As construction strives to meet emissions standards, a persistent obstacle is the carbon-intensive process that produces cement. But the emergence of low-carbon solutions to help change the calculus of cement’s creation seems to have hit a tipping point. 

After a few uncertain years and a truncated event in 2021, the World of Concrete trade show brought together tens of thousands of contractors and construction equipment gearheads in Las Vegas on Jan. 18 to 21.

Disruptions to the U.S. construction market caused by the pandemic were significant, but have not fully derailed activity, according to a forecast from Portland Cement Association

Alongside swarms of contractors and others pouring in to the annual World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas, the Portland Cement Association released a relatively rosy economic forecast for 2020 into 2021. 

For the first time ever, climate change and resilience have been included in a federal highway bill, which passed unanimously out of committee.

The crowds swelled through the gates of World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and equipment manufacturers were eager to sell through their stock as a strong construction market hits its stride.

With no infrastructure plan passed by the Trump administration so far in 2017, the industry looks to single-family housing and warehouse construction to boost next year’s figures

Like modern chefs tweaking classic techniques, concrete industry insiders are experimenting anew with ingredients—additives and aggregates such as fly ash, slag and quarry waste—and “plating,” which includes methods such as two-lift paving and real-time smoothness monitoring.