Organised by Grey Matters, a trading and consultancy group serving the Middle Eastern construction and concrete industries and sponsored by the American Concrete Institute, the regional conference will gather more than 250 delegates to hear over 20 presentations from world-recognized speakers from Canada, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA and the UK as well as regional experts on the latest developments in Self-Consolidating Concrete. The event is a much-awaited follow-up to the 1^st International Conference held in Dubai in 2008 which focused on recent advances in concrete technology in the Middle East.

"On the whole, the impact of the global economic slowdown on the Middle East's construction sector has been limited, and so there is a need to explore and enhance materials that can support the industry's growth. The Gulf represents the Middle East's top construction market, and almost 70 per cent of registered projects in the Gulf alone are still under construction. Self-consolidating concrete can help boost the speed and quality of completion of these projects; the conference will be an excellent platform to learn more about the developments, best practices and trends in this and other concrete technologies," said Rabih el Fakih, Conference Secretary.

Introduced in the 1980s, Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC), also known as Self-Compacting Concrete, is a concrete mix that can be poured by its own weight with minimal or no vibration. Its use has grown significantly because of its ability to support flow without compromising durability, cohesiveness or compressive strength. SCC allows contractors to optimize manpower, reduce noise levels and establish a safer working environment.

The 2^nd International Conference on Advances in Concrete Technology in the Middle East will feature papers on material selection and mix design; production and quality control; fiber-reinforced SCC; economic and environmental benefits; workability and rheology; test methods and processing; structural performance and design; experience and case studies; and specifications. The Conference will also feature a full-scale demonstration where Self-Consolidating Concrete will be cast alongside Conventional Concrete and Flowable Concrete in order to highlight its characteristics and benefits. The conference is supported by 18 key sponsors.

Founded in 2008, Grey Matters comprises two units in Trading and Consultancy. The Dubai-based group aims to become a one-stop-shop service for the construction industry specializing in the concrete segment.

Global Arab Network