Seventy years of inspiration for the precast concrete
industry

With its unique combination of a high-caliber technical program, accompanying exhibition, and networking opportunities, the BetonTage are considered the most important training and communication platform for the precast concrete industry. Next year, the congress will take place for the 70th time.

From 10 to 12 March 2026, specialists and managers from concrete and precast plants, planners, architects, and representatives from the construction industry, science, and the public sector will once again meet at the Congress Center Ulm. Under the motto “Markets for People,” they can inform themselves about current technical and legal developments, future trends, and best practices in the concrete industry.

Building for people with concrete components

For decades, the BetonTage have been synonymous with knowledge transfer in the industry. With its anniversary edition, the leading event for the precast concrete industry is putting people at the center of all construction. The 70th edition will focus on the question of how concrete components can contribute to shaping the markets of tomorrow in a way that is people- and climate-friendly. Whether in residential construction, industrial and commercial construction, infrastructure, or urban open space design, precast concrete components play a key role in future-oriented construction.

The construction method enables resource-preserving production, short construction times and flexible architectural solutions – qualities that are becoming increasingly important in a changing society. “The BetonTage have always seen themselves as a source of inspiration for the industry. With our this year’s motto ‘Markets for People,’ we want to emphasize that it’s not just about technology, but also about the social responsibility we have as an industry,” says Dr. Ulrich Lotz, Managing Director of FBF Betondienst GmbH. 

Know-how for the industry

Participants at the 70th BetonTage can look forward to high-caliber presentations, practice-oriented sessions with best-practice examples, and panel discussions on topics such as:

Innovative concrete components – applications in residential, industrial, and commercial construction, infrastructure, and urban development.

Digitalization and automation – opportunities through AI and smart manufacturing technologies.

Architecture and design – precast concrete elements as building blocks for functional and aesthetic structures.

Sustainability and climate protection – climate-neutral construction with precast concrete elements.

As usual, the technical program was designed with the support of relevant industry organizations such as the German Precast Concrete Construction Association, the Concrete Association for Roads, Landscapes, and Gardens, the Federal Association for Lightweight Concrete, the Concrete Block Information Association, and Composites United - Network CU Bau.

Following its successful premiere last year, the 2nd German Infrastructure Day will take place on 10 March 2026, in collaboration with the Federal Association of Concrete Sewer Systems. The event sees itself as a catalyst for modern infrastructure. It aims to support planners and decision-makers to make cities and communities more climate-resilient

Together with DBZ Deutsche Bauzeitschrift and the Concrete Information Center, a specific panel discussion for architects will be offered. Selected project reports from renowned companies will showcase the diverse range of applications of the contraction material concrete.

Event in the event

For the first time, the Digital Hub – the new training platform for digital communication in the construction and concrete industry – will be dedicated to a new target group at the BetonTage. From 11 to 12 March 2026, it will be the meeting place for everyone who wants to rethink and help shape communication in the construction industry. The focus will be on how companies and organizations in the construction industry can successfully position themselves in the digital world in the future – whether on platforms such as LinkedIn, through strategic storytelling, new content formats, or with the help of AI tools. Social media professionals, content creators, podcasters, and digital innovators from this field will share their experiences and offer tips for everyday work.

Innovations in the supplier industry

An important part of the BetonTage is the exhibition accompanying the congress, which showcases the supplier, machinery, and software industries. Selected exhibitors will also provide information about their products and services in the “Practice Forum” the best new development will be awarded the 2026 Innovation Prize of the Supplier Industry for Concrete Components. The award recognizes innovative products, processes, and services that improve the manufacture of concrete components, make production processes more efficient, or optimize construction processes. The prize is awarded every two years by the organizer of BetonTage, FBF Betondienst GmbH, and the trade journal BFT Concrete Plant + Precast Technology.

Focus on cyber security and AI

In addition to the technical program, the high-caliber keynote speeches offer interesting input for everyday life. Philipp Kalweit, IT security expert and “Germany‘s most successful and youngest contract hacker,” will hold the opening speech. He discovered security vulnerabilities at the age of nine and founded his current company, Kalweit ITS GmbH, at the age of 17. Here, he successfully leads a team of highly specialized security experts who support other companies in defending against cyber threats.

Dr. rer. nat. Patrick Krauss, neuroscientist and cognitive researcher at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, will talk about the fine line between smart division of labor and mental self-incapacitation when using AI. He explains what actually happens in our brains when we outsource mental work and which skills we must absolutely retain in an AI-dominated future. “Gentle mental incapacitation: Are we prompting ourselves into collective stupidity?” is the provocative title of his lecture.

www.betontage.de