The show featured an improved and expanded seminar program, expanded outdoor exhibit and demonstration areas. Additional events included The Concrete Producer Economic Summit, the second annual Women in Concrete Forum, and the second annual unreserved auction, produced by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. The auction raised almost $500,000, with all proceeds benefiting the national steering committee of Construction Industry Management to support efforts to establish, support and sustain programs at selected universities.
The forecasts expressed at the economic summit were primarily positive. “The engine growth will be more subdued for 2007,” said Ed Sullivan, chief economic for the Portland Cement Association. Sullivan predicted U.S. gross domestic product of 2.6 percent for 2007 after several years in the 3.5 to 4 percent GDP growth range.
“Those were great times,” Sullivan said. “As we go forward, conditions will not be that favorable, but they won’t be that bad either.”
Competitions included the JLG Telehandlers Skills Challenge, the Concrete Producers’ Challenge, including the John Deere Load America Competition and the Mack Truck Safety Competition, and the Masonry Construction’s Challenge, which included the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 Competition.
Next year’s World of Concrete will be held Jan. 22-25 in Las Vegas.
