An Inside Look at World of Concrete 2025

Marking the 51^st edition of the tradeshow, World of Concrete 2025 premier exhibition serves the concrete construction and masonry industries. In 2024, nearly 60,000 registered professionals attended alongside over 1,400 exhibitors. Last year saw a record all-time high of 185 educational sessions highlihgting the vital need of continued education and training. This year is anticiapted to be as exciting as ever. 

Located in always exciting Las Vegas, World of Concrete (WOC) is scheduled for January 21-23 with educational sessions starting on Jan 20. All registrations must be done online before heading to the Convention Center to print out badges. Registration will remain open online throughout the show.

World of Concrete"I'm excited to see how featured technology at WOC will shape our show/industry over the next decades," says Steven Pomerantz, senior marketing manager at show-runners Informa PLC. "Currently, the industry is focused on the continuation of advancements in automation to address labor shortages, jobsite safety and efficiency; electrification and reduction of carbon emissions with companies becoming more sustainably focused; advancements in 3D Printing technology, automation, robotics and AI; and connectivity and data driven cloud-based systems."

Based on testimonials from past attendees, it's not uncommon that people have built their businesses from the show. The opportunities to network, see new products, discovering new ways to grow businesses, and continued education have all played major roles in helping contractors accomplish their goals. 

Events & Where to Find Them

The event has been in Las Vegas since 2005 and show runners say it will remain. The city provides a fitting location that matches the show size with ample space both indoors and out for exhbitors and demonstrations. Contractors that have attended in recent years will be familiar with the setup. The show will again take place in the North, Central, and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). While popular elements can be found mixed throughout the halls, each hall features a specific focus. 

All main entrances will be open for the show. It is worth noting that the LVCC is undergoing an enhancement project on some of the halls. WOC has a floor map available online.

To date, the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) silent and live auctions have helped raise over $18 million, providing funding for students to attend one of the five universities in the program: Middle Tennessee State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, California State University - Chico, Texas State University, and South Dakota State University. Graduates would have the skill set necessary to meet the growing demands of the industry. This program is made possible, in large part, by the combined efforts of the national and local concrete industry. The National Steering Committee for CIM, in collaboration with local patron groups at all five universities, provides both funding and oversight for the program. 

The live auction will take place in the North Hall on Wednesday, January 22, at 1 pm in room N262, with the silent auction 11 am to 12:45 pm in room N265. 

If it's new or trusted in material handling, you'll find it in the Central Hall. This should be where trucks, excavators, paving equipment and more relevant for the material delivery distrution, concrete placement, and earth moving will be found. Attendees should also expect general equipment, tools, products, and services for the commerical construction and masonry industries. World of Concrete

Central Hall will also be home to the return of Work Truck LIVE!, powered by Modern WorkTruck Solutions magazine. This experiential area highlights innovations in the design and configuration of work trucks and accessories that will help contractors increase safety and productivity. Exhibitors and sessions here highlight innovations in the design and configuration of work trucks and innovative accessories that will help contractors increase safety and productivity.         

Known as "The Producer Center," the North Hall features a compres marketplace of materials, equipment, demos, specifically for concrete producers. The innovation Technology for Construction showcase features the newest products and tools for the commercial construction industry from top information technology and systems providers. 

• Contractors in the precast and masonry industries will be right at home in the North Hall. contractors. Expect to find the latest in precast/prestressed secotr and concrete masonry like block, segmental retaining wall units, veneer, slabs, pavers, and roof tiles, admixtures, equipment, supplies, and pigments. 
• Attendees will also find the leaders in concrete reinforcement from bending, fabricating, positioners, and more along with the general tools serving commerical, concrete, and masonry industries.
• The leaders of the equipment and support services used in cement manufacturing will be grouped within the Cement Production Pavillion: kilns, separators, mills, dryers, silos, bagging machines, plant automation, and instrumentation. 
• Discover more information on autoclaved aerated concrete from internationally renowned experts and what new opportunities there may be. 

The South Hall is considered the World of Masonry, collecting the products, tools, information, and emerging technologies that professionals need to stay on the cutting edge. Here contractors can find booths on repair, demolition, surface prep, scarifying, grinding, sawing, etc. The South Hall will also be the home for surface and decorative concrete contractors with products like protection, coatings, cleaning, stains, pigments, molds, and more. 

During show hours, stop by the Decorative Concrete Experience, presented by the Decorative Concrete Council and the Concrete Polishing Council, sponsored by the American Society of Concrete Contractors. 

World of ConcreteJust outside South and Central Halls is the Silver Lot which features suppliers, live demos, heavy equipment, and more decorative concrete products. Here attendees can catch "Decorative Concrete LIVE!," an outdoor destination where leading industry artisans are at work showcasing the latest products, tools, and equipment by exhibiting companies at the show. For attendees who are looking for opportunities in decorative concrete or simply looking for ways to create new profit centers for their business, this is a must-see area. The Experience will feature live and recorded short peer-to-peer presentations from industry experts on topics crafted to help new and experienced practitioners improve their businesses. 

Attendees can find exciting championships, skills challenges, and creative demos at the Bronze lot, set just south of the South Hall. The "Western Star Trucks Get Tough Challenge" allows attendees to take out the truck of their choice on a course and win a special prize. (Note: interested drivers must have a current CDL.) Then sign up for this highly anticipated event, where you’ll take the truck of your choice out on the course (and take a special prize home with you).

The following events take place on Wednesday, January 22 at the Bronze lot. World of Concrete

• Mason Contractors Association of America’s Masonry Skills Challenge, 8 am - Masonry apprentices in first, second, and third-year levels showcase their training in masonry by competing against winning apprentices from various regions. The contestants put their skills to the test as they complete a surprise project without any preparation or assistance. Awards are presented to the top three projects at each level.
• SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER, 10 am - Talented mason tenders set up their SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 teams. Fastest time wins.
• MCAA’S Fastest Trowel on the Block, 10:20 am - Invited competitors complete as much of a 30-ft.-long wall as possible in a 20-minute heat, while also highlighting the craftsmanship, speed and versatility of masonry systems and the masonry workforce. Teamwork is key. 
• SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship, 11 a.m. - Revered as the “Super Bowl of Masonry,” the competition showcases the world’s best bricklayers melding the winning combination of skill, speed, and stamina. The payout for all the hardwork is over $125,000 which includes a new 4x4 Chevrolet truck, KUBOTA RTV-X1130 utility vehicle, Essick Pro12 Mixer and thousands in cold cash and prizes. Attendees are welcome to watch. Find your spot early.