70th NordBau: Partnerships and Exchange, Innovations and Future Topics – The Construction Industry Looks Ahead
(Neumünster) On Sunday 14 September, the anniversary edition of NordBau drew to a close. Over five days, 701 exhibitors from 16 countries presented their latest products and services at Northern Europe’s largest compact construction trade fair. At the same time, the 50-year partner-ship with Denmark was celebrated, with the Danish joint stand and its exhibitors taking centre stage.
At the opening ceremony, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Economic Affairs Claus Ruhe Madsen and Danish Ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller praised the economic impact that the exchange between the two countries and the NordBau platform with its exhibitors has on the construction industry. Hamburg’s State Councillor for Urban Development and Housing, Jacqueline Charlier, underlined the importance of collaboration and ongoing development in creating much-needed housing and presented the Hamburg Standard.
This gave the right impetus for the second CONBAU Nord, which ran alongside the trade fair on Wednesday and Thursday and focused on the transformation of residential construction. Two successful days featuring experts, knowledge transfer and idea development across a variety of formats and innovative forms of communication. More than 250 participants per day took ad-vantage of the platform to learn about new forms of building and living, funding opportunities, the acceptance of change and sustainability, and to exchange ideas interactively. A continuation in 2026 is already being planned.
The two special themes of this year’s exhibition were also very well received. Each day, numerous property owners showed interest in the possibilities of façade greening and its positive effects. The impressive demonstration façade with different types of greenery, combined with expert ad-vice from the Association of Garden, Landscape and Sports Ground Construction, demonstrated that climate adaptation is both possible and necessary on a small and large scale, while also providing protection and added value for the building concerned.
The special exhibition on low-temperature asphalt in Hall 6 attracted trade visitors to a purpose-built model of road-building works and, above all, to the various stakeholders and points of contact involved. From 1 January 2027, only asphalt laid at reduced temperatures will be permitted, so everyone involved in planning and execution must know how it is done and what it requires.
Visitors in Hall 7, which was devoted entirely to renewable energies, had a strong need for infor-mation and brought specific questions with them. The advisory stand ‘Insulate Your Home for the Future’, run by the Consumer Advice Centre and Haus & Grund SH, once again attracted large numbers of visitors. Suppliers of heating, climate-control and solar technology were in great de-mand to explain their products in detail and highlight their benefits. In addition to planned new builds or necessary refurbishments, many property owners are now facing foreseeable conver-sions that still raise many questions and call for bespoke solutions
At the fully booked and fully equipped exhibition grounds – both outdoors and in the additional halls – exhibitors presented construction equipment, construction machinery, commercial vehi-cles, building materials, IT, and much more for the construction industry, for companies, trades-people, and equipment operators.
50,300 visitors took advantage of the compact fair to see the increasingly large machines now available in fully electric versions, to learn about innovative building materials, or to seek advice from professional associations. Many exhibitors were able to conclude good business deals dur-ing the fair and hold important discussions – with existing clients as well as new prospects.
More and more companies, especially major construction groups, used the industry gathering for recruitment. They were present, engaged in dialogue and presented career opportunities within their own organisations. This meant that the 13th edition of nordjob Bau:Technik appealed not only to prospective trainees and students, but also to skilled workers and career changers from all areas of the construction industry.
Networking, exchange and knowledge transfer were also at the heart of the 48 conferences, train-ing sessions and association meetings with around 4,000 participants. The topics chosen were often so hot that events quickly sold out and follow-ups are planned. For example, from the next NordBau onwards, timber construction will be given special focus with its own dedicated hall.
The feedback from NordBau exhibitors and partners reflects the fact that personal contacts and joint initiatives are indispensable in tackling upcoming infrastructure measures, construction pro-jects and the reorientation of regulations and requirements.
71th NordBau: 9th–13th September 2026, 9 am – 5 pm, Holstenhallen Exhibition Grounds, Neumünster