The International Concrete Technology Forum, held on December 11–12, 2024, in Dubai, brought together global leaders and industry experts to discuss groundbreaking advancements and sustainability in the concrete sector. Organized by Grey Matters in collaboration with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), the event underscored the industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.
The forum opened with an insightful keynote by Lionel Lemay, Executive Vice President at NRMCA, titled “Innovative Cements and Concretes: What to Expect on Our Journey to Net Zero.” Lemay’s discussion highlighted the transformative technologies and practices shaping the path toward a sustainable future in concrete. Following this, Bahaa Ibrahim,General Manager Technical, Hard Precast Building Systems (HPBS) – UAE delivered a presentation titled “Green Building Revolution: How Precast Concrete Meets Today’s Construction Needs.”
A key highlight of the first day was the official launch of the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), in collaboration with its Regional System Operator in the region, Grey Matters. Cynthia Imesch, coordinator and Sustainability Manager at the CSC, delivered a presentation titled “Concrete Solutions for Tomorrow: The Importance of Sustainable Practices and CSC Certification.” Imesch emphasized the role of CSC in fostering sustainability across the industry and its growing global impact. The morning concluded with the CSC Award Ceremony, celebrating major milestones in sustainable concrete certification. For the first time, a cement plant in Egypt, the Arabian Cement Company, received the CSC Certificate, represented by Noor Abdel Aziz,Sustainability Engineer, Arabian Cement Company,while the first CSC Certificate for a ready-mix concrete plant in Saudi Arabia was awarded to Abdullah Abdin for their plant in Tabuk, NEOM.
The second part of the day shifted focus to “Smart Concrete for a Durable Future.” Jacques Marchand, President, SIMCO Technologies Inc. – UAE, presented “Tools for the Ready-Mix Industry,” followed by Juan Manuel Pereira, CEO, Concrete Watcher, who discussed “The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Monitoring Concrete in Transit Mixers.” Then, Usama Jacir,Founder and CEO, Pulse Technologies – UAE spoke about “Early Detection of Corrosion: Extending the Life of Concrete Structures.” The last presentation of the day was by Laith Haboubi, Vice President , Vector Corrosion Technologies – Middle East Region,titled “Advanced Repair Solutions: Restoring and Enhancing Concrete Durability.”
The second day explored standards and sustainability initiatives. Colin Lobo, Executive Vice President, Engineering Division, NRMCA – USA led discussions on “How Changing Standards Support Industry Sustainability Initiatives,” followed by Tolga Ilica, Segment Leader/Ready Mix, Saint Gobain Construction Chemicals who presented “Chryso Solutions for Sustainability and Circularity.” Later, Rabih Fakih, General Director of Grey Matters, shared insights on “Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).” The forum concluded with Osama Hamad, Group General Manager, Concrete Industries Complex (EB, HBF, HPBS) – UAE, delivering a visionary presentation titled “Concrete in Dubai: Past, Present, and Future.”
The two-day forum served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing the latest advancements and reinforcing the concrete industry’s collective drive toward innovation and sustainability.
For more information you can visit the conference website: https://www.concrete-conference.com/uae.php