European Mortar Summit 2025

A platform, to exchange ideas

Building Congress Forum GmbH

EMO

Bas Huysmans

EMO

Antonio Caballero González

EMO

Katharina Lennig

EMO

Building Congress Forum GmbH

The European Mortar Summit is the gathering of the manufacturers of mortars, plaster & renders, adhesives, screeds and ETICS to exchange views on topical subjects and future trends. It will be organised by Building Congress Forum GmbH and is hosted by the European Mortar Industry Organisation (EMO). After 10-years break the 4th European Mortar Summit will be on 26 – 27 June 2025 in Düsseldorf.

The European Mortar Summit 2025 is both a technical and business conference, accompanied by an exhibition by the mortar manufactures and suppliers. The conference and exhibition will take place over one and a half days and will be framed by a joint gala dinner on the first day. The organisers are excited to welcome around 200 experts from the mortar, plaster and insulation industries as well as their suppliers from all over Europe. The lecture program will be enriched by an exhibition where more than 20 companies are expected to proudly showcase their innovative portfolios. As a premiere, there will be “Innovation Workshops” in which exhibiting companies can present their field of activity in more detail and enter into discussions with the participants. The overarching theme of the entire summit is the idea of networking, enabling the various sectors to enter into a mutual exchange and find sustainable solutions together. For exhibitors the organizers still offer an early bird prize. More information about the exhibition stands as well as the participation conditions is available at: www.mortarsummit.eu

Bas Huysmans, EMO President and CEO Saint-Gobain Weber Benelux, emphasizes the importance and the main purpose of the European Mortar Summit as follows: “The construction industry is currently experiencing difficult times, in some countries on an unprecedented scale. Irrespective of this, however, important changes, challenges and tasks in the areas of standardisation, digitalisation and sustainability are currently on the agenda! This is particularly the case when it comes to the implementation of political objectives and new legislation, such as the new Construction Products Regulation. After a break of almost ten years, the timing therefore seems almost perfect to convene the European mortar industry and its supplier partner industries once again for a summit. We are therefore happy to announce the 2025 European Mortar Summit. A platform, to exchange ideas, obtain expert first-hand information and recognise opportunities. We are pleased to be able to attract high-ranking and competent speakers who can provide us with the latest information on the status of the various processes, as well as an outlook on what we can expect economically and politically. We therefore look forward to seeing and meeting colleagues, friends, partners and experts at the European Mortar Summit 2025.”

On the occasion of the upcoming 4th European Mortar Summit 2025, the ZKG CEMENT LIME GYPSUM had the opportunty to ask some questions to Antonio Caballero González.

Mr Antonio Caballero González, please give our readers of ZKG CEMENT LIME GYPSUM a brief history of the event.

The event unites key players in the mortar, plaster, and insulation industry from across Europe. The first Mortar Summit was held in Paris in 2011, followed by Barcelona and Lisbon. Unfortunately, for various reasons the summit has been on hold since 2015. Now, after a decade, the time is right to bring together the European mortar industry and its suppliers once again.

What will be the main focus of the summit? What different formats will there be at the summit?

The summit will focus on topical information and exchanges between mortar manufacturers and suppliers, providing a platform for networking. Additionally, both days will feature informative presentations, parallel exhibitions, and innovation workshops showcasing the latest innovations and products. We are proud to host the European Mortar Summit, a format which we believe provides unique networking and business opportunities. The main focus for the first day, Thursday June 26, 2025 will be of a technical nature. High-level speakers from the EU Commission and other European associations will provide updates and insights on topics impacting the industry, such as challenges and opportunities of implementing the new construction product regulation, digitalising the construction product industry and moving towards carbon neutral products.
On the second day, Friday, June 27, 2025 the focus lies on what the sector expects and can expect from the new Clean Industrial Deal and the European Affordable Housing Plan.

Which industry representatives will present themselves in the exhibition?

At the exhibition we expect major players from our sector as well as from our suppliers. At present, companies such as Sika Germany and Saint Gobain, WAM, Peter Greven, and VITChem GmbH have confirmed their participation. We are excited about this, as it is a positive signal in hard times. It shows that the European Mortar Industry and its partners are willing to accept the challenges and seize the opportunities of the transition.

Who is organising the European Mortar Summit 2025?

The European Mortar Industry Organisation selected BCF as organiser due to their longtime successful experience with similar events. BCF is responsible for handling all aspects related to the location, pricing, and logistics to ensure a seamless event experience. EMO proudly acts as host, carefully curating the conference topics for both the first and second days. We also choose the speakers, ensuring that attendees receive valuable insights and first-hand information from leading experts in the field. This collaboration guarantees a well-rounded and impactful summit for all participants.

Who is the European Mortar Summit 2025 primarily aimed at?

All in all, the European mortar industry, in particular the technical experts responsible for implementing the CPR, product developers and the strategic management.

What other highlights can participants look forward to?

On the one hand, there are the Innovation Workshops during the exhibition, where exhibitors can present their innovations and highlights in separate slots.

We are also looking forward to welcome CEOs from various mortar manufacturers to the event and as selected participants in a panel discussion. Their participation and engagement in the discussions with their insight and market expertise, will be beneficial to both sides: speakers and audience.

A further highlight is the informal networking dinner at the Deichgraf in Düsseldorf.

What are the future plans for this series of events?

At present, there are no specific plans. We are focusing making it a successful event and looking forward to assessing the audience feedback through a survey afterwards. But certainly EMO and the industry are interested in repeating such or similar events on a regular basis.

Many thanks for the interesting background information!

https://mortarsummit.eu

Introduction of the European Mortar Industry Organisation (EMO)

EMO is the voice of the European factory-made mortar industry. We defend and represent the common interests of the sector towards legislative and non-legislative institutions at European level, such as the European Commission, the Council, the European Parliament, CEN and EOTA.

EMO members are national associations and companies from Europe. “Mortar” is a generic term comprising masonry & repair mortars, plaster & renders, adhesives, screeds. Besides mortars, a large part of our industry also designs and provides thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) for renovation and new buildings. Approximately, 70 % of the total mortar production volume is produced in EMO member countries, together with ETICS this is considered to represent 80 % of Europe’s mortar revenues.

Bas Huysmans, EMO President and CEO Saint-Gobain Weber Benelux

With a long history in multiple rolls working at a leading mortar producer in the Benelux Bas Huysmans has seen many different aspects of the industry. This prepared him well for a move into Europe. Having held positions in Germany, Sweden and France in different functions he returned to the Netherlands to take final responsibility for Saint-Gobain’s mortar & construction chemical business in the Benelux.

The European playing field and its challenges has always been and still is a very important part of the industry.

As Chairman both in local branch organizations, and as President of EMO, he sees it as an honor and pleasure to support our industry in claiming its position in a healthy and sustainable future!

EMO Secretariat:
Antonio Caballero González, General Secretary EMO

Antonio Caballero González studied civil engineering at RWTH Aachen University. During and after his studies he was involved in construction material research. From 2002 on he worked for various building materials associations. Since 2014, Mr. Caballero González acts as General Secretary of the EMO.

Katharina Lennig, Technical and Communication Officer EMO

Katharina Lennig studied architecture at the Bauhaus University Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Dessau. Afterwards she worked for the German calcium-silicate association. Since 2022, she has been working for the European Mortar Industry Organisation.

Organising team of Building Congress Forum GmbH

Exhibition Manager
Adrian Meindl
+ 49 711 327 32 340

Project Manager Congress & Delegates
Andrea Greiner
+ 49 711 327 32 334

Project Manager Congress & Delegates
Anna Kolb
+ 49 711 327 32 334

Head of Organization Congress & Exhibition
Denny Bakirtzis
+ 49 711 327 32 323