World of Concrete gears up for 40th anniversary at January 2014 Show

Words: Steven PomerantzWith 40 years of history, action and innovation under its “tool belt,” World of Concrete attributes its legacy to the continued success of exhibitors and attendees. Building on the reputation as the only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, World of Concrete will be held on January 21-24, 2014; Seminars: 20-24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition to highlighting the 40th anniversary, WOC 2014 will feature a week packed full of exciting hands-on product demonstrations, spectator events & competitions, more than 100 educational sessions, as well as luncheons & forums on the latest industry topics.

Providing abundant opportunities for networking, training and business growth, this well-known industry mega-show will include more than 1,000 leading suppliers and an expected 50,000 registered concrete and masonry professionals.

“WOC 2014 will be an important event for the industry. Attendees can find everything they are looking for in one place–new and innovative products, leading suppliers, extensive education and training opportunities while networking with their peers and enjoying all that Las Vegas has to offer,” said Jackie James, Director, World of Concrete.

World of Concrete will continue to bring international buyers together with U.S. exhibitors to expand business domestically and overseas. For the 9th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Commerce has selected the World of Concrete for the International Buyer Program (IBP) for both the 2014 and 2015 shows. WOC draws significant attendance each year working with the Department of Commerce. As part of the program, delegations from all over the globe will attend World of Concrete to connect with U.S. exhibitors interested in exporting goods and services. The International Business Center will be their headquarters for these activities.

The World of Concrete Education Program features targeted 90-minute and 3-hour sessions within targeted tracks such as Leadership & Management, Decorative Concrete, Safety & Risk Management, Finance & Money Matters and the new Engineering track among others. With more than 50% brand new sessions, WOC 2014 will offer more than 100 expert-led sessions, including interactive workshops such as Train-the-Trainer, Boot Camps for Field Leaders, and OSHA 10-Hour Safety plus Hands-On-Training opportunities for laying concrete masonry block, placing & finishing floors, surveying, stamped concrete and concrete repairs. Targeting both civil and structural engineers, the new Engineering Day, scheduled for Thursday, January 23, features a new education track with six seminars as well as scheduled demos and other events.

Unique to WOC is the outdoor exhibits and demonstration area where attendees can see equipment and technology in action. This high-energy, high-impact area lets attendees test products under real jobsite conditions–giving them the knowledge they need to make educated purchasing decisions. Popular returning events include the John Deere Operator Challenge, Western Star Serious Trucks Challenge, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® competition, SAIA’s Safety Boot Camp, Pervious Concrete LIVE!, Masonry Veneer LIVE!, and the 2014 CIM Auction, just to name a few. Details on all returning favorites and events can be found here.

MCAA (Masonry Contractors Association of America) will hold its Annual Convention at WOC. In addition to several educational sessions, MCAA will feature two exciting events; the International Masonry Skills Challenge and the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition.

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION and CONCRETE SURFACES magazine’s 12th annual Artistry in Decorative Concrete Demonstrations will take place again in the Concrete Surfaces Decorative Pavilion at World of Concrete 2014. This live-action event features industry artisans who share their techniques and experiences with attendees. Artists selected for the Demonstrations will be eligible for one of two $500 prizes awarded to the Attendees’ Choice and the Experts’ Choice.All voting takes place onsite in the Silver Lot, in front of South Hall.

Also within this Pavilion, the Let's Build with Concrete for Habitat event will be showcased once again. For the past few years, attendees have participated in a hands-on tool demo activity constructing concrete tabletops. After the event, these items were donated to Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas ReStore. This year, the goal will be to create a number of concrete items for donation with the help of instructors and students involved in Skills USA, to work on the items during show hours. Attendees will get to see the setup, demonstrations of the decorative concrete items being made, and a viewing of the completed items before they are shipped to ReStore.

During the week WOC offers a variety of Events, Editorial Luncheons & Tours, where attendees can do everything from enjoy a meal while listening to industry leaders on the hottest topics today to networking with peers at the new daily Breakfast with the Experts sessions, the CIM White Paper Presentation or the Hoover Dam & Lake Mead Intake Project Tour and Hoover Dam & Bypass Bridge Tour. The 2014 luncheon offerings include the new Self-Consolidating Concrete Presentation & Forum, Concrete Repair, Concrete Polishing, Quality in Concrete Slabs, the new Insulating Concrete Forms Luncheon & the new Missouri River Bridge Project Luncheon. Details on these events can be found here.

The 11th Annual “Most Innovative Products” Contest showcases the best new products of 2014. Attendees can browse product entries at participating exhibitor booths and cast votes at the show or online to determine the most “innovative products of the year.”

To honor hardworking crews in the construction industry, World of Concrete is proud to showcase CREWS THAT ROCK, sponsored by BASF. Crews submitted stories and photos of their inspiring projects from the past year for a chance to win a trip to the show, including hotel nights, seminars and other exciting prizes. Winners will be honored at a reception on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at WOC 2014, hosted by TV hosts Dean & Derek, along with management from CTR’s exclusive sponsor, BASF, and WOC Show Management, as well as members of the industry press. More details are available at www.crewsthatrock.com.

The World of Concrete 2014 free Mobile App, which will be available for download this fall, allows attendees to quickly find exhibitors, seminars and events, speaker information, and more from iPhones, iPads, Androids and Blackberry devices.

Be sure to visit www.worldofconcrete.com for the latest updates on events, educational offerings, show news and more!
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