The CECE 2024 Congress, held in Madrid from October 23-25, brought together industry leaders, policy makers and key players to discuss the future of the European construction equipment sector under the central theme of the reindustrialization of Europe.
The first day of the event included several outstanding lectures and discussions, shedding light on the opportunities and challenges to revitalize Europe's industrial landscape.
José Antonio Nieto, President of CECE, inaugurated the Congress:
“The sustainable reindustrialization of Europe is essential for its competitiveness in the global market and a crucial step towards achieving environmental goals. Creating the right conditions for this must be the top priority of the new European Commission, also inspired by the Draghi Report.”
José Antonio also expressed CECE's call for the construction equipment sector to be recognized as a key enabler of industrial revival in the new Clean Industrial Deal. This discussion is particularly timely with the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, and in particular Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice President for Industrial Prosperity and Strategy, scheduled for mid-November. The construction equipment sector can lead the green and digital transitions, driving and facilitating advances to improve productivity and sustainability, both in its own and other industries.
During the first day, Mario Draghi's report was highlighted as a significant contribution to the discussion on industrial productivity. The discussion highlighted the transformative role of digital tools, including AI. Regularly mentioned as a key driver, AI has been recognized for fostering innovation and creativity, both of which are crucial in the race to attract and develop top talent. In addition, the event provided valuable insights into how Europe can address demographic challenges and manage generational shifts, offering strategies to ensure long-term competitiveness and adaptability in a rapidly changing context.
The afternoon featured a lively panel discussion on what Europe needs to achieve sustainable reindustrialization. Prominent speakers, including Ana Londoño Botero, External Affairs Advisor at Rio Tinto, Tora Leifland, Head of Public Affairs at Volvo Construction Equipment, Pierre-Nicola Fovini, CEO of Finanzauto, Javier Ormazabal, President of Orgalim, and Tim Burnhope, Vice President of CECE, offered diverse perspectives on the challenges facing Europe's industrial sectors. The panel discussed Europe's path to sustainable industrial growth, focusing on the crucial role of critical raw materials, the importance of clean technologies and the relevance of cross-sector collaboration, topics of great concern to CECE Mining.
On the second day, a session was held to update the status of the regulations of the different working groups within the CECE Technical Commission and to report on the actions being carried out by CECE.
The Congress reaffirmed the importance of the construction equipment sector in driving innovation, sustainability and growth, in alignment with Europe's reindustrialization goals.
CECE thanks the sponsors who helped make the event a true success: DLL, AUSA, BLUMAQ, CSPI-EXPO, DICSA, DEUTZ SPAIN, ASEAMAC, FINANZAUTO, HİDROMEK, IMPLASER, ITA, PUTZMEISTER, RITCHIE BROS, ROQUET HYDRAULICS, SANY, SMOPYC, SOLINTAL and ASEAMAC.
Thanks also to the press that supported the event: Construction Europe, Movicarga, Interempresas, Obras Urbanas and OP Machinery.
It wasnte: CECE and ANMOPYC
