Asphalt and bitumen industry attention is turning to the Eurasphalt and Eurobitume (E&E) Congress Congress being held next month in Istanbul, Turkey. Guy Woodford reports
Held every four years, the Eurasphalt and Eurobitume Congress is always a well-attended event that can be both commercially beneficial and thought-provoking for asphalt and bitumen industry companies and organisations.Judging by a joint statement released by Eurobitume president Alberto Bardesi and
“This congress could be the most important E&E Congress in recent years. We are at a point where traditional thinking could change and a new era where Warm Mix Asphalt and other technologies will be embraced by our industry to help shape the future for the coming years.”
Bardesi and Marchand go on to point out that the E&E Congress gives attendees the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from “all parts of the world”, with whom ideas can be shared and inspiration for the future gained.
Crucially, Istanbul was seen by E&E Congress organisers as providing an opportunity not only to foster communication across Europe but also with its neighbours in Asia.
"Asphalt, the sustainable road to success" is the title theme of the latest congress with all attendees asked to contribute in the context of four key objectives: effective protection of the environment; prudent use of natural resources; social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; maintenance of high stable levels of economic growth and employment.
Among many major companies exhibiting at the Eurobitume (European Bitumen Association) and European Asphalt Pavement Association (EAPA) organised congress will be
The first day of the fifth E&E Congress will include two keynote speaker sessions where a total of eight eminent experts will express their views on asphalt and bitumen industry sustainability.
Vilrid Femoen, director of policy at the Norwegian Road Federation, will talk about the positive impact of roads and ask whether they are underestimated and ignored in decision-making worldwide.
Meanwhile, financing of road infrastructure and maintenance will be explored by André Broto, vice-president of
Other first day experts include Shamir Ghumra, Aggregates Industries' head of sustainability; Carl Robertus,
Second day experts continuing to look at issues surrounding asphalt and bitumen industry sustainability include
Highlights of the third and final day of the fifth E&E Congress include the views of Rien Huurman, research and development manager at BAM Wegen, on the validation and understanding of winter damage in porous asphalt; and International Bitumen Emulsion Federation executive director, Etienne Le Bouteiller, talking about meeting the pavement preservation challenge.
Congress participants are also being invited to take part in a photography competition by sharing their best photo regarding asphalt roads and/or bitumen.
The latest E&E Congress comes after previous events in Strasbourg in 1996, Barcelona in 2000, Vienna in 2004, and Copenhagen four years ago.
