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<\/a><\/p>\n(Photo courtesy of Informa Markets)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
With almost 58,000 registered attendees, World of Concrete dove into its next decade of service to the concrete construction and masonry industries this past January. The 2025 event featured thousands of the latest tools, technologies and equipment to be previewed throughout the expansive show floor inside and outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Over 1,500 companies exhibited this year, putting a spotlight on the latest heavy machinery, tools, products and services for material handling, concrete reinforcement, concrete masonry, cement production and decorative concrete for all types of building, repair, demolition and reconstruction.<\/p>\n
Along with the exhibits, the event also had an educational side, with more than 180 learning sessions available to attendees, with topics ranging from business and project management to concrete fundamentals courses, to support both new and experienced industry professionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis event sets the standard for excellence in construction, both excelling in size, attendance and engagement as well as the ability to deliver highly relevant and tailored content to our various audience types,\u201d explained Jackie James, vice-president of World of Concrete. \u201cIt provides actionable insights and tangible takeaways that attendees can take into the real world, empowering them to thrive in their roles and stay ahead as the knowledge gained at WOC is applied in the day-to-day work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving from the classroom to the outdoor competition sites, this year\u2019s show saw 27 masons from around the world competing to be \u201cthe world\u2019s best bricklayer\u201d in the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 World Championship, while apprentices in the trade competed in their own Masonry Skills Challenge.<\/p>\n
Ohio mason Cole Stamper, working with his brother Forest as his tender, laid 738 bricks in one hour win a new Chevrolet Silverado truck, an Essick Pro12 mixer and thousands more in additional cash and prizes as the Bricklayer 500 champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe created this competition in 2003 to highlight the incredible skill and pride that bricklayers all over the world dedicate every day to the projects they build,\u201d said Spec Mix vice-president, Brian Carney. \u201cNow it\u2019s the masonry industry\u2019s most celebrated annual event that gains more popularity each year and becomes the top recruiting tool for the next generation of skilled masons.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to being transformed into the competition battleground, the parking lots surrounding the convention centre were teaming with machinery and tool demonstrations, as well as the Western Star Trucks Get Tough Challenge, where commercial drivers could test drive vocational trucks on an outdoor obstacle course.<\/p>\n
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