Risk and Regulation in Focus: What to Expect at AEM’s 2026 Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar

By Travis Webb, Technical Director, Association of Equipment Manufacturers --

It's no secret the product safety, regulatory, and liability landscape in our industry is both always changing and incredibly complex.

New and existing regulations are impacting market access in the United States and across the globe. Technological disruption is affecting the ability of non-road equipment manufacturers to successfully develop and release new offerings, and the evolving expectations of existing and potential customers are making it difficult for the industry to predict (and prepare for) the future.

However, AEM is committed to ensuring our member companies aren't forced to address these challenges alone. It's why our Safety & Product Leadership Department joins forces with our Education and Events staff and industry leaders each year to offer a one-of-a-kind industry event and valuable learning opportunity: the AEM Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar.

Registration for the 2026 event is still open, and AEM members are encouraged to visit the official event website to learn more.

The Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar has long been a staple of AEM's many member-focused education and events. And while the conference itself has changed names and locations many times over the years, its overall objective has always remained the same: provide AEM members with the tools, insights, and connections they need to navigate challenges and opportunities related to product liability, safety design, regulatory requirements, and emerging risks.

Throughout the last week of April, hundreds of AEM members - all coming from diverse backgrounds, possessing unique skillsets, and representing different organizations - will come together to collaborate and learn in an open and inviting peer-to-peer environment. Whether they are engineers, compliance professionals, technical communications leaders, or legal department representatives, they will bring a perspective that will inform others in attendance about the shared industry issues impacting us all.

I'm proud to say the AEM Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar is organized for AEM members and by AEM members, and it offers (at least) a little something for everyone who attends. Topics attendees can expect to be covered in detail this year include:

• Fundamentals of Risk Assessment
• Functional Safety
• Technical Editing for AI Content
• Cybersecurity Standards and Regulations
• The Intersection of Product Safety and Sustainability
• Managing Chemical Compliance Costs
• Emissions Compliance

But that's not all… This year's Liability Seminar will feature the always-popular Live Mock Trial, led by a handful of experienced attorneys from Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based law firm Quarles. The goal of the mock trial is simple: help attendees understand how product safety decisions, communications, and documentation from their day-to-day work can impact organizational outcomes related to litigation. To me, it's the perfect way to conclude three-and-a-half days spent building a "Winning Playbook" together, and its interactive format is designed to bring learning to life for all who participate.

Finally, there's the networking. It's such a significant component of the AEM Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar every year. From sparking up a personal conversation at a lunch table, to discussing a recent conference session, interacting with others in a similar career space is invaluable for the professional development of everyone in attendance. 

Quite simply said, there's no conference like this one. It's also a meaningful event for all who attend, and it's no secret to me why that's the case. Whether they're relatively new to their respective roles in product safety and compliance, or they've been in non-road equipment manufacturing industry for years, attendees know what they can expect from the AEM Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar this (and every) year: solutions that not only help them gain a competitive edge over their peers, but also raise the bar for our entire industry.

For more information, contact AEM's Travis Webb at [email protected] or Helen Horner at [email protected].