Construmat proposes reflection on the future of building

The 14th CONSTRUMAT, the International Construction Exhibition, organised by Fira de Barcelona, will be held from the 11th to the 16th of April. This new show, the largest ever in terms of exhibitor numbers and exhibition space, will also consolidate the show’s aim to become an international forum for reflection and analysis on the future of building. CONSTRUMAT, el Salón Internacional de la Construcción que organiza Fira de Barcelona, ha cerrado hoy sábado 16 de abril su edición más exitosa con unas cifras récord de más de 265.000 visitantes, según indica el registro de visitantes de Fira de Barcelona, FiraKey, y de un millón de contactos comerciales establecidos.

Covering 21 sectors, all areas of the construction industry will be present at CONSTRUMAT 2005, between Fira de Barcelona’s two exhibition centres, Montjuïc and Gran Vía. It is estimated that approximately 50,000 products will be exhibited. 

2,314 stands will showcase the products and services of 4,391 companies (an 11.1% more than the previous show), between direct exhibitors and represented firms, and will cover a net space of 136,278 m2 (a 6.8% increase). 

From 53 countries, foreign participation amounts to 498 direct exhibitors (438 in 2003), including a strong presence of European Union companies. It has been calculated that over 600,000 trade contacts are made at CONSTRUMAT.

The last CONSTRUMAT recorded an audience of 245,828 visitors from 127 countries. The trade fair institution’s Studies Department estimates that the exhibition generates over 150 million euros worth of business in the different economic activities of Barcelona and its surrounding area, mainly in catering and transport services.

Two new pavilions

With the new pavilions, 3 and 4, in the Gran Vía exhibition centre, CONSTRUMAT 2005 will have 13,245 m2 more of stands space, taking the total. With four pavilions, to 53,245 m2, which are added to the 83,003 m2 in the Montjuïc show ground.

With the incorporation of pavilions 3 and 4 in the Gran Vía exhibition centre, the Floorings, Cladding and Integral Kitchen sectors will be moved from the Montjuïch exhibition centre to Gran Vía. In this way, the Gran Vía exhibition centre will showcase more products and have a greater power of attraction for visiting professionals, since these sectors have an important synergy with those located in the same showground.

Another new feature will be a division of the Flooring and Cladding sector in different spheres, which will contribute to making for a smoother visit: light flooring and ceramic and stone flooring. This year, companies specialised in the manufacture and marketing of chimneys and barbecues will also be united in the same space.

Sector distribution

CONSTRUMAT will house 21 building sectors between the two exhibition centres, making it the leading general construction show in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world and one of the top three in Europe.

The Gran Vía exhibition centre will provide the setting for nine sectors:

- Floors and cladding
- Stone floors and cladding
- Light flooring
- Chimneys and barbecues
- Integral kitchen
- Sanitary ware, taps, accessories and bathroom suite furniture.
- Air conditioning and heating.
- Water, gas, drainage and treatment installations.
- Electricity and lighting.
- Home systems, security and communications.
- SIDI (International Exhibition for the Design of the Habitat)
- Sustainable Construction
- Casa Barcelona Project

The Montjuïc exhibition centre will house the following:

 - Machinery and equipment, protection and safety on-site
 - Lifting and transport
 - Elements for structures, partitions, facades and coatings
 - Prefabrication and industrialised construction
 - Measuring and precision apparatus
 - Information technology
 - Insulation, waterproofing and paints
  - Wood, metal and PVC carpentry 
  - Lockmithery and metalwork
  - Glass and its applications
  - Official bodies and business associations
  - International Pavilions
 - APTM Project

This emblematic exhibition centre, at the foot of the Montjuïc mountain and, at the same time, in the centre of Barcelona, offers all CONSTRUMAT professionals unbeatable conditions for travelling between the different pavilions and a fast connection with the showground, via a free all-day shuttle bus service.

New countries in the international visitor campaign

In its strategic international plan for capturing visitors, the exhibition has intensified its promotional actions and incorporated new countries in Europe, Central and South America, the Maghreb and Middle East. Forecasts point to more than the 245,858 visitors of 127 nationalities, which were recorded in the 2003 show.

The profile of the CONSTRUMAT visitor is concentrated in four activity sectors: 21%: architects, technical architects, engineers, technical engineers, decorators and interior designers; 16.8%: wholesalers-retailers; 16.2%: installers; and 15.5%: builders-promoters. The remainder come from the spheres of Public Administration, bricklaying, professional associations, quality control and safety, machinery rental and students. 

Initiatives that propose reflection on the future of the sector

As in all its exhibitions, CONSTRUMAT complements its trade show with contents that reflect the current situation of the sector.  CONSTRUMAT 2005 will provide the setting for the presentation of APTM, a new project that aims to provide reflection on the construction of affordable housing adaptable to the needs of the 21st century.

APTM, which can be seen at the Montjuïc exhibition centre, is an initiative, which has been added to another recently started project, Casa Barcelona, a space in which accredited architects and manufacturers of materials join together to make progress in the application of R+D+I (Research & Development & Innovation) in housing. Casa Barcelona will be presented in the Gran Vía exhibition centre, in a pavilion where the results of this initiative will be shown.

The space dedicated to Sustainable Building will also increase its presence in the exhibition. This monographic sector is expected to provide the setting for around 50 exhibitors, including the most important international organisations in the field of sustainability applied to building. Incorporated in the previous CONSTRUMAT exhibition, Sustainable Building provided the setting for the Declaration of Barcelona on Sustainable Building, a document that is a step towards a commitment of collaboration between architects and building professionals.

Other activities

Aside from these projects, CONSTRUMAT is organising an activities programme, which will allow numerous business groups and professional associations to hold seminars, conferences and business meetings within the framework of the exhibition.

In addition to the prestigious prizes, such as the Mies van der Rohe Award for architecture, the Construmat Awards and the new Ambit Award to the best stand design, CONSTRUMAT is also issuing a New Products Guide, a publication that gives a description of all new products that exhibitors will present at CONSTRUMAT. The New Products Guide is, undoubtedly, an indicator of sector trends in innovation.

Organised by the Gremio de Constructores de Obras de Barcelona y Comarcas, on the last exhibition day, the traditional International Bricklayers Contest will be held in the esplanade of Montjuïc’s Magic Fountain. The Contest is open to pairs formed by a bricklayer and assistant, who have to reproduce a scale model. The subject will be announced at the start of the Contest.

With so much to see at the stands and so many activities to take part in, professionals are recommended to plan their visit in advance and dedicate the necessary time so as not to miss the latest in construction products and progress. Last minute information on activities, conferences and other aspects of the exhibition can be found at www.construmat.com.

CONSTRUMAT also has the value added setting of Barcelona, a key business city of the Mediterranean area and one of the most innovative and revolutionary capitals in the world in the sphere of design and architecture.