2016 E&E Congress Review

UK Europe |

1,077 people from more than 20 countries attended the 6th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress (E&E Congress 2016), which was themed “Investing in our greatest asset: roads” and held at the Prague Congress Centre in the Czech Republic at the beginning of June.

Staged every four years, this unique event (E&E Congress 2016) was supported by 10 sponsor organisations and brought together individuals associated with the bitumen, asphalt and road industries from around the world to hear about the latest cutting-edge developments and ground-breaking research, and to discuss important topical issues with fellow experts. In total, 247 technical papers were accepted and there were 164 posters in the very popular poster sessions.

EAPA President John Kruse Larsen opened E&E Congress 2016; Dan Tok, the Czech Republic Minister of Transport, welcomed the delegates; and Ismail Ertug MEP, the Social Democrats Coordinator for the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) in the European Parliament, delivered the opening keynote address. Other keynote speakers included many figureheads from industry-related stakeholders, such as Thierry Goger, Secretary General of the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL), and Jean-Francois Corté, former Secretary General of the World Road Association (PIARC).

The technical presentations covered a wide range of topical areas, including: warm asphalt mixtures; mixture and performance testing; recycling; sustainable development; health, safety and environment; maintenance and rehabilitation, and binder performance and testing. 

For the first time, the Congress also included popular workshops and seminars on less technical issues, such as communications and finance.

Alongside the Congress, 58 organisations occupied more than 1,000m2 of exhibition space, where they presented their products and services to delegates. Eurobitume designed a joint stand with the Asphalt Institute from the US and also shared a designated area with EAPA, with whom they jointly promote the Asphalt Advantages campaign.

During the Congress Eurobitume showcased their new website, www.eurobitume.eu, and also launched the second issue of the Eurobitume magazine, which is available from the Eurobitume website in three languages – English, French and German.

Eurobitume also hosted a popular welcome reception for members and potential new members, which took place over the lunchtime session on the second day.

The E&E Congress 2016 has been an excellent opportunity for all involved to share knowledge, views, challenges and various solutions. At the close of this successful three-day event, Eurobitume President Siobhan McKelvey announced that the next E&E Congress will take place in Madrid on 13th-15th May 2020. Siobhan also advised the creation of a new type of event for the industry in Europe, E&E Asphalt Days, the first of which will be held in Berlin on 14th-15th June 2018.