NordBau and CONBAU Nord 2024: Prospects for Housing Construction, Renovations, Energy Transition, Infrastructure, and Workforce Recruitment
(Neumünster) The 69th NordBau will open its doors from 4th to 8th September 2024 at the Holstenhallen Neumünster. Once again fully booked this year, the largest compact trade fair for construction in Northern Europe attracts visitors with an extensive range of offerings in civil and structural engineering, catering to private and commercial clients, as well as for renovations, new constructions, and both exterior and interior design.
A particular focus is on energy, climate, and heating technology in Hall 7. Here, manufacturers will showcase products for optimal energy generation and conservation. Visitors can assess and select what is suitable for their home or commercial building from the exhibitors. At the heart of this hall is the free advisory service provided by the Verbraucherzentrale and Haus & Grund Schleswig-Holstein, offering initial information on planned renovations or building improvements - no prior appointment necessary.
Alongside the technology, the design and utilisation of rooms are becoming increasingly important. Whether in a private home or a rented flat, housing needs change over time. The question then arises: Can spaces be reconfigured, flats downsized, or parts of a house rented out? How much living space is necessary, and how can conversion measures be efficiently designed and, above all, planned in advance in order to save costs? NordBau, in collaboration with an interior design company, offers ideas, answers, and examples in the 400-square-metre special exhibition "Interior Design and Decoration" in Hall 3. This offering is complemented by exhibitors showcasing kitchens, tiles, windows and doors, flooring, stairs, and bathroom elements.
In the outdoor area South, products for further property development and landscaping are presented: terrace coverings, carports, fences, garden sheds, façade elements, and privacy and sun protection. Both sustainability and the integration of the latest technology present interesting possibilities for private and commercial buildings.
Further development is evident in the extensive range of construction machinery, equipment, and commercial vehicles. Manufacturers are focused on continuous improvements to increase efficiency on construction sites, with a particular emphasis on workplace safety and reducing occupational stress, such as noise reduction.
Developing swift solutions is crucial for the construction industry as a whole. After all, attractive working conditions and the prospect of interesting upcoming construction projects can also help attract more workers to construction and craft companies. To recruit new employees, companies will, for the first time, present themselves on a dedicated recruitment area in Hall 1 throughout the five days of the fair. This complements the already traditional "nordjob Bau-Tag" (5th September), which introduces young people to job opportunities in and around the construction industry.
Furthermore, another premiere will take place at NordBau 2024: CONBAU Nord. This interdisciplinary construction congress will focus on key issues such as housing construction and the energy transition, addressing challenges and practical solutions. 40 national and international experts from science, business, associations, politics, and the financial sector will inform and discuss cross-sector strategies for achieving more efficient housing construction in the future. "The challenges to achieving climate neutrality in the residential building sector are enormous," emphasises congress co-organiser Professor Dietmar Walberg. As Managing Director of ARGE e.V. and Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Construction at Lübeck University of Applied Sciences, Professor Walberg has been advising the state and federal governments on housing construction for years. Together with his institute, he recently published two major feasibility studies for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. These show that many approaches from the past need to be abandoned if the federal government’s goal of climate neutrality by 2045 is to be met. The CONBAU Nord, taking place on 4th and 5th September, provides an opportunity for exchange and inspiration to develop urgent measures in structural engineering. After all, in addition to the climate aspect, the number of homes needed in the future plays a decisive role.
The first CONBAU Nord and the 69th NordBau will be officially opened on 4th September at 10 a.m. by the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther. The state government had already supported the initiative to establish a new networking event to jointly advance current and future construction topics. The opening programme will also include a keynote speech by Matthias Boxberger, the new Chairman of the Board of Avacon AG – E.ON's largest subsidiary – as well as an address by the Mayor of Neumünster, Tobias Bergmann. The opening ceremony of the construction congress will take place at the Holstenhallen Congress Centre, with the NordBau opening following in the outdoor area in front of the Forum.