BIBM Congress 2026 in Rome: Precast Concrete at the heart of Europe’s construction transition

The 25th BIBM Congress brought Europe’s precast concrete community together in Rome from 20 to 22 May 2026. At the A.Roma Lifestyle Hotel, it welcomed around 350 participants and 45 exhibitors. Under the motto ‘Think Concrete, Go Precast! – Innovative Pathways to Sustainable Construction’, the event combined technical exchange, strategic debate, innovation and networking.

Organised by BIBM and the Building Congress Forum, with Assobeton, IPHA and EFCA, the Congress returned to Italy more than 25 years after its previous Italian edition. Rome provided a fitting setting in which to examine how industrialised construction can support a lower-carbon, circular and resilient built environment, affordable housing and modern infrastructure.

A European perspective

The Congress opened on 20 May with a welcome reception moderated by Alessio Rimoldi, Secretary General of BIBM. Participants were welcomed by Stefan van Buggenhout, then President of BIBM; Marco Pecetti, President of IPHA; Prof. Enrico Dassori, President of Assobeton; Gianluca Bianchin, President of EFCA; and Sergio Saporetti from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.

The following morning, the opening session was moderated by Magdalena Herbik, BIBM Public Affairs and Communications Manager. Prof. Lucio Blandini of the University of Stuttgart presented the potential of lightweight concrete structures, while architect Stefano Gri explored the relationship between industrial production, architectural quality and landscape integration.

Alessio Rimoldi, Magdalena Herbik and Albanela Dulaj of the BIBM Secretariat then presented the European policy and market outlook, covering competitiveness, decarbonisation, housing, circularity, digitalisation and product information.

Decarbonisation from materials to structures

Moderated by Alessio Rimoldi, the session ‘Decarbonisation – a low-carbon path’ examined how emissions can be reduced across the construction value chain while maintaining performance, affordability and productivity.

Prof. Karen Scrivener of EPFL outlined pathways towards lower-carbon cement and concrete, including reduced clinker content, improved mix design and more efficient material use. She showed that significant reductions are already possible, while further research, investment and market uptake remain important.

Dr Wim Jansze of Consolis VBI focused on prestressed hollowcore slabs, showing how lean design, material optimisation and lower-carbon concrete can work together. The panel stressed cooperation throughout the value chain and assessment based on function and performance in completed works.

Participants also highlighted the need for clearer standards, comparable data and solutions that reconcile carbon reduction with safety, durability, cost and constructability.

Resilient infrastructure

The session ‘Enhancing resilience in infrastructure’, moderated by Dr. Ulrich Lotz, Managing Director of the Building Congress Forum, considered how infrastructure can remain safe, functional and adaptable in the face of climate change and other disruptions.

Dr Stephan Hauser presented thin concrete and ultra-high-performance concrete solutions for protection and safety applications. Stef Maas, Director of FEBE, highlighted the contribution of precast concrete to water management, drainage, flood protection, transport routes and critical infrastructure.

The discussion linked factory-controlled production, predictable performance, durability and rapid installation with resilient construction. Procurement, it concluded, should consider service life, recovery and whole-life value, not initial price alone.

Circularity begins with durability

Moderated by Pedro Obregón, Performance Director International Precast at CRH, the session ‘Rethinking resources: the circular economy’ explored how materials and components can be used efficiently, kept in service for longer and, where suitable, reused.

Prof. Wit Derkowski of Kraków University of Technology highlighted the role of prefabrication in resource-efficient engineering. Topi Paananen of Peikko Group and Ronald Klein-Holte of Consolis VBI presented examples involving adaptable connections, dismantlability, product information and reuse.

The discussion underlined that circularity begins with durable, adaptable and resource-efficient structures. Reuse offers further opportunities, but barriers remain around certification, legal responsibility, residual performance and market development. Progress will require legal clarity, reliable information and viable business models.

Housing and future cities

Moderated by Magdalena Herbik, the final technical session, ‘Precast in future cities: housing for a changing Europe’, addressed the need to deliver more affordable, high-quality homes, more quickly and with fewer workers, while reducing environmental impacts.

Prof. Stefano Pampanin of Sapienza University of Rome presented concepts for a new generation of precast concrete buildings combining safety, sustainability, resilience and smart design. Niki Loonen showed how digitalisation, automation, lower-carbon materials and circular principles can be integrated into future-proof housing.

The session highlighted industrialised construction’s potential to support housing delivery by reducing dependence on scarce on-site labour, shortening construction times and improving quality and predictability. No single method can resolve Europe’s housing shortage, but precast systems can form an important part of the response.

Innovation from the supplier industry

The exhibition and innovation workshops were an essential part of the Congress. Moderated by Michael Voss, Managing Director of Bauverlag BV and the Building Congress Forum, the workshop programme ‘Innovative solutions for a greener future’ covered lifting and handling, digital production control, admixtures, building envelopes, BIM, automation and three-dimensional modelling.

Contributions from Progress Group, Aerolift, Master Builders Solutions, Mapei, Chryso, LAP and Edilmatic showed that innovation extends beyond materials to production efficiency, worker safety, quality control and digital workflows.

A new chapter for BIBM

Before the official opening, the BIBM General Assembly elected Friedrich Gebhart of BDB/FBF Germany as President for 2026–2029, succeeding Stefan van Buggenhout. Alberto Truzzi was elected Vice-President, while Vincent Kerkstoel, Dennis Mathiasen and Michael Wardian joined the Executive Board. Anton Glasmaier was confirmed as Chair of the BIBM Fire Safety Commission.

In his first address, Friedrich Gebhart emphasised durability, reusability and adaptability, alongside continued efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and strengthen the political representation of the European precast concrete industry.

Exchange in the Eternal City

Beyond the technical programme, the Gala Dinner at Terrazza Caffarelli and guided visits to the Colosseum and Pantheon provided memorable opportunities for exchange and for experiencing the host city.

Ready to turn ambition into practice

The BIBM Congress 2026 presented a sector that is realistic about the challenges ahead but confident in its capacity to contribute. Decarbonisation, resilience, circularity, digitalisation and housing are increasingly interconnected priorities requiring cooperation across the construction value chain.

Precast concrete offers relevant advantages, including industrial production, controlled quality, efficient material use, speed, durability and adaptability. The Congress did not suggest that one material or technology can answer every challenge. Rather, it demonstrated that the precast industry has practical solutions, expertise and manufacturing capacity that can support Europe’s construction transition when applied in the right context and assessed at the appropriate level.

The message from Rome was one of practical confidence: much of the required knowledge and technology already exists. The next step is to create the regulatory, market and investment conditions that allow effective solutions to be adopted more widely. Precast concrete is well placed to make a substantial contribution to a more sustainable, resilient and industrialised Europe.