The 45th edition of World of Concrete for the concrete & masonry industries drew about 54,000 registered professionals to the Las Vegas Convention Center and featured 1,310 companies (including 255 brand new companies) exhibiting across more than 700,000 net sqft of exhibition space. The International presence was also robust with 237 companies from 29 countries outside the United States. Exhibit space booked onsite for WOC 2021 resulted in just over 530,000 net sqft, nearly 77% of the WOC 2020 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) program held its 15th annual unreserved silent and live auctions at World of Concrete 2020 and broke all previous records, bringing in more than $1,217,000, with a total of over $12 million to the CIM program in the past 15 years. The CIM – a business program that has been developed specifically for the concrete industry to provide students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management.
Jackie James, Group Director, World of Concrete, said: “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 Center 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 Center, and thousands more watched live online, as the 18th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® World Championship took center stage to display a battle of skill, speed and stamina as masons and tenders from across North America took a chance to win prizes.
Mason Fred Campbell and mason tender Tony Shelton of Creative Masonry in Greeneville, TN took home the top honors, claiming the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer,” with a brick count of 756. 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 $10,000 in cash and prizes. This marks the third time Fred Campbell has won the World Championship title, the first mason to claim that honor. Mason Darian Douthit of Providence Masonry of Miami, OK, 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 honor Douthit took home a ROXOR Off-Road side-by-side sport utility vehicle.
World of Concrete 2021 will be held from January 19-22; Education 18-22, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
