Seminar Spotlight

Jordan Smith, Head of Technical & Marketing, Master Builders Solutions discusses how the intelligent cluster system in the MasterCO2re admixture overcomes performance gaps associated with low-clinker concrete production.

Franz-Josef Papen, International Sales Manager, Rekers GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau have manufactured and installed a machine that produces cement free, concrete style facing bricks.

Dr Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Reader in Railway and Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham highlights new research outcomes that will enhance structural applications with industrial steel fibres and recycled steel fibre reinforced concrete in the construction industry.

Dr Stephen Hodge, CEO, Versarien Plc highlights two key product streams in the construction sector - Cementene and 3D construction printing.

Mike Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, Concretene explains the issues around supply chain, scale-up and real-world implementation that frame a key question for industry around embodied carbon.

Joe Kirwin, Commercial Manager - RMX London Southeast, Tarmac discusses the delivery of CEVO Digital and Tarmac's first trial of MixAI with Getjar Ltd.

Craig Giaccio, Technical Director, Hewson Consulting outlines the design principles of CFRP strengthening for concrete structures based on EN 1992-1-1 (2023).

Craig Hannam, Market Sector Manager and Andy Hatch, National Concrete Repair Specification Manager, Fosroc explore the intersection of sustainability, carbon management and concrete repair.

Abdurahim Abogdera, Associate Lecturer and Full Time Researcher, University of Derby talks about the research being done to enhance the resilience of underground concrete.

Henrik B. Jeppesen, CEO, fibo Intercon showcases how self-service concrete, mortar and screed technology is revolutionising the industry.

Ben Garner, Head of Logistics, Developments and Standards, Tarmac explores the barriers that are delaying the widespread adoption of eMixers.

Dr Alalea Kia, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and a Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Associate Research Fellow, Imperial College London discusses how Kiacrete can address the issues associated with permeable concrete.

Andy Vincent, Specifications Manager, McGraths (Cemfloor) examines the reasons for the increased use of floor screeds, benefits observed and future possibilities.

Xavier Hodgetts and Ben Shaw, Account Directors, Adtrak give practical tips and advice on how to get more customers and revenue from your website and marketing campaigns.

Steve Phipps, Head of Materials Engineering, Balfour Beatty Vinci will introduce the Good Concrete Guide 11.

Helen Frape, Business Development Manager, Verifi, GCP shares their experience with the supply chain on HS2.

Robert Lewis, Chair of Technical and Educational and Past President (ICT), Technical Manager (Ferroglobe) gives an overview of the ICT's Academic Stages of Concrete Technology Qualifications and Competence Certifications in testing concrete.

Becky Ray, CEO, Culture Kick Ltd introduces a unique framework to build a high performance culture for young leaders - the Culture Kick Culture Cake.

Dr Aneeta Mary Joseph, Materials Engineer, Mott MacDonald - Hear details on the benefits of joining the Institute of Concrete Technology's Student and Young Professional Network (ICT SYPro)

Elaine Toogood, Director, Architecture and Sustainable Design, MPA - The Concrete Centre provides an overview of the action being taken and recent progress on the industry’s roadmap for decarbonisation. It includes action on transport; energy use and fuel switching; carbon capture, use and storage, as well as development of standards for greater use of powdered limestone and reclaimed clay and other innovation.

Colin Dowds, Global Technical Manager, Imerys - Imerys and VINCI Construction partnered to develop a groundbreaking sustainable low-carbon concrete using Metakaolin, which was used extensively for the construction of this high-profile project in Nantes, France. This presentation discusses the use of Metakaolin and the on-site challenges using low-carbon concrete and methodologies for their successful use and optimisation.

Pascal Gonnon, Global Senior Manager for cement, mortar and concrete applications, Omya UK - Replacing traditional cement with high clinker content swiftly reduces mortar and concrete's carbon footprint, as cement accounts for 70% of it. Research suggests limestone and metakaolin could replace current clinker production.

John Twitchen, Director, Xeroc Ltd, highlights why concrete recycling is important and why the current situation is inadequate to meet the future needs of developers. He discusses how Xeroc has explored various technologies before it was satisfied that old concrete could effectively be separated into its constituent materials to enable recycling. John will explain the recent innovate UK trial and its results.

Stuart Manning, Technical Director, Shotcrete Services - Shotcrete Services is renowned for its expertise in sprayed concrete design and construction, in both civil engineering and tunnelling industries completing high-profile projects. Stuart shares his latest pioneering research with an overview on the use of GGBS combined with powdered accelerator to reduce embodied carbon within accelerated sprayed concrete. 

Damian Thomas, Commercial Development Manager, Infrastructure, Imerys - With an increased focus on sustainability and ageing existing infrastructure, the construction industry needs materials with better durability, offering long term solutions that also allow the rehabilitation and reuse of existing assets while delivering lower carbon and environmental footprints and more resilience. Calcium aluminate concretes and mortars provide long term protection from combinations of heat, abrasion, and chemical environments.

Dr Omar Hamza, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Derby - Recent research into innovative bio-self-healing concrete has largely focused on above-ground structures. However, underground structures, such as tunnels and water tanks, face unique challenges due to their interaction with soil environments, which can also offer a solution.

Deiniol Williams, Area Sales Manager, South West, Fosroc, past President of The Concrete Society, and Craig Hannam, Market Sector Manager UK & ROI, Fosroc - As UK industry moves towards 2050 carbon targets, the built environment clearly has a significant part to play. With this in mind, Craig Hannam and Deiniol Williams speak about incorporating concrete repair and restoration into a carbon emission reduction strategy, taking into account the ‘whole life’ carbon cycle.

Kathy Calverley MBE, Managing Director, The Concrete Society - A guide to The Concrete Society, your route to independent advice, support on all matters concrete past, present and future, and including a UK wide network of technical and social networking events.

Dr Lisa Scullion, Applications Manager, Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre - The University of Manchester - Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice which was first isolated from graphite at The University of Manchester in 2004. Over the past 20 years scientists at the University of Manchester have found that it is possible to utilize graphene’s unique properties across a range of products and applications.

Ian Riley, CEO, World Cement Association - We have become used to the idea that concrete has a large carbon footprint, but does that really have to be the case? Ian argues that we already know how to make concrete with much lower carbon footprint and significantly better resource efficiency. We are seeing innovation progress in 4 key areas and taken together these developments offer the prospect that for at least some applications we may be able to reach carbon neutrality or even net sequestration of CO2.

Paul O'Hanlon, Global R&D Project Manager, Holcim - This seminar explores the intersection of digital innovation and sustainability, focusing on low-carbon concrete. Gain insights on cutting-edge technologies, showcasing how digital tools enhance decision-making, improve project performance and mitigate risks. Learn how these tools enable the use of low-carbon concrete, reducing environmental footprints.

Dr Andrew Smith, Head of Materials Development, Forterra PLC, and Associate Professor of Mineral Product Technology, University of Derby - The question for most concrete product manufacturers is, "is it really possible to deliver more for less?" Can we ever achieve this 'Holy Grail' of matching existing performance with real green credentials, and maintain or reduce the cost to the customer? This presentation looks at some of the more viable potential solutions for delivery of, or at least a glimpse, of the 'Holy Grail'.

Sam Draper, CEO & Co-founder, Seratech gives an overview of Seratech’s approach to decarbonise cement production. Seratech is a spin-out company from Imperial College London that mineralises CO2 within naturally abundant magnesium silicates to produce a siliceous supplementary cementitious material (SCM) for use in ready mix concrete, and magnesium carbonate – a binder for concrete products.

James Bullock, CEO, ConSpare, and President, MHEA, discusses what ‘social’ means in practice for batch plants, the challenges associated with understanding how to create better, cleaner and safer conditions at each of the UK’s nearly 2,000 batch plants, and three of the main problems that must be addressed – dust, cleaning and manual interventions. Using case studies and testimonials from plant managers, James ultimately explores how we can make the lives of batchers better – and how this benefits the industry as a whole.

James Thorne, Joint CEO IQ and MPQC - The Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) has developed and administers the MP Connect system to support the Mineral Products Sector in delivering safer and healthier outcomes. MP Connect is a state-of-the-art application that offers a fully integrated learner management system and will ultimately replace the amount of safety cards that drivers and contractors are required to carry.

Mike Phillips F.I.Q., CEO, British Aggregates Association - Safety leadership should not be simply Health & Safety focussed – why not I hear you ask? There are many differing factors to consider when evaluating the safety of your organisation, which when you very clearly understand, plan for, do and reflect can make Health & Safety an integral day to day norm.

Jonathan Goldsmith, Principal Scientist, Bluerinse - What is concrete wash water, how is it produced and why you should be concerned. Review of the Health Safety & Environmental risks associated with the production, storage, treatment and reuse of concrete wash water. Including guidance on options for treatment and off-site disposal (What is the correct EWC Code?).