News
World of Concrete Report

Despite the sub-prime lending crisis that has caused a housing construction meltdown across most of the United States, the 34th World of Concrete international exhibition attracted a near-record number of attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 22-25.

Despite the sub-prime lending crisis that has caused a housing construction meltdown across most of the United States, the 34th World of Concrete international exhibition attracted a near-record number of attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 22-25. While the final attendance had not been released at press time, show officials told Aggregates & Roadbuilding that preliminary figures indicate that well over 85,000 concrete and masonry professionals from around the world attended this year’s event. Although the final tally of visitors will likely not exceed the WOC’s record attendance of 91,628 registered in 2007, the show continues to prove that it is the commercial construction industry’s largest annual international event.

According to WOC organizers, some 1,700 exhibitors used in excess of 83,600 m² of indoor and outdoor space to showcase the latest in concrete production machinery, technological developments and technical services available today.

A major feature of the annual show is the World of Concrete Education Program which this year drew more than 10,000 attendees to the 150 plus seminars and training sessions. These educational programs covered a wide range of subjects including concrete fundamentals, decorative concrete, business management practices, safety, technology and green building construction.

The show also featured special product and action areas including the Producer Center, a dedicated marketplace of materials, equipment, demos, and seminars for concrete producers; Material Handling, featuring trucks, excavators and more for material delivery, distribution, concrete placement, and earth moving machinery; and the Concrete Repair and Demolition area which housed a display of surface preparation equipment, scarifying, grinding, sawing equipment, and other demolition products.

Also, for the first time, the World of Concrete presented a Greensite area of the show floor in the convention centre’s South Hall where exhibitors showcased green build technologies and products along with displays, video presentations, and general information on sustainability and environmental friendly construction methods.

The next World of Concrete will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center February 3-6, 2009.