The Cement Industry’s Premier U.S. Show And Conference Comes To Birmingham, Ala.
By Mark S. Kuhar
The best and brightest in the cement industry are coming together in Birmingham, Ala., May 4–8 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex for the 67th annual IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference. This is the most prestigious gathering of cement and concrete industry professionals held in the United States.
Show organizers expect almost 1,200 attendees representing approximately 400 companies and 170 exhibit booths at the event.
“Aside from the latest technical training and extensive networking opportunities, this year’s cement conference will feature a panel honing in on a topic the world has been watching: American politics,” said Mike Ireland, president and CEO of the Portland Cement Association (PCA), co-host of the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference. “PCA’s Government Affairs Panel will discuss news out of Washington, D.C., and how it’s affecting both U.S. companies and cement companies around the world. Our aim is a conversation with global participation, all happening in Birmingham, Ala. This truly international conference is a can’t-miss for anyone in the industry.”
The 2025 conference will include:
- An enhanced tour of National Cement’s Ragland Plant and Reworld Birmingham, an alternative engineered fuel (AEF) processing facility.
- Technical paper presentations from industry thought leaders.
- Training sessions.
- Professional development opportunities.
- A highly regarded economic forecast.
- Preferred supplier exhibits.
- Networking opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the dates/location for the 2025 Conference?
- May 4-8, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala.
- How can I submit a technical paper presentation?
- Submissions for the 2025 Conference are complete. When submissions are open for the 2026 show, they will be posted under “Conference Information” on the conference page “Technical Paper/Abstracts”
- contact information will be listed there.
- Submissions for the 2025 Conference are complete. When submissions are open for the 2026 show, they will be posted under “Conference Information” on the conference page “Technical Paper/Abstracts”
- Could you share the list of attendees and their email addresses with me?
- For privacy reasons the show does not provide registrant email addresses. The list of registrants will begin to populate and will be listed on the website under “More Information.”
- How much does a booth cost and when will booth sales open?
- Booths are sold out. Please contact [email protected] with questions or to be placed on the waitlist.
- When can I register for a conference badge?
- Conference registration opened in January 2025.
- How much does it cost to register for the conference as an attendee?
- Early Bird Rates: Member, $950.00; Nonmember, $1,150.00.
- Regular Rates (after March 28): Member, $1150.00; Nonmember, $1,350.00.
Attendee Badge: Grants access to all training sessions (note: some require additional fees) as well as to the exhibit hall during lunch (12–2 p.m.) and receptions. PCA Council and Committee meetings open to PCA members only. Note: Full-day exhibit hall access is exclusive to exhibitor badges. Attendee badge types: Member (IEEE or PCA), Nonmember, Academic (Student/Professor) or Media.
Exhibitor Badge: Grants access to the exhibit hall from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Can also attend technical sessions (some may have an additional cost). Exhibitors that are also PCA Associate Members can attend PCA committees that are open to members. Exhibitor badge types: Complimentary or Extra Exhibitor.
Spouse/Partner Badge: Does not allow access to the exhibit hall except during receptions (Sunday-Tuesday) and access to Wednesday night Awards Banquet. This badge provides breakfast Monday-Wednesday, inclusion in spouse/partner activities, and may attend the Thursday plant tour (for an additional fee). Attendees and Exhibitors can add a Spouse/Partner badge at the end of their own registration.
Agenda
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Afternoon exhibit hall opening and reception.
Monday, May 5, 2025
Sessions.
Lunch and reception in the Exhibit Hall.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Sessions.
Lunch and reception in the exhibit hall.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Sessions.
Lunch in the exhibit hall and evening awards banquet.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Cement tour.
Hotel
PCA has secured a room block for the 2025 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference at the Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham headquarter hotels across the street from the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Conference attendees are welcome to make their hotel reservations before April 11.
Room Rate:
- Sheraton Birmingham = $180/night (plus applicable taxes).
- Westin Birmingham = $225/night (plus applicable taxes).
The discounted rates are available from Saturday, May 3 to Thursday, May 8. Should you wish to extend your stay beyond these dates, contact the hotels directly at 205-324-5000 (Sheraton) or 205-307-3600 (Westin) to arrange additional nights based on hotel’s availability and prevailing rates.
Reservation cut-off date: Friday, April 11. Rooms are available until the cut-off date or until the block sells out, whichever occurs first.
Please be wary of any unsolicited emails or calls offering discounted hotel rates for the event. To guarantee the best service and safety, book your accommodations only through the secured link provided on the official conference website. This ensures that you receive legitimate bookings at preferred hotels, with all necessary amenities and conveniences.
Official conference website: www.cementconference.org.
The Organizers
IEEE Industry Applications Society (IEEE-IAS) and the Portland Cement Association (PCA) are proud to be the organizing sponsors of the 2025 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference. IEEE-IAS is a volunteer-driven organization for engineering professionals looking to advance the theory and practice of electrical and electronic systems.
PCA, founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA supports sustainability, innovation and safety while fostering continuous improvement in cement manufacturing, distribution, infrastructure, and economic growth.
The History
The first conference was in 1959 in Allentown, Pa., with 298 registrants. The combination of the cement industry technical conference with a cement plant tour first occurred at the first conference with tours of Whitehall Cement and Traylor Engineering. When possible, cement plant tours continue to be part of conference programming. U. S. cement production is 59.8 million metric tons from 170 portland cement plants and four natural cement and pozzolan cement plants.
