TheBarcelona Building Construmat (BBConstrumat) trade show, which is held from May 14 to 17 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via venue , continues to grow sustainably in line with the growth seen in the sector in recent years. In addition to having 405 exhibitors and more than 1,000 brands represented, BBConstrumat will occupy a net surface area of 14,889 m2, an increase of 8%.

This information was provided at a press conference by Ana Vallés, the Chairwoman of Sorigué, who is once again the Chairwoman of BBConstrumat and Ione Ruete, Director of the trade show. Leading firms from all sectors that make up the construction value chain will also be present at the show, and an international visitor program will attract professionals from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Mexico and Peru, in addition to other countries.

"Our trade show is the main reference for a sector that, at present, is once again an engine of our economy and, as such, highlights innovation, digitalization and connectivity as the keys to sustainable growth," said Ana Vallés.

At this new edition, BBConstrumat will promote energy efficiency, digitization and internationalization as levers of its transformation.

Towards a sustainable trade show
Among other innovations, BBConstrumat will present Sustainable Solutions, an initiative by Evowall and Arquima that will see the construction of two 90-m2 residential buildings, fulfilling the energy efficiency criteria of the PassivHaus concept, by reflecting all the elements that a house needs to be fully sustainable.

In this same vein, the trade show, in collaboration with the consultancy firm Lavola, has launched the Zero Impact program to minimize the waste generated while it is ongoing with initiatives such as reducing single-use plastic, using wood with the seal of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and donating food that has not been consumed to the NGO Nutrition Without Borders.

In addition, architect Josep Ferrando will be in charge of designing the shared spaces as part of an ephemeral architecture project that seeks to reuse materials, such as large beams that are being used in the construction of the Sagrada Familia.

Latest trends
BBConstrumat's offer will be structured around its four main thematic spaces: Future Arena, Industry Arena, Talks Arena and Meetings Arena.

The Future Arena , the disruptive innovation space at the trade show, will showcase the most transformative projects over 2,000 m2, the only European sector exhibition to do so. These projects include Co-working Robots by the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), two robot arms that will build architectural components as part of a live demonstration; Kubik and Digital Twin by Tecnalia, a dynamic and virtual model of a physical structure using big data; an immersive and remote experience of buildings constructed by applying augmented reality by the European Institute of Design (IED) in Spain; Phi by the Strelka Institute in Moscow, a platform for distributing renewable energy in residential neighborhoods; and the three projects presented by the American MIT.

There will also be an area for startups, the Startup Village, where Biprocel is worth particular mention, which has created a new biotechnological material from cellulose waste; Civigner, software to design and manage civil infrastructures in a web and 3D setting; and Saalg Geomechanics, a program to monitor the construction processes on a construction site. Also at the Future Arena, the latest developments will be unveiled by exhibitors at the Showroom and they will have the opportunity to explain their latest developments in the Technical Corner, an area curated by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, among other new developments.

In terms of international relations, BBConstrumat will feature a program of international visitors from countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Mexico and Peru, who will attend the event with a view to acquiring products or reaching agreements with exhibitors. TheMeetings Arena will host B2B meetings and a program of conferences and workshops, as well as an advisory area for access to international markets by the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) and the Generalitat agency, Acció.