Materials at the heart of the challenges of decarbonization of construction: round tables to debate and plan for the low-carbon construction site of tomorrow

The 2024 edition of INTERMAT aims to promote the collective excellence of the construction sector, mobilized to meet the major challenges of the sector, in terms of decarbonization and energies, digitalization, CSR commitment, training and employment but also to organize a platform for dialogue with public authorities.

To do this, around twenty round tables are scheduled on the BFM Business TV set of the Espace Filière, set up in the heart of the show to concretize the mobilization of the 5 major federations in the sector: DLR, EVOLIS, FFB, FNTP, SEIMAT. Their presidents will sign the Manifesto “The 24 commitments of the sector for carbon-free and sustainable B&TP equipment” on April 11 at 30:4 a.m.

Key figures for construction materials and equipment

Materials are responsible for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions from a construction site, a significant share which requires rapid decarbonization of the fleet and which explains the formidable innovation dynamic of builders, who take all their responsibility part to accelerate the energy transition of the sector.

Companies producing equipment for construction bring together the construction, public works, materials preparation and bulk handling sectors. They achieve a turnover of €5,8 billion. (provisional, excluding business-to-business wholesale trade).

French production of companies manufacturing construction equipment increased by +4,1% (in value) in 2022 compared to 2021. Overall, it reached €3,8 billion in 2022, with a predominance of public works equipment. (€2,2 billion). It has 90 production sites and employs 14.500 people.

Companies producing handling equipment include the families of industrial trolleys, handling systems, industrial lifting and storage. They achieve a turnover of €8,8 billion (provisional, excluding inter-company wholesale trade).

French production of companies manufacturing handling equipment increased by +10,4% (in value) compared to 2021. Boosted by the progress observed in the industrial trolley family and on systems, it reached €5,3 billion. in 2022. It has 93 production sites and employs 17.700 employees. (Source EVOLIS).

According to the SEIMAT survey, the year 2023 was marked by a slight drop in volume for all construction and handling equipment in mainland France:

Heavy equipment: -6% in volume, with tracked excavators at 12 tonnes down 16% and wheeled excavators over 11 tonnes up 16%.
Compact equipment: +4%, reaching 18.864 machines, with mini excavators representing more than 71% of the volume.
Road equipment and compaction: sales are stable, with the exception of rammers and plates, down sharply by 25%.
Concrete equipment: +7%, marking progress after a mark in cab chassis in 2022
Handling and lifting equipment: -1%, with stability in sales of lifting platforms and telescopic forklifts.

The program of the BFM Business TV set at the heart of the Espace Filière

This platform will offer a program of round tables to discuss innovation, new energies, sustainable cities, CSR or even new professions and to mobilize public authorities on the fundamental role of the sector in achieving carbon neutrality. . These speeches will be led by high-level speakers: construction companies, project owners and project managers, energy suppliers, innovators, trainers, institutions, etc.

Wednesday April 24 morning: Climate: what energy policy for tomorrow?

10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Energy, climate: Europe in tune
10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.: Energy, climate: France in action
11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Sustainable city, the green city of tomorrow
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Signature of the Manifesto “The 4 commitments of the sector for carbon-free and sustainable B&TP equipment” by the 5 presidents of the federations

Wednesday April 24 afternoon: The energy challenges of construction equipment

14 p.m. - 14:30 p.m.: Sustainable city, a revolution for construction groups
14:30 p.m. – 15 p.m.: Construction, a decarbonizing sector
15 p.m. – 16 p.m.: Electrification, the other challenge of the energy transition
16 p.m. – 16:30 p.m.: Decarbonize with hydrogen

Friday April 26 morning: CSR: the new priority for construction players

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: CSR in the construction sector
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.: CSR: shared perspectives from large companies to SMEs
11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: CSR: the role of public actors
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Safety and prevention

Thursday April 25: Day of Innovations in Public Works and presentation of FNTP Trophies

Friday April 26 afternoon: Sobriety: towards new business models

14 p.m. - 14:30 p.m.: Construction faces the challenge of sobriety
14:30 p.m. - 15 p.m.: The economy of use and functionality: change your working methods towards collaborative uses
15 p.m. - 15:30 p.m.: Circular economy in materials
15:30 p.m. - 16 p.m.: Digitalization in the service of decarbonization

Saturday April 27 morning: Construction: when the younger generation takes over

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Young people in construction
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Construction: challenges for training
11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Influence in the service of construction professions
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Operators at the heart

Saturday April 27 afternoon: Conclusion

14 p.m. – 14:30 p.m.: How are manufacturers working to help operators in terms of energy and safety?
14:30 p.m. - 15 p.m.: Conclusion of the themes covered and closing of the show