Semana Internacional de la Construcción identifies industrialisation as a key driver of efficiency and competitiveness

The Semana Internacional de la Construcción, taking place from 5 to 8 November at IFEMA MADRID, today emphasised the growing importance of industrialisation as a means of enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the construction process. The experts participating in the comprehensive programme of conferences held concurrently with the CONSTRUTEC, VETECO, SMART DOORS and PISCIMAD trade fairs, which also coincide with MATELEC, emphasised the significance of promoting energy-efficient building and home refurbishment.

In the third session of the 1st Building the Future Congress, organised with Alimarket, Michel Elizalde, CEO and president of ACR, a company specialising in building and rehabilitation, stated that “industrialisation is a key driver for transforming construction into a more innovative, responsible and sustainable industry.” He also stated that this is “the only solution to the numerous challenges currently facing the construction industry.” Carlos Lamela, president and co-founder of Estudio Lamela, emphasised “the significance of modular architecture and industrialisation in both buildings and façades.” He also advocated for “an industrial partnership between all stakeholders and the administration” to drive progress in this area.

At the CONSTRUTEC/PISCIMAD Forum, Gustavo Amorós, an expert in the field, delivered a presentation on 'Multiply your pool business with artificial intelligence'. In his talk, Mr Amorós outlined how AI can transform the pool industry. “ChatGPT is an example of this. It can make life easier for professionals by providing expert assistance in a range of fields, including marketing and sales, as well as pool maintenance and management.”

Circular Economy

At the VETECO/SMART DOORS Forum, a conference was held on the transformation of construction and the opportunities and challenges of the circular economy. The event was moderated by Claudia Benítez, head of the technical department of ASEFAVE, the Spanish Association of Light Façade and Window Manufacturers, and featured contributions from experts in the field. Among the speakers was Arturo del Diego, Project Manager at Gmp. He highlighted the that “40% of primary resources are produced by this sector, and that 40% of global emissions also fall within its remit.” Gmp's circular economy actions include “the promotion of recycled materials on construction sites, the control of waste for treatment and the reduction of waste in the operational phase.”

Alberto García, Head of Sustainability at Saint-Gobain, stated that the construction sector “must make greater progress in the area of social responsibility” and “seek to maximise positive impact by offering the market sustainable and high-performance solutions that drive market transformation.” Mario Horno, head of Wicona, addressed the challenges of the circular economy, including “design for disassembly, materials and adhesives, durability, excess pre-consumer material and lack of post-consumer material.” Sofía Galán, façade engineer at Arup, highlighted the necessity to “transform construction to contribute to achieving the European Union's climate neutrality goals by 2050.”

Sectoral Collaboration  

Additionally, at the VETECO/SMART DOORS Forum, a conference was held on sectoral collaboration between PVC cladding and insulation, with the aim of promoting energy rehabilitation through the thermal envelope. The Association of Insulation Installers (AISLA) and the Association of PVC Windows (ASOVEN PVC) have entered into an agreement to promote the energy renovation of buildings and homes through joint actions on the thermal envelope.

Álvaro Pimentel, Secretary General of AISLA, emphasised the necessity of “pursuing professional accreditation for installers and facilitating ongoing training, technical guidance, information sharing, networking and collaboration.” Meanwhile, Jaime Fernández, director of ASOVEN PVC, emphasised the importance of “high performance in the following key areas: energy efficiency, quality, information, relations and collaboration, and the defence of the sector's interests.” Also, there were Eduardo Serradilla, president of ASOVEN PVC, and Juan Francisco Jiménez, manager of Aislamientos Gainza at the show.

The 15th VETECO ASEFAVE AWARDS were also presented during today's event, part of the Semana Internacional de la Construcción. In the 'Light Façade' category, honourable mentions were awarded to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Reform and the Arrupe Campus. The SFJ6 102 Social Housing Units in Madrid project received an honourable mention in the 'Best Window' category. Furthermore, the Pilarín Bayés Library was presented with the 'Best Light Façade' award, the BCC Financial Centre - Cajamar Group was bestowed with the 'Best Solar Protection' accolade, and the Municipal Gymnasium was bestowed with the 'Best Window' award.  The prizes for the 'Final Degree Projects with Light Façade' were awarded. The third prize was presented to Echoes of the Landscape, while the second prize went to Intertwined Realities: A bridge between Gerena and its landscape context. First prize was awarded to Art Corner. The event concluded with a special recognition for Xavier Bohigas.