BIBM Congress 2023 Amsterdam: The Precast Concrete Event

The 24th edition of the European Precast Concrete Congress, BIBM 2023, will take place from September 27 to 29 at Hotel Okura in Amsterdam. The CEOs of the organization, Dr. Ulrich Lotz and Michael Voss of Building Congress Forum, as well as Denny Bakirtzis, Head of Organization of Congresses & Exhibitions, are happy to tell you more about BIBM, the congress, its objectives and what participants can expect. 

"The BIBM Congress is the precast concrete industry's premier European event: if you work in precast concrete or if you are a supplier to the precast concrete industry, this is the event you must attend," said Voss. "BIBM, the Bureau International du Béton Manufacturé, is the Federation of the European Precast Concrete Industry. BIBM was started in 1950 and has organized a major European congress at three-year intervals ever since, and only two years nowadays. In 2023, the 24th edition will take place. So we are not talking about a weekday event, but the voice of the entire precast concrete industry at the European level. BIBM provides a platform for a network of professionals, experts and industrialists involved in the precast concrete industry to come together and jointly address important issues. BIBM also promotes the sharing of experience and information, with its committees and ad hoc groups or, of course, with the platform of the BIBM Congress."

Lotz: "Yes, that's right. Amsterdam is a tremendously open and young European city. Delegates and companies from the BIBM Congress 2023 find a fantastic digital and social network in the city, and everything is connected by land, water and air. The commercial spirit and excellent quality of life of modern Amsterdam make it a magnet for talent, start-ups and international headquarters for companies from all over the world. All relevant contacts are within easy reach and a broad network of internationally oriented service providers provides companies there with a strong competitive advantage."

Voss: "Indeed. The city of Amsterdam has always had such a spirit of trade. For example, when formal trade relations with Japan were established in 1609, the Dutch were granted extensive trading rights and established a United East India Company outpost in Hirado. We wanted to include this context in the concept of the congress, which is why we also chose the five-star Hotel Okura as the venue. Michiel Roelfsema, General Manager of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, will explain and name the relations between the Netherlands and Japan better in the welcome reception than we can."

"What is special, of course, is the European idea behind it," Bakirtzis says. The congress revolves around what Michael Voss said earlier about BIBM: networking professionals, experts and industrialists involved in the precast concrete industry to come together and jointly address important issues. This year's theme is "Green. Digital. Resilient - Solutions for precast concrete'. Like other industries, the precast concrete industry is well aware of the need to reduce its carbon footprint. The latest projects in decarbonization, circular economy and Carbon Capture & Use (CCU) will be presented. None of this can be achieved without the right processes and their digitization. For example, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and precast concrete are excellent partners. The future of construction will also need to be integrated into a green and digital society. Philip Crampton, president of the European Federation of the Construction Industry (FIEC), will refer to this context. And buildings will have to be built in a more and more resilient way as we will have to deal with the effects of climate change, including floods, seismic activity, etc. So we will learn better with what solutions precast concrete can help with this."

"BCF provides professional event planning and organization in the international convention business," Lotz said. "We have specialized knowledge in the whole value chain of building & expertise, in organizing on one side and professional event management & strategic communication through established platforms on the other. BCF consists of two equal partners and thus unites two powers: Bauverlag BV GmbH and FBF Betondienst GmbH. FBF Betondienst GmbH hosts the "BetonTage Congress" and can look back on several decades of experience in the field of event management. In addition, it runs its own media agency, including streaming, video editing, website and social media services."

Voss: "Moreover, Bauverlag holds a good position in the field of architecture, but also publishes BFT International, one of the leading magazines of the concrete industry. BFT International 09/2023 will also publish the congress report. This is another example where we can clearly see the mutual benefit and cooperation within the new BCF entity. Ultimately, it is about combining event management experience with practical industry expertise."   

Lotz: "Yes, of course. For example, an important supporter is the International Prestressed Hollowcore Association (IPHA) with its director, Kjell-Ole Gjestemoen. He is the successor to Carsten Friberg, with whom we also kept close contact for the 2021 Congress in Copenhagen. IPHA shows an equally strong commitment and has become our official cooperation partner, for which we are very grateful."

"Yes, that's true, but there are still a few last spots available for exhibitors," Bakirtzis stressed. "On our website www.bibmcongress.eu you can find all information about the exhibition and registration as an exhibitor or congress attendee. The congress website also offers downloads, such as the program or exhibitor handbook."

Bakirtzis: "There is, of course, a full socio-cultural program, with references to the history of Amsterdam and the congress location, starting with a canal cruise on the famous 'canals,' which will be offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Thursday evening we have the gala dinner at Rosarium in the Amstel Park, which provides a pleasant backdrop in the late summer season. If we are lucky, we take advantage of the terrace that overlooks Rosarium's garden. At the famous COSTER Diamonds, participants will receive a guided tour and a diamond surprise: each guest will receive a glass of champagne. In each glass, the Royal Coster team has placed either a real diamond or a cubic zirconia - an imitation diamond. No one can tell the difference between a real diamond and the zircon by eye. That's why Royal Coster has one of its master cutters check each stone. While the diamond cutter checks the stone, the master explains how to tell a real diamond from a fake diamond. If you are not the lucky one with a real diamond in the glass, you still get to keep the zircon as a nice memento of the whole tour. Last but not least, referring to the Japanese culture we are immersed in at the Okura Hotel, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in an Origami workshop. There are countless different origami models, such as lotus flowers or cranes. As a beginner, it may seem difficult, but the Hotel Okura team will teach you how to fold origami step by step."