ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) is bringing together the foremost industry experts on cement and concrete to share our collective insight on what needs to change in the industry.
Taking place on 22nd February 2024 at City Hall, London, Concrete Forum: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Solutions aims to collaborate and share ideas to make a better future with concrete suppliers, consultants, clients and contractors.
Ground engineering presents unique challenges for the use of concrete. Typically, we consume 5% of the volume sold for UK concrete suppliers, so our needs are significant if niche. Our requirements are specific and the on-site challenges different to other areas of construction. How concrete behaves in the ground is not widely understood outside of our membership and we need to bridge this gap in understanding.
At the same time geotechnical contractors find themselves at the tip of the spear when it comes to construction’s great mission to decarbonise. Our projects are currently incredibly carbon intensive in the service of meeting the needs of society. Our need is to transition into a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable industry – together with wider construction.
This conference shall look at where the innovation is coming from, give a considered view on what cement technology is likely to dominate and inform the supply-chain what is needed from it for it to be fit for use in foundations.
Who should attend? Any party wishing to better understand the present and future of concrete, its constituents and sustainability developments from the concrete industry including;
- Clients aiming to reduce the carbon impact of their developments.
- Consultants and specifiers looking to understand on-site challenges.
- Geotechnical & structural designers needing to understand what’s coming and what it means for their work and its performance.
- Contractors seeking integration with concrete suppliers.
- Concrete suppliers with thoughts to share on smoothing the supply chain and innovations to discuss.
TICKETS & REGISTRATION
FPS Members are entitled to two free tickets, and FPS Associate Members are entitled to one free ticket. Additional tickets will be charged at:
- FPS Members: £114 (incl VAT)
- Non-Members: £192 (incl VAT)
TO REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE PLEASE CLICK HERE. Registration closes on Wednesday 7th February 2024.
PRESENTATIONS
Keynote: Sustainability by Design
John Chick, Business Leader – Geotechnical at Expanded Geotechnical
Keynote: Lower Carbon Concrete, Today and Tomorrow
The EFFC/DFI Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations
Chris Harnan, Managing Director at Ceecom Consult
Concrete, From Specification to Supply and All Points In Between
James Branch, Regional Technical Manager (Concrete) at Heidelberg Materials UK
This presentation will show how concrete suppliers turn the enquiries we receive into the concrete operatives received on site. It will outline the main constituents and their impact on the composition. Once the constituents are understood, so can the impact on the rheology and performance of the material be understood, and therefore the appropriateness for the application.
The presentation will also highlight what we think should be added to enquiries to give the best chance of a positive outcome. This includes the information we require from you, such as placement method and any project specific requirements. James will cover a quick review of the acceptance tests concrete suppliers are asked to comply with, alongside project specific trial processes.
SPONSORSHIP
We have three sponsorship packages available for companies wishing to have a presence during the event. Packages are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EACH PACKAGE HERE.
To confirm your support or if you have any questions please email Angharad Lambourne Wade on fps@fps.org.uk
Speakers
Business Leader - Geotechnical at Expanded Geotechnical and FPS Chair
John is Business Unit Leader of Expanded Geotechnical Ltd, part of the Laing O Rourke Group.
With over 35 years of piling and ground engineering experience John has an interest in many spheres of the industry including design, operations, pricing, and sustainability. A major interest is in behavioural safety and performance and attracting new talent into the industry by selling its virtues and contribution to the environment and the economy.
FPS Past-Chair and Managing Director at Central Piling
Steve is the current Chair of the ground engineering industry umbrella group the Ground Forum and long standing MD of Central Piling. Thorough his work with the FPS and his hosting of the popular Breaking Ground podcast he continues to advocate for the use of more sustainable methods of construction and low carbon materials.
Decarbonisation Lead at Ramboll
Paul is the Decarbonisation Lead for Ramboll Buildings globally. As a chartered structural engineer Paul has worked on a large variety of concrete structures, is a member of the Low Carbon Concrete Group and is a co-author of the Low Carbon Concrete Routemap.
Managing Director at Ceecom Consult
Chris has over 46 years’ experience across UK and international markets and is Managing Director of Ceecom Consult, a geotechnical consultancy specialising in forensic engineering and expert witness work. After graduating with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Civil Engineering, Chris worked for several deep foundation contractors before becoming Managing Director of Bachy Soletanche. Chris was Chair of the FPS between 1995-1996 and is currently the Deputy Chair of the EFFC/DFI Tremie Concrete and Support Fluids Task Groups. He also represents the EFFC on three working groups at the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC).
Major Projects and Key Account Director at Heidelberg Materials
Ian has been with Heidelberg Materials for nearly 30 years, and has extensive experience in covering asphalt, aggregates and concrete product lines. Ian’s current role involves leading teams on major projects in the UK including Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station, HS2, Crossrail, Thames Tideway, A66, A303.
Regional Technical Manager (Concrete) at Heidelberg Materials UK
James Branch is a Regional Technical Manager for Hanson Concrete based in London. He has worked in the concrete supply industry since 2000, having started his career as an onsite soils and materials technician. In 1997 he undertook a PhD at the University of Surrey, researching Plastic Properties of High Strength Concrete. Currently he is a technical manager in London and has been involved in a number of iconic projects over this period.
Innovation Manager at Lafarge Cement (Aggregate Industries)
Veronika is a civil and materials engineer with experience in academia and industry with a focus on decarbonisation of the cement and concrete sector. Her specialisation is research and product development in cement and cementitious materials, together with AACM, concrete and polymer technologies. She is author/co-author of several publications, technical reports or conference proceedings.
Commercial Manager Capital Concrete
Kevin joined the industry 34 years ago as a Quality Control Technician. He has worked on projects including the Chanel Tunnel Rail Link, O2 Arena, Crossrail, Northern Line Extension, Battersea Power Station, and HS2. In his current role he helped set up a new Ready Mixed Concrete supply business which now operates from 10 Locations inside the M25.