Embracing Innovation, Sustainability, Intelligence and Globalization

On September 19, the 2026 China International Concrete Expo entered its second exhibition day.  At Area D of the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, the momentum only grew: technical contests were in full swing, new smart-manufacturing products were unveiled in quick succession, industry association delegations from across China came “treasure hunting,” and exhibitors and visitors were deep in negotiations.

01 Energetic Competition

At 9:00 a.m. in Hall 19, the 1st “Kyushu Interstellar Cup” ECC Technical Competition began. Themed “High Ductility, Ultra Toughness, Materials Innovation for Engineering,” it required teams to conduct ultimate tensile and flexural tests on site, comprehensively assessing their ECC material design, preparation, and molding capability.

The 5th “Fengling Cup” UHPC Design & Customization Competition, which began at 2:00 p.m., was the undisputed highlight of the Expo. Long themed “UHPC Elastic Ball Design and Customization,” it combines a high technical threshold with strong spectator appeal. The venue was packed early on; amid crisp bouncing sounds, teams’ custom UHPC elastic balls kept setting new rebound heights in the test area. Contestants showcased highly creative sphere structures and discussed mix proportions and molding processes, while spectators raised their phones to record this blend of technology and fun.

02  Empowering Smart Manufacturing

That afternoon, the Expo’s smart-manufacturing atmosphere peaked with the Smart Manufacturing Session of the “New Products, New Technologies, New Equipment and New Applications” Achievement Release Conference. Project leaders took the stage in turn.

Anhui Exploration Automobile Technology Co., Ltd. — “Application of New-Energy Heavy Trucks in Short- and Medium-Distance Transport Scenarios Based on Vehicle Networking and Intelligent Dispatching”; China Resources Building Materials Technology Co., Ltd. — “AI Model-Based Concrete Product R&D and Design Tool (DeepConcrete AI Agent)”; Qingdao Global Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd. — “Digital-Intelligent Flexible Precast System for Shield Tunnel Segments”; China Construction Western Construction Hunan Co., Ltd. and three other units jointly — “Intelligent Monitoring and Control System for Concrete Workability During Transport and Delivery”; Hebei Yugou Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. — “Digital-Intelligent Railway Sleeper Production Line”; Quangong Machinery Co., Ltd. (Fujian) — “CCUS | Integrated Technology Package for CO₂ Capture, Mineralization, and Carbon Sequestration in Brick Manufacturing”; and Wuhan Building Material Industry DESIGN&RESEARCH Institute Co., Ltd. — “Multipurpose Integrated Stacking and Palletizing Machine for Perforated Thin Steel Plates.”

Together, the presentations showcased the deep application of AI, low-carbon and carbon-sequestration technologies, and intelligent equipment across the concrete value chain.

03  Building Green

In the conference area, the 5th Forum on Architectural & Art Concrete Technology Development and Design Application and the Eco-Faux-Stone Concrete Technology Innovation Achievements Exchange opened concurrently. Themed “Low-Carbon Smart Manufacturing, Art Building Cityscapes — Art and Eco-Concrete Empowering Urban Renewal and Spatial Quality Enhancement,” the forum brought together industry experts and enterprise representatives to explore topics including the unlimited possibilities of fair-faced concrete, new models of river-channel management under the dual-carbon goals, and key technologies and engineering practice for UHPC art products. Drawing on the latest developments and innovative cases, the experts offered attendees a cross-disciplinary feast blending aesthetics and ecological technology.

04  Group Visits and Opportunity Matching

The Expo’s strong appeal was evident across the value chain. Chief engineers and heads from China Construction Fourth Engineering Division, CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., China Railway Tunnel Group, the Fourth Company of China Construction First Group, the Second Company of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, and China Construction Third Engineering Division South China Company were invited to the venue for talks with technical representatives from more than 20 exhibitors across the value chain. Both sides exchanged views on the application of intelligent construction technology, the promotion of green, low-carbon materials, and the upgrading of engineering equipment, and explored new paths for collaborative innovation across the chain.

The delegations’ flags were a striking sight across the exhibition area. Delegates moved between booths, holding extensive discussions with exhibitors on ready-mixed concrete equipment, digital-intelligent software, and green, low-carbon materials. Under the organization of the Guangdong Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Association and the Shenzhen Cement & Products Association, local Guangdong enterprises also attended actively, demonstrating the vitality of the Greater Bay Area’s concrete industry. Their eagerness for new technology, together with the lively negotiations on site, formed the most vivid snapshot of this year’s Expo.