Journal Of Commerce
On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with World of Concrete senior show manager Kevin Archibald about the history of the conference, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year in Las Vegas, as well as the many features of this year’s event.
Archibald said in 1974 the original conference was started by a small group of industry professionals with 71 exhibitors over 75,000 sq ft. and the event will tip its hat to the past with a “walk down memory lane” even as the current conference covers the breadth of the Las Vegas Convention Center with exhibits, educational sessions, large-scale product demos and a series of competitions.
Archibald said a conference mainstay is the Bricklayer 500, also known as the “Superbowl of Concrete,” and there will be other features such as Get Tough challenge where attendees can drive Western Star trucks around obstacles and rock carvers from around the world situated throughout the conference practicing their craft.
He added sustainability and aerated concrete are two of the major trends the conference sees both in exhibits on the show floor and educational interest, along with an emphasis on safety, noise reduction and the growing importance of data in driving company decisions.
We’ll be on the ground at the World of Concrete from Jan. 23 to Jan 25., so be sure to tune into The Construction Record and watch our Daily Commercial News, Journal of Commerce and Construction Record Linkedin sites along with the DCN, JOC and Construction Record Podcast Twitter accounts, as well as daily Reels on our Instagram feed.