer-by-Wire technology, which replaces traditional mechanical or hydraulic steering systems with a digital system that sends signals from the steering wheel to the wheels on the ground. With Steer-by-Wire serving as a digital copilot, farmers and construction workers can operate vehicles more safely, precisely and efficiently.
But what if something goes wrong? That’s where Husco’s latest innovation changes the game.
Instead of relying on expensive and complex backup systems, GenSteer’s solution is a small motor/generator unit attached to the steering wheel.
When the system is operating normally, the motor simulates steering feedback for the driver – much like a video game controller that shakes to simulate action in a game. If the system fails, the motor instantly becomes an electrical generator, turning the driver’s continued steering movements into enough electrical power to keep the system running.
Industry Impact
“The Husco engineering team took a few steps back to consider ‘how do we make this all simple?’,” said Simon Yardley, Director of Business Development & Corporate Marketing at Husco. “GenSteer, and its recognition by the Next Level Awards judges, signals a shift toward simpler, safer digital steering.”
Off-highway industries represent over $300 billion in global equipment sales annually, and steering systems are core to nearly every wheeled machine. By removing cost and complexity barriers, GenSteer accelerates the industry’s shift to digital steering and autonomy.
GenSteer is engineered for broad use across off-highway markets, including construction, agriculture, mining, and material handling. Its compact footprint fits standard machine envelopes for loaders, haulers, tractors, graders, combines, and more. Simplified integration minimizes machine modifications and lowers system costs for OEMs, while enhancing operator comfort and overall capability.
“The GenSteer platform is designed to start simple and scale with you,” said Ben Holter, Product Director, Husco. “Vehicle manufacturers don’t need every automation feature on day one to justify the investment. Begin with a compact, compatible steering platform, then add capabilities like lane guidance, return-to-center, and haptic feedback as your needs evolve. It’s a practical on-ramp to Steer-by-Wire—without the heavy bill.”
Key Benefits
- Safety: Maintains control through faults. No surprises, no downtime.
- Cost: Eliminates redundant controllers, batteries, and complex harnesses.
- Future-Proof: Ready for software-driven feature drops without hardware changes.
- Sustainability: Fewer components mean less material waste and e-waste.
- Workforce: Digital performance tuning reduces fatigue and enhances operator safety.
“We call it ‘redundancy without replication,’” Holter said. “A cleaner, smarter architecture that keeps machines moving and unlocks autonomy-ready control. In short, GenSteer™ delivers safety you can generate yourself.”
About Husco:
Husco is a global leader in hydraulic and electrohydraulic control systems for off-highway and automotive applications. Celebrating 80 years of innovation, Husco partners with OEMs worldwide to deliver technologies that enhance machine performance, operator comfort, and productivity. Headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and with sites all over the world Husco combines advanced engineering with decades of expertise to shape the future of motion control. Learn more at Husco.com.
