Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

After more than a year of intensive preparation, including several site visits, meetings with associations, institutions and representatives of the local cement and concrete industry, the first ICCX West Africa could be ceremoniously opened on 25 and 26 April in the Grand Arena in Accra, Ghana. More than 600 trade visitors from over 380 different companies from the concrete construction sector accepted the organisers' invitation. During the two days of the event, the visitors were offered a lot. A trade exhibition with over 40 national and international companies from the cement, concrete and precast concrete industry offered a unique opportunity to expand the professional network and make important contacts. Two conference podiums with various lectures on the topics of cement and concrete completed the information offer for the visitors. The comments on the first ICCX West Africa were uniformly very positive. On the morning of 25 April, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Construction and Housing in Ghana opened the first ICCX West Africa with his address to the auditorium followed by a tour of the trade exhibition. It quickly became clear that there is a huge need for specialist information in the Ghanaian concrete industry and the visitors made correspondingly intensive use of the information on offer. The exhibiting companies, most of which had travelled to Ghana from Europe, but also from other parts of the world, confirmed this demand. However, numerous conversations went far beyond an informative talk. Specific questions and clear ideas from the visitors proved that it was the right decision to come to Ghana with the ICCX event series. Not least thanks to the support of the cooperation partners, above all the AHK (Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana), but also the Ghana Standards Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, the VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association) as well as the main sponsors, MC-Bauchemie, Sika Ghana, Ghacem and Saint-Gobain, the foundation stone for a successful first event was laid. Furthermore, the exhibiting companies must also be mentioned in this context, as they make an ICCX event so unique and successful. The companies' trust in the organisers should therefore be rewarded with many good contacts to the local concrete industry. Lecture programme with international expertise The lecture programme offered numerous highlights, as the mixture of national and international speakers, all recognised experts in their fields, offered the visitors a broad and profound spectrum of specialist knowledge. For example, Dr Charles Nmai, former President of the American Concrete Institute, ACI, reported as an outsider on the challenges and opportunities of the West African concrete industry, himself having in-depth knowledge of local issues as a native Ghanaian. Dr Wolfram Schmidt from BAM in Berlin highlighted the current trends in the West African concrete industry with his presentation on new cost-effective and sustainable concrete types for West Africa. Local conditions differ from European conditions in many ways, e.g. climate, supply chains, prices and costs, availability of resources, infrastructure, etc. Without reinventing the wheel, a rethink is therefore needed to apply proven technologies based on material innovations as well as sustainable, circular and local supply and value chains. Potential for reducing carbon emissions can be found in the precast industry rather than in the cement market. Akosua Nyansaland Akuffo-Ensaw, Managing Director of CAK Construction, inspired the audience with her presentation on infrastructure construction with precast concrete elements. She explained the use of precast concrete in Ghana and described the advantages as well as the current challenges that the West African construction industry is currently facing. It showed that precast concrete elements are increasingly used because of their suitability for the needs of the Ghanaian construction industry. Her presentation also discussed various construction methods that are becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry. In his lecture, Prof. Kolawole Olonade from the University of Lagos highlighted Nigeria as the African hot spot in every respect. With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria also sets the standards for the whole of Africa in the construction sector. Nigeria's rapidly growing population is a catalyst for the increase in infrastructure and thus construction activity. This has been demonstrated by the construction of multi-billion dollar mega-projects over the last decade, which has increased the construction industry's share of total gross domestic product (GDP) from 3.1 % to about 5.7 %. Lagos alone, the commercial centre of Nigeria, is experiencing unprecedented construction activity. Prof. Olonade concluded that Africa, especially West Africa, will determine the future of the global construction industry. Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director of the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), presented the state of standardisation for precast concrete elements in Africa. As the middle class in Africa grows, so does the demand for building materials, including precast concrete elements. In Ghana, the GSA has introduced mandatory conformity assessment of precast concrete elements and other building materials as part of its role as a de facto regulator of products used in the construction industry. The GSA has also published Ghana's first Building Code (GhBC), GS1207:2018. Statutory enforcement of the provisions of the Building Code will strengthen standards in the construction industry and achieve the dual objective of consumer protection and trade facilitation. National standards bodies and regulators are uniquely positioned to build the Africa of tomorrow today, using science and regulatory guidance to ensure the production, supply and use of standardised precast concrete for all construction projects in Africa. Trade exhibition As a fixed component of an ICCX, the trade exhibition with the generously equipped networking area was also the central point of the event at the first ICCX West Africa. More than 40 national and international companies from the cement, concrete and precast concrete industry presented themselves to the trade visitors. In addition to many technical discussions at the exhibition stands, people met here to maintain and expand their professional network. The exhibiting companies uniformly confirm not only the large number of visitors, but also the quality of the contacts made. The need for such an event format for the concrete industry in West Africa is enormous, because until now there has been no opportunity to meet and exchange in such a concentrated and focused way. This report summarises some exhibitor statements. Looking to the future, it is safe to assume that ICCX West Africa will develop into a firmly established event for the West African concrete industry. The date for the second edition of ICCX West Africa has already been set. So make a note in your calendar now for 16 and 17 April 2024. www.iccx.org