From August 6th to 8th, São Paulo Expo in the capital city hosted the 15th edition of the Concrete Show – the largest concrete construction chain event in Latin America. Informa Markets, the event organizer, celebrates the records set. Spanning an area of 32,000 square meters, over 400 exhibitors, including 60 newcomers, showcased the latest innovations and trends that, if not already, will dominate Brazilian construction sites in the coming months. Over three days, the event attracted approximately 23.2 thousand attendees.
“The construction industry is experiencing a very positive moment, especially with the sector’s GDP growth and the high demand for qualified professionals. The success observed in this 15th edition of Concrete Show is particularly represented by the high qualification of our visitors. Another indicator supporting this is the significant number of brands present, including those that had stopped exhibiting for a while and returned this year; and, of course, the newcomers. As we reach the last day, we have great prospects not only for 2025 but also for the years ahead,” says Hermano Pinto, Portfolio Director of Infrastructure and Technology at Informa Markets.
This year, exhibitors brought a lot of interactivity—from prefabricated walls to rebar in various formats and even augmented reality glasses to test concrete machinery enriched with fibers that provide greater durability and strength.
Mega Demo Concrete Walls was one of the highlights of Concrete Show 2024
Is it possible to build a wall using only concrete, forms, and no blocks? Visitors to the 15th edition of Concrete Show, held from August 6th to 8th at São Paulo Expo, can say yes. Among the traditional attractions of the largest construction chain event in Latin America was the iconic Mega Demo Concrete Walls.
Over three days, the audience watched live demonstrations of wall construction, led by ambassadors and industry-leading companies. The Brazilian Association of Formwork, Shoring, and Access (Abrasfe); AGF Química, Ambar, Coplas, Curra Engenharia, and Forsa were present in the space.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of this space once again at Concrete Show. This year, the Mega Demo is much more complete and appealing. We brought our aligners, which are used before concreting to hold the forms in place, and this technology is now much lighter and easier to install. Our novelty was the Forsa a Um Click, an app that organizes the entire customer inventory. If they have any damaged or missing formwork, it automatically appears in the app, making the replacement and organization system much easier for companies,” explains Tamires Albuquerque, Marketing Manager at Forsa.
In addition to the construction of the concrete wall, the Mega Demo space also featured an arena where lectures were presented. On the first day, concluding the presentations, Wallison Rabelo, CEO of WW Group Enterprises and founder of FB Mentoring – Block Factory, delivered the lecture “Producing and Earning High Profits with Concrete Blocks.”
On the second day, Rangel Lage, a master in Civil Engineering and specialist in structural projects, presented “Using BIM in Building Project Development.” Priscilla Bezerra, a Civil Engineer with a postgraduate degree in Waterproofing Technology, discussed the topic “Waterproofing Solutions for Concrete Structures Used in Hydroelectric Plants.” Additionally, other companies in the space also showcased their products and the latest trends in the sector.
Concrete Show 2025
Especially for the 2025 edition, which will be held from August 19th to 21st, Concrete Show’s Product Manager, Fernando D’Áscola, hints at some changes. “Next year, we will have a 20% larger area. The event will take place in pavilions 1, 2, and 3 of São Paulo Expo, which have higher ceilings. Furthermore, the Masonry Plaza will occupy an even larger space, and the Mega Demo Concrete Walls will undergo a redesign.”
According to the executive, the pavilion change will offer a significant advantage to exhibitors. “Due to the higher ceilings and larger area, brands will be able to bring even larger equipment than those present during these three days. Additionally, we will be able to accommodate more companies, attracting even more attendees and putting Concrete into a virtuous circle,” concludes D’Áscola.
Third day of the “Building Knowledge Congress”
During the three-day event, the Building Knowledge Congress, aimed at professionals in the construction chain, featured exclusive lectures, international guests, and extensive experience-sharing. There were 50 hours of exclusive content with the macro theme “The Future of Concrete in Urban Infrastructure.”
ABESC Seminar on Sustainable Innovations for Central Mixed Concrete
Challenges in Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Central Mixed Concrete
Despite the significant financial and strategic advantages of central mixed concrete, the Brazilian construction industry is still seeking the best ways to make this production method more environmentally friendly.
Colombian engineer Manuel Lascarro, president of the Ibero-American Federation of Precast Concrete (FIHP, in Spanish), pointed out that Brazil has an additional barrier to overcome on the path to neutrality due to the informal nature of housing in some regions.
“Brazil faces an extra challenge that doesn’t occur in other parts of the world, which is informal construction. When concrete is not produced in an industrialized manner, it leads to waste and insecurity, creating an initial barrier to achieving neutrality since structural efficiency and material usage have a fundamental impact on reducing carbon emissions,” explained Manuel Lascarro.
UHPC Innovation with Reduced Consumption on the Path to Sustainability
Bernardo Tutikian recalled the history of concrete and highlighted the importance of making 21st-century projects not only more resistant but also enabling a more sustainable process from start to finish, including for infrastructure works such as bridges, buildings, and coatings.
“The dream of the concrete industry in the 1960s or 1970s was that the material would be like a moldable rock—you could design it however you wanted, and then that piece would become eternal. We later discovered that it wasn’t quite like that, that there were agents capable of wearing down and corroding concrete. Now, thanks to UHPC, concrete has become rock-like again, especially with the addition of fibers that help control shrinkage and withstand high loads. Not to mention the fantastic quality of the finish,” stated the professor.
ALEC Seminar – RENTING IN SÃO PAULO
Passing the Baton: Succession Strategies for Family-Owned Rental Companies
Strategic planning for passing the baton from the business owner to the heir was also among the topics discussed at Concrete Show 2024.
Renato Tardioli, a partner at Tardioli Lima Advogados, explained how this can be done in a way that mitigates potential headaches during this decision-making process.
According to the specialist, such a measure should not be made at the last minute but rather over the years, ensuring that all preparations address doubts and leave no gaps for third parties to interfere with the business.
In fact, there are many options for how to do this, as Renato explained: “Within the planning, it’s possible to create a structure where one ceases to be a partner but continues to be part of the management. They can be a full or partial usufructuary. Upon their passing, the usufruct is extinguished, and the heirs start receiving the benefits.”
Revolutionizing Rental: The Transformative Potential of Artificial Intelligence
Departing slightly from the usual focus of Concrete Show, the panel aimed to provide a broad view of how to revolutionize various businesses.
All the tips, of course, are perfectly applicable to the construction industry and related areas, but they are also relevant to the market as a whole.
According to Ale Uehara, head of innovation at Innov8, understanding the customer is the first step to getting ahead in the race for artificial intelligence, seeking not only to invent but also to innovate in the market while exploring how technologies can help people.
“The customer may be looking for the best value, not necessarily the best price. We need to adapt to the market and stay alert to new technologies,” he explained.
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