World of Concrete (WOC) 2020 concluded its 45th edition with a strong event, drawing approximately 54,000 registered professionals and 1,310 companies – including 255 brand new companies - exhibiting across more than 700,000 net sq ft (about 65,000 sq m) of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in the US. International presence was also robust with 237 companies from 29 countries outside the US.
According to the show organiser, exhibit space booked onsite for next year’s WOC resulted in just over 530,000 net sq ft (about 49,240 sq m), nearly 77% of this year’s show floor, consisting of 485 companies - projecting next year’s edition to be one of the largest events in over a decade.
The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) programme held its 15th annual unreserved silent and live auctions at WOC 2020. These auctions reportedly broke all previous records bringing in more than US$1,217,000, with a total of over US$12 million to the CIM programme in the past 15 years.
The CIM programme is a business programme that has been developed specifically for the concrete industry to provide students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management. The programme gives students entering the concrete workforce industry experience early in their careers.
Jackie James, group director of World of Concrete said, “This year has been a very successful event – the industry continues to evolve and grow stronger as we enter a new decade. The construction industry remains strong along with the economy and we cannot wait until WOC 2021, with the new expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Centre West Hall to showcase our leading industry suppliers in this state-of-the-art facility.”
Thousands of spectators gathered in the Bronze Lot at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, and thousands more watched live online as the 18th annual Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 World Championship took centre stage at WOC 2020. It was a battle of skill, speed and stamina as masons and tenders from across North America put their reputations on the line for a chance to win exciting prizes.
Mason Fred Campbell and mason tender Tony Shelton of Creative Masonry in Greeneville, Tennessee took home top honours, claiming the title ‘World’s Best Bricklayer,’ with a brick count of 756. Mr Campbell is now the proud owner of a new Ford F-250 XLT 4×4 truck, an Essick Pro 12 mortar mixer plus an additional US$10,000 in cash and prizes. This marks the third time Mr Campbell has won the World Championship title, the first mason to claim that honour. He said, “It’s great to be back on the podium. We put in a lot of work this year to make sure we came out on top.”
Mason Darian Douthit of Providence Masonry in Miami, Oklahoma took home the title ‘Spec Mix Top Craftsman’, which goes to the mason whose wall was voted ‘most sellable’ by a 30-judge panel. For this honour, Mr Douthit is taking home a Roxor Off-Road side-by-side sport utility vehicle.
Next year, World of Concrete will return from 19 to 22 January 2021 (education: 18 to 22 January) at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
More photos from this year’s event can be seen here.
www.worldofconcrete.com
