Semana Internacional de la Construcción (International Construction Week) highlights the significant efforts of the sector in matters related to sustainability

At the 1st Building the Future Conference, organised with Alimarket, Luis Rodulfo, president of CEPCO, the Spanish Confederation of Construction Products Manufacturers' Associations, stated that “this industry is making a huge and real effort in terms of sustainability, demonstrable with third-party certifications. This translates into investments in decarbonisation, but also in the adaptation of process lines and products so that they comply with the best world standards in all their features”.  Federico Ávila, president of Lantania, stressed the need for ‘the construction sector to become aware of its importance as a driver of infrastructure for renewable energy generation, improved water treatment, sustainable transport and decarbonisation of buildings. Chris Bargate, CEO of Brico Depot, also emphasised the importance of sustainability and pointed out that “products with sustainable materials are growing at four time the rate of products without sustainable materials”. What's more, he noted that “more than 18 million homes in Spain are responsible for 68 million tonnes of CO2”: Other speakers such as Juan Carlos Bandrés, CEO of Grupo Lobe and Yolanda Villaseñor, director of Product Certification at Aenor also participated in the Conference.

Continuity strategies

Semana Internacional de la Construcción also hosted the first edition of the Investment Forum, organized by Apliqa and with the collaboration of Andece and Asefave, who brought together different leaders, to debate continuity and growth strategies. Manuel del Río, president of Danosa, warned that “many family businesses may have problems with generational handover”, and highlighted that “inorganic growth and the inclusion of industrial or financial partners”, as potential tools to guarantee the generational continuity of these companies. As he recalled “in recent years, Danosa has completed 15 inorganic acquisitions focused of the geographical diversification of products”.

VETECO/ SMART DOORS Forum

In a workshop at the VETECO/SMART DOORS Forum, Jorge Jimeno presented the new European Regulation on construction products and the new report on CE marking, fitting and modification of industrial, commercial, and garage doors, gates, and barriers. Among the new aspects of the future Construction Products Regulation, he cited “the process of standardisation (harmonised technical specifications); the preparatory stage for the development of harmonised technical specifications,; the harmonised zone; the declaration of performance and conformity; and digitalisation. Jorge Iñesta, from the Sub-directorate General for Industry and Inspection of the Community of Madrid, presented the Inspection and Market Surveillance Plan and warned that “all EU states have the obligation to maintain a market surveillance strategy”.

Another of the meetings at Semana Internacional de la Construcción was iRehabitae: a debate on female directors in the construction and renovation sector, in which the challenges and opportunities of construction, renovation and refurbishment were analysed.

Finally, a workshop on the Guest Country, Mexico, was held, with the participation of Óscar Pérez, head of Economic Affairs at the Mexican Embassy in Spain; Juan Manuel Chávez, president of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce of the Construction Industry Jalisco; Luis Salazar, president of Expo Guadalajara, Arancha Priede, director general of Fair and Congress Business at IFEMA MADRID; Jaime Martín, director of International Expansion at IFEMA MADRID; and Alberto Leal, director of the Semana Internacional de la Construcción.

Tomorrow, the alliance between the Madrid trade fair institution and the largest Mexican trade fair operator will be sealed for the celebration of one of IFEMA MADRID's most consolidated brands in the region of Jalisco.