World of Concrete is celebrating 50 years of bringing new, innovative products and education to the concrete construction industry. The show has seen countless programs, seminars, and events created to help the construction individual succeed in an ever-changing field.
Take a trip down memory lane in this retrospective of WOC’s service to the marketplace. #WOC2024 #WOC50
The first 10 years: 1975 – 1985
Hyatt Regency, Houston
„I’ll believe it when I see it,” was the sentiment of one concrete contractor when informed about a new construction trade show called the World of Concrete (WOC). The event hosted by Concrete Construction, and co-sponsored by the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), and the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA), offered both indoor and outdoor exhibits totaling 75,000 square feet, concrete-related demonstrations, and workshops.
Among the first exhibitors were 17 different manufacturers of forming systems. According to attendees, the most popular exhibit was an innovative product many felt would change the industry: tapered tie rods.
The first Concrete Demos featured topics such as vacuum dewatering slabs, surveying with laser equipment, and the use of high-temperature lances for concrete demolition and cutting. Workshops, based on input from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and American Concrete Institute (ACI), included „Human Engineering and Motivation,” „Field Practices for Architectural Concrete,” and „The Role of Data Processing in a Medium Sized Construction Firm.” The latter workshop was considered ground-breaking at the time as its premise was to „help attendees decide if there is a place for a computer in your organization.”
The first WOC drew a total of 1550 attendees and 71 exhibitors.
Partener Principal
MATEK Build Smart