Concrete Event 2024

Gaining knowledge and making knowledge

True to tradition, the annual Concrete Event is organized on the third Thursday of November. In addition to gaining knowledge, making acquaintances is central on this day. With fellow professionals, but possibly also with future employees. Maikel Jagroep, director of Betonvereniging, gives us a preview of what we can expect on November 21 in the Van Nelle Fabriek in Rotterdam.

Beton Event has been the leading networking event of the concrete (construction) industry in the Netherlands for 66 years. "Like last year and next year, the central theme is 'en route to sustainable and circular concrete,'" said Jagroep. "Sustainability and circularity are important and current social issues. How can we as a sector move toward a sustainable and circular use of the material? We just can't address these issues all at once. That is why the theme is on our program for three years and we are giving it a head, torso and tail. We do this, among other things, with the substantive conference program that is designed under the leadership of Edwin de Kuiper, board member of Betonvereniging and in daily life chairman of the board at Dura Vermeer Bouw Midden West."

Program lines

"Within the central theme, we distinguish four program lines, which we elaborate on during the conference program. First, the development of new materials. Concrete consists of a number of raw materials, each with its own CO2 footprint and limited availability. By fully or partially replacing these with other primary or secondary raw materials, you can reduce the carbon footprint without negatively affecting performance," Jagroep gives as an example. "The second program line is adaptive and circular design, procurement and delivery. This involves thinking about the functions of an object right from the design stage, now and in the future, so that you can adapt it after the use phase." The third program line is life extension and reuse of concrete. "It ties in with the previous subtopic, where you look at how you can give existing objects a different function, for example. But also how you can reuse concrete after demolishing an object." 

Concrete Experience

Social capital is the fourth subtheme. "Central question is how we can develop and share knowledge and skills for the concrete supply chain. We are facing a lot of vacancies that remain unfilled, an aging population and insufficient recruitment of young people. It is important to increase 'employability' and continuously work on competencies and skills so that people are employable in the sector for longer," Jagroep believes. "Making the sector attractive to young people is also essential. One way we do this is with the Concrete Experience, which takes place simultaneously with the Concrete Event. This component is intended to captivate students and bind them to the concrete (construction) sector. They are introduced in a playful and interactive way to the material concrete and to the companies present on the exhibition floor that are active in the concrete construction sector."

Concrete Price

The Concrete Association has presented the prestigious Concrete Prize every two years since 1979. "The presentation of already the 23rd edition of the Concrete Award is part of the program of the Concrete Event this year. Registration is now open and the first projects have been submitted," Jagroep opines. "A distinguished jury, consisting of a number of industry leaders, will consider all the projects submitted and ultimately declare the winner. They will invariably be projects that exemplify intelligent, responsible, future-oriented, valuable and inspiring applications of the material concrete."

In short, a jam-packed program at the upcoming Concrete Event. "Above all, we want to inspire visitors to chase dreams, including by jointly evolving towards sustainable and circular concrete. And to leave behind a planet that is livable. Every step we can take together, we should not neglect. As a sector, we have the innovative power to realize that together," Jagroep concluded.