Established in 1975, WOC’s first show had 71 exhibiting companies and an audience of 1,550. Age has treated WOC well. WOC ’99 is expected to draw over 1,200 exhibitors and approximately 55,000 attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center, Jan. 18-22, 1999.
At WOC ’99, which carries the theme Building on Success, attendees will be able to access educational information, equipment, materials in addition to networking opportunities with those involved in the concrete construction industry.
Educational programs
WOC ’99 offers a five-day educational program which includes topics from the latest jobsite techniques to progressive business strategies. This year’s 75-session program is the largest in the show’s 25 year history with over 25%of the sessions covering new topics.
“Each year, we scrutinize participant feedback to help determine future topics and speakers,” said Susan Clancy, director of seminar programs. “We listen to these comments and choose presenters who not only offer expertise in the topic area but also have a good track record with audiences.”
The sessions are grouped into seven categories: basics, management, masonry, ready-mix, repair, specialty topics and troubleshooting.
The educational program also provides the opportunity to receive Master Certificates and enroll in certification programs.
WOC habla Español
WOC ’99 will offer one seminar conducted entirely in Spanish and five seminars simultaneously interpreted in Spanish in order to serve an international audience.
Tecnologia del Cemento y del Concerto, is a basic concrete technology program that will be presented in Spanish on Friday, Jan. 22 by Ken Hover, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Cornell University’s College of Engineering and a professor in the University’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Additionally, one electronically interpreted session will be offered on each day of the educational program. These sessions are: Producing Concrete, Troubleshooting Residential Concrete, Troubleshooting Fresh Concrete, Troubleshooting Hardened Concrete and Troubleshooting Concrete Cracks.
Mega Demos
Full-scale presentations and live construction demonstrations of actual jobsite activities constitute the Mega Demos. Scheduled for WOC ’99 Mega Demos are: Placing Superflat Floors, Building with Insulated Concrete Forms and the Backhoe Loader Rodeo. Attendees will have the chance to talk with equipment operators and demo participants following each MegaDemo.
Specialized pavilions
WOC ’99 offers over 1,200exhibiting companies featuring products and services for the concrete construction industry. Attendees can get a hands-on look at the latest in equipment in seven specialized pavilions provided to help exhibitors locate products which best serve their interests. For example, the masonry pavilion, which is new for WOC ’99, contains products solely for masonry construction. The other six pavilions include: material handling, paving, ready-mix, pre-cast, concrete repair and computers.
Attendance record
As of press time, registration for WOC ’99 is 477ahead of the ’98 show held in Orlando and 353higher than the ‘97 show held in Las Vegas, which attracted more than 52,000 attendees, the highest attendance in the show’s 25 year history.
“Fueling the anticipated record registration is the enthusiasm with which the new masonry pavilion has been received,” said Chuck Simanek, vice president, WOC. “We presently have a waiting list of companies wanting to participate in the pavilion. They’re certainly aware that the pavilion concept is very popular with visitors and will be particularly helpful to the thousands of contractors who work with masonry.”
The ’99 show currently has 514,712 sq ft of exhibit space, 1,235 exhibiting companies and is expected to draw more than 55,000 attendees, according to Beth Gassen, show director for WOC. Co-sponsored by 18 industry associations, WOC also has four supporting organizations which promote the show to their membership.
To register for WOC ’99, contact: World of Concrete ’99, c/o Galaxy Registration, P.O. Box 590, Frederick, MD 21705; call 888/562-4WOC or 301/694-5104; fax 888/562-3890 or 301/694-5124; Internet: www.wocexpos.com. -
