The Schüco Metal Construction Days 2024 in Bielefeld attracted around 1200 participants from all over Germany, including over 120 vocational trainees, for whom a special programme was offered on 5 June.
In addition to the technical presentations, visitors had the opportunity to discuss and obtain information about products and applications from Schüco and partner companies at numerous information stands in the halls and on the campus grounds.
These stands provided an ideal platform for intensive technical discussions and practical demonstrations of new technologies and products.
A central theme of the trade days was Schüco Carbon Control, which makes the decarbonisation of the building envelope controllable. The modular principle enables project-specific CO2 minimisation in all construction phases - from planning to construction and operation through to recycling.
Matthias Rehberger / GW
Schüco supports all those involved in the construction process in complying with building regulations as part of climate policy. This means that architects and planners can have a major influence on the carbon footprint of a building as early as the design phase.
In short, architects and planners can have a significant influence on the carbon footprint of a building through its design. Our solutions for form factor, element sizes, circular concepts and material selection create design scope for CO2 minimisation.
SchüCal CO2 calculation: making sustainability measurable
Matthias Rehberger / GW
With SchüCal, the digital centrepiece for planning and calculation processes in metal construction, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) is now determined for every element calculation. This makes it easy to determine the component-specific CO2 input in the building and provides detailed and certified environmental product declarations (EPD) for precise CO2 planning at the touch of a button. SchüCal thus makes sustainability in planning measurable and transparent.
Schüco Smart Building: added value through intelligent solutions
Another key topic at the symposium was Schüco Smart Building. According to Schüco, this includes all products and elements that offer additional added value to the core elements of a building. This includes integrated ventilation systems, smart functions and the automated control of windows and doors.
Matthias Rehberger / GW
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Especially in times like today, when 36% of companies are complaining about a lack of orders and orders are often smaller, these additional products offer an opportunity to increase margins and stand out from the competition.
Keynote: There is no way around ‘artificial intelligence’ anymore
Another highlight was Bilal Zafar's keynote speech on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) entitled ‘Opportunity of the Century - Artificial Intelligence’. Zafar emphasised that AI will influence all areas of our lives and is of great importance for competitiveness. He showed how AI can be used in various areas of everyday life - from apple picking and eye examinations to issuing parking tickets. He emphasised that you can talk to AI like an intelligent partner and discuss creative questions.
Matthias Rehberger / GW
AI also opens up numerous practical applications for tradespeople that make their day-to-day work much easier. For example, AI-controlled machines and tools can recognise and process material independently, increasing the efficiency and precision of work.
AI systems can also help with the planning and costing of projects by automatically suggesting the best materials and techniques and identifying potential problems at an early stage.
Furthermore, errors and irregularities in construction plans or processes can be detected and rectified more quickly through the use of AI.
Matthias Rehberger / GW
Another key topic of his presentation was how companies can integrate AI and where it is best to start. When asked whether AI is evil, he replied: ‘No, AI is based on people.’
Voices of the visitors
For Jens Könenkamp from Könenkamp Metall + Glas GmbH in Syke, the Schüco Metal Construction Days are a must-attend event in the calendar. "This is where we find out about new trends and the latest technology. The meeting here has been a must for us for years."
The three-strong team from Kreativmetall GmbH in Lingen wanted to visit the Schüco workshops to view a machine that the company intends to purchase in the near future. ‘Here at Schüco, we can find out more details and see what the machine can do and how it works before we finally invest.’
Matthias Rehberger / GW
Networking was at the top of the agenda for the façade constructors from Hunsrücker Glasveredelung Wagener GmbH, who were on site with three men. "Of course, we also learn about technology here, but the most important thing for us is exchanging ideas with colleagues from all over Germany. That's the most important thing for us."
Mr Schillog from Metallbau Schilloh in Goch came to Bielefeld with nine employees. "For us, the Metal Days are a perfect opportunity for further training. We see it as a major training event, so to speak, to keep ourselves technically up to date. I'm also interested in the latest trends. The high information density of the presentations justifies the fact that we come here with around a quarter of our workforce. We've been doing this for years and it's always worthwhile."
The metal construction apprentices were also satisfied. "Our bosses took us here.
We think it's really great. Seeing something completely new and talking to other trainees and also seeing new trends that we don't normally have in the company,’ some of the young participants told GW-News enthusiastically.
Conclusion and outlook
The Schüco Metal Construction Days 2024 have once again shown how important it is to discuss technical innovations and sustainable solutions in the industry.
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With topics such as carbon control, smart building and artificial intelligence, Schüco continues to set standards and support the industry in positioning itself for the future. The event provided a valuable platform for knowledge transfer, networking and practical insights into the future of metal construction.
This article was researched and written by Matthias Rehberger
Matthias Rehberger / GW
