BetonTage – more than a „mere“ technical congress
The 62nd BetonTage congress will take place under the motto „Prefabrication – the future of building“ from February 20 to 22, 2018 in Neu-Ulm/Germany. Trend-setting innovations in the field of concrete technology, building materials, planning and design methods as well as manufacturing processes provide the precast concrete industry with new prospects and opportunities. As usual, a main focus of the agenda is on technical lectures given by renowned speakers from research and practice, but the industry congress will not neglect commercial and legal aspects either.
Along with the development in technology and the growing digitalization of the work environment, there are also increasing demands on the staff. Skilled personnel continue to be an essential competitive factor for the companies. Because of an aging workforce, a declining number of pupils, lower training rates and the trend towards academic education, the companies get more and more problems on the training and job markets. Therefore, one of the future challenges is to ensure the demand for skilled manpower.
Focus personnel
By the newly conceived panel „Future of skilled manpower“ taking place on the second day, the BetonTage congress intends to provide assistance. Following a general overview of the status quo in the industry and the presentation of relevant training institutions, the panel will refer to several aspects of securing skilled workers under the motto „Recruiting trainees – qualifying personnel – retaining employees“: Ranging from opening up new target groups like refugees or socially disadvantaged young people, to the use of digital media in recruitment campaigns for junior staff through to the use of new qualification options. Thus, the project called „BetonQuali“ will be presented, which intends to open semi-skilled and unskilled workers a possibility for obtaining partial qualifications up to the certificate of process mechanics in the non-metallic minerals industry, alongside their work and with the aid of digital learning media. Information, moreover, will be provided on further training to become a foreman in the concrete industry and on the new master craftsman course in process mechanics and treatment technology. The agenda is complemented by an overview of the financial support programs for training and further education of the Federal Employment Agency as well as tips for staff retention.
An additional workshop will be offered, in particular, for executive staff on February 22, 2018. How can I reach an objective without pressure and dominance? What is the role of the staff in regard to a company‘s success? How should executive staff react to changing demands so as to lead the company competently into the future? The workshop will give answers to such questions.
Focus economy and law
The panel „economy and law“ has a long tradition at the BetonTage congress and will be held again in the afternoon of the second day of the congress. CyberCrime is one of the topics which will be dealt with. Large and small companies, nobody is immune to data theft nowadays; the criminalization is spreading on the Internet with more and more bold methods. Using fake e-mails, for example, arranging for money transfers to external accounts or hacker attacks jamming entire computer systems in order to extort payments afterwards. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises have to manage the digital transformation without sacrificing data safety. The panel will highlight the legal framework, demonstrate the open flanks using examples from practice and will give information for prevention and repair of damages.
What about supplier consortia as regards concrete components? In times of a booming construction sector, companies easily reach their production and delivery limits; supplies from colleagues can be helpful for avoiding delivery bottlenecks, whether precast floor slabs and precast walls, pipes or paving blocks. But do the companies walk right into the trap of antitrust law with such an uncertificated supplier consortium and risk high fines? The panel will also explain what has to considered and what need to be done for acting in a legally appropriate manner.
The third main topic is insolvency contestation. How to prevent it and to act legally compliant in such proceedings? Though the new insolvency law has reduced the option for additional claims of insolvency trustees to four years, but the new law also has many traps which should be known and avoided.
More information on the entire agenda is available at //www.betontage.de" target="_blank" >www.betontage.de:www.betontage.de.
