World of Concrete (WOC), the annual event dedicated to the global concrete construction and masonry industries, kicked off 2025 with a gathering of 57,908 registered professionals at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, in the US.
Held on 21-23 January 2025, the event drew a total of 1,522 exhibitors featuring heavy machinery, tools, products and services for material handling, concrete reinforcement, concrete masonry, cement production and decorative concrete for all types of building, repair, demolition and reconstruction.
More than 180 educational sessions available at WOC 2025, supplying contractors, builders and companies with the skills to bring operations to the next level through business strategy and project management. Experts also shared insights into current industry topics such as changes in regulations, geological conditions, workforce trends and growth opportunities throughout the sector.
“This event sets the standard for excellence in construction, both excelling in size, attendance and engagement as well as the ability to deliver highly relevant and tailored content to our various audience types. It provides actionable insights and tangible takeaways that attendees can take into the real world, empowering them to thrive in their roles and stay ahead as the knowledge gained at WOC is applied in the day-to-day work,” explained Jackie James, vice president of World of Concrete.
“Our mission is to equip our community with the knowledge and skills to navigate new opportunities, challenges and changes in this rapidly evolving industry while preparing current leaders to recruit and nurture the next generation of talent,” she added.
Special events at WOC 2025 had concrete and masonry masters go head-to-head to compete for championship titles, including the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 World Championship, assembling 27 masons from around the world competing for the title of ‘World’s Best Bricklayer’ along with US$125,000 in cash and prizes – comprising a new 4x4 Chevrolet truck, a Kubota RTV-X1130 utility vehicle, and an Essick Pro12 mixer. Mason Cole Stamper and tender Forest Stamper, brothers from Kentucky, took home the grand prize, with Darian Douthit crowned as Top Craftsman.
To support skill development of the next generation of builders, the Mason Contractor’s Association of America hosted the Masonry Skills Challenge, consisting of first, second- and third-year apprentices showcasing their expertise in a surprise project without any preparation or assistance.
“DY Concrete Pumps is celebrating 10 years [in business], and we’ve had our best show yet. This is our 10th year at World of Concrete as well – we love this show. If you’re in the concrete business, this is where you have to be. Anybody and everybody that is in the [concrete industry] is here... traffic is always amazing, but this year is more than we could have ever expected,” said Braden Huggins, DY Concrete Pumps Inc.
Other exhibitors included Bobcat, DeWalt, Ford Pro, Hilti, Blaklader Workwear, Kubota and Milwaukee Tool, to name a few. Technology-forward solutions were also at the forefront, with Lucid Bots, Ripik AI, Procore and Dusty Robotics among the exhibitors showcasing how construction is leveraging future-facing technologies to increase efficiency, demonstrating applications of robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and clean energy poised to revolutionise safety, performance and speed.
In addition, some exhibitors at WOC celebrated their milestone anniversaries, such as Mack Trucks commemorating 125 years in business and Caterpillar recognising 100 years serving the construction industry. Special celebrations on site honoured the establishment of leading voices in the industry.
CIM Auction breaks records
The Construction Industry Management (CIM) Auction staged live and silent auctions, raising a record-breaking collective US$2.15 million for the CIM initiative, a business-intensive programme that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management at five public universities: California State University, Chico; Middle Tennessee State University; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Texas State University; and South Dakota State University.
“Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the concrete industry for their outstanding support in making this auction a record-breaking event,” said Ben Robuck, chairman of the CIM Auction Committee. “The auction results reflect this industry’s high regard for the CIM programme and the pressing need for skilled leaders in the industry. This year’s auction was a phenomenal success in terms of the value of donated items and the enthusiastic participation.”
The silent auction took place prior to the live auction. Items at both auctions comprised cement, fly ash, aggregate, concrete saws, drills, safety equipment, training sessions, reference books and software subscriptions, laptop computers, sports travel packages and golf and vacation travel packages and much more.
WOC is set to return on 20-22 January 2026, with education beginning on 19 January, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
