“The necessary sustainable transformation of construction is unstoppable”

From May 20 to 22, Construmat, Spain’s leading construction trade fair, will be held at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona. This year, the event stands out for its expanded exhibition, increasing international presence, and a comprehensive program of activities focused on sustainability, technology, and industrialization—key pillars that are already transforming the building sector. Roger Bou, the director of the trade fair, shares the details of this essential event for understanding and preparing to face the most immediate challenges ahead for the construction industry.

What are the main novelties of Construmat 2025?
This year, Construmat is growing both in size and in the variety of exhibitors. We will have over 350 exhibitors from around 20 countries, and we expect more than 22,000 professional visitors. In terms of activities, we are enhancing the Sustainability Building Congress, which will serve as the main activity, adding a more international focus with talks from experts and success stories from other countries that can serve as inspiration. Additionally, we’re introducing more live demonstrations, training spaces, and networking areas designed to help attendees find real solutions to sector challenges and foster the exchange of ideas and experiences. The trade fair arrives at a critical moment to help understand and demonstrate that the paradigm shift in sustainable construction is unstoppable.

What themes will feature prominently in this year’s edition?
Sustainability will be the driving force behind both the commercial offerings and all activities at Construmat. Additionally, we will focus on trends such as digitalization, the industrialization of construction processes, healthy architecture, and the use of disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, BIM, and 3D printing. We will also promote young and female talent in the sector and create spaces for discussion to explore solutions for addressing Spain’s housing deficit or strategies for reconstruction after the DANA floods.

With such a broad offering, how has the activity program been designed to provide real value to attendees?
We’ve prioritized a practical approach, providing useful knowledge. We have more than a hundred activities, including sessions from the Sustainability Building Congress—focused on affordable housing production, health and bio-habitability, and artificial intelligence—conferences and presentations by sector companies, live demonstrations, interactive training spaces, as well as exhibitions, award ceremonies, and networking events. Everything has been designed so that the various professional profiles in the construction sector that visit us will find information, inspiration, and resources that help them turn new challenges into opportunities.

This year, Turkey is the guest country of Construmat. What does this participation entail?
Turkey will play a prominent role in Construmat 2025, with more than 15 exhibiting companies and a strong presence at the Sustainability Building Congress, where innovative projects from the country will be presented. Additionally, there will be institutional representation from the DEİK (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey), along with a Turkish trade delegation that will hold business meetings with exhibitors at the trade fair.

The international participation in the fair is larger than last year. Which countries will have a presence?
Indeed, in addition to Turkey as the guest country, Construmat strengthens its international character and global projection with exhibitors from around 20 countries. Specifically, 32% of the commercial offerings come from abroad. We will have companies and pavilions from France, Germany, Portugal, China, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Morocco, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Egypt, Andorra, Lithuania, and others.

How does Construmat address the structural challenges in the sector, such as the shortage of skilled labour or reducing the environmental impact of construction?
We are fully aware of these challenges, and we will address them with concrete proposals. For example, we are organizing sessions and round tables to discuss topics like professional training and the lack of skilled labour, as well as decarbonization, improving energy efficiency, and new sustainable materials. We’ve also created the Talent Marketplace, aimed at attracting and connecting young people, women, and other professional profiles with companies in the sector offering job opportunities. Another issue we’re focusing on is the housing shortage. At Construmat’s initiative, the Spanish construction sector has developed a 10-point plan to help solve this problem, which will be presented to government representatives and other authorities attending the fair in May.

The digitalization and integration of cutting-edge technologies in construction 4.0, such as BIM, artificial intelligence, IoT, or augmented reality, are transforming the industry. What role do these innovations play at Construmat?
Construmat will also showcase the shift toward digitalization in construction to improve productivity and sustainability. Through live demonstrations, conferences, success stories, and the commercial area, attendees will see how these tools can optimize processes, reduce costs, and promote greater efficiency. Moreover, in the area dedicated to start-ups, around thirty emerging companies will present innovative solutions, many of them based on these technologies.

What message would you give to construction professionals who have not yet decided to attend Construmat?
I would tell them that Construmat is not just a trade fair—it’s an essential meeting point for the entire sector, a place where you need to be. Here, they will experience firsthand the latest innovations, find business opportunities, and generate key contacts for their projects. This is the moment to embrace the sector’s transformation, and Construmat 2025 is the perfect place to advance towards sustainable construction. Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s the future of construction. It is a priority objective that requires a shift in perspective and new solutions for more responsible building. So, don’t miss your chance to be part of the transformation, Construmat 2025 is where innovation meets opportunity

PHOTOS OF ROGER BOU AVAILABLE HERE

IMAGES OF CONSTRUMAT (2024) HERE