Johannesburg, South Africa | 05 June 2024: The 11th edition of Big 5 Construct South Africa opened at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Dr Hubert Joynt, Programme Manager - Centre of Excellence, Infrastructure South Africa and Vishaal Lutchman, Managing Director, Zutari. From dmg events, the organizers of Big 5 Construct South Africa, Ben Greenish, Executive Vice President, Mehtap Gürsoy, Portfolio Director - Construction and Tracy-Lee Behr, Event Director were also present.
“This year’s Big 5 Construct South Africa has opened to construction and engineering professionals, with strong participation from both local and international companies,” said Gürsoy. “The event has long served as a catalyst for driving investment and innovation within the nation’s economy, and its significance extends far beyond the exhibition floor. The next two days are just the start of its impact and how it ignites innovation and conversations across industry leaders and decision-makers.”
The ribbon-cutting was followed by the opening of the 7th edition of the Stakeholders Engagement Forum which prioritized building sustainable and resilient infrastructure in South Africa. Addressing the attendees, Aubrey Tshalata, National President, NAFBI, South Africa, stressed the collective efforts initiated by industry professionals to drive forward the development and transformation of South Africa’s built environment, despite challenging market conditions.
Also, attending the event were renowned industry leaders, including Lufuno Ratsiku, President, The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions; Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, Chief Executive Officer, South African Institution of Civil Engineering; and Themba Mahambi, Chairman, SANRAL. Some of the discussions at the forum highlighted the state of infrastructure in South Africa, innovative strategies to address challenges and opportunities from the design and implementation stages and the importance of asset preservation and resilience.
As the event opens for three days of business making, networking and knowledge sharing, it hosts more than 200 exhibitors from 20 countries. Supporting South Africa’s growing demand for products and services, Türkiye-based Teknorm Plastik showcases polycarbonate sheets; South Africa-based Mundo Ladders presents high-quality and durable ladders; India-headquartered Surie Polex brings granite polishing machines; Fritz J, leading suppliers of industrial and commercial roller doors and generators; Singapore’s Lintec & Linnhoff presents leading-edge solutions for the asphalt and concrete industries; China-based Fujian Qunfeng Machinery brings block production line, cuber machine as well as automatic block cuber machine.
Day one of the event hosted several Big 5 Talks on Africa’s water infrastructure issues that unpacked the potential of digital in solving legacy challenges; sustainable construction which highlighted the use of engineered timber and digital design; and driving sustainable strategies for the built environment. The talks enhanced practical learning in the construction industry by providing a hands-on, immersive environment where professionals engaged with the latest tools, technologies and methodologies.
The evening of the opening day celebrated impact in construction at the 2nd edition of Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards, where projects, innovations, businesses and the dedicated teams and individuals were recognized across 10 distinct categories in a gala ceremony.
“The next two days of the event are set to be as exciting and engaging, providing attendees with significant opportunities for growth and collaboration across a wide array of exhibitors, content programmes and speakers,” Gürsoy concluded.
Big 5 Construct South Africa is free-to-attend for industry professionals, excluding visitors under the age of 18. To register, visit: https://www.big5constructsouthafrica.com/
For media queries contact:
Ranju Warrier, Head of Communications – Construction, dmg events
ranjuwarrier@dmgevents.com
Lavina Naidoo, Account Executive, Pulse Communications
lavina@pulsecomms.co.za
About Big 5 Construct South Africa
Big 5 Construct South Africa is the country’s largest construction event bringing together local and international companies to showcase products and services, innovation, expertise and knowledge to the South African construction industry.
The three-day event offers 8,500 industry professionals the opportunity to connect with 200 local and international exhibitors to source the latest products and solutions for their upcoming and on-gong projects, as well as earn free CPD points through a curated talks programme.
Big 5 Construct South Africa is set to take place in Halls 2 and 3 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 4-6 June 2024 . The event is free to attend for industry professionals. Visitors under age 18 will not be permitted.
For more information and to register, visit www.big5constructsouthafrica.com
About dmg events
dmg events is a leading organizer of face-to-face events and publisher of trade magazines and information services. Our aim is to create dynamic marketplaces to connect businesses with the right communities to accelerate their growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
With a presence in over 30+ countries and organizing more than 100+ events each year, dmg events is a global leader in the industry. Attracting over 425,000 attendees and delegates annually, we organize events in the construction, hospitality, food & beverages, interiors & design, energy, coatings, entertainment and transportation sectors.
To better serve our customers, dmg events has offices in 10 countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, Canada, and Singapore. By being on the ground, we can better understand market needs and nurture relationships to create unforgettable experiences for our attendees.
Our flagship events include Big 5 Global, The Hotel Show, INDEX, ADIPEC and Gastech. For more information visit www.dmgevents.com. Founded in 1989, dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk).
