The cement industry's most consequential decisions — on decarbonization strategy, alternative fuels adoption, digital maintenance transformation, and equipment investment — are increasingly being made by professionals who show up in person at the right events. In 2026, six conferences stand above the rest for cement plant engineers, maintenance managers, reliability professionals, and operations leaders: IEEE-IAS/ACA, World Cement Association Annual Conference, Cemtech, Global CemFuels, Global CemCCUS, and the Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) Congress. Each one serves a distinct audience and agenda. The right conference for a maintenance reliability engineer differs fundamentally from the right conference for a sustainability director or an operations VP. This guide cuts through the calendar noise so you can allocate your professional development time where it actually moves the needle. If you want to see how AI-powered CMMS fits into the digital strategies being discussed at these events, start a free trial on Oxmaint before your next conference trip.
2026 Calendar · Cement Industry Events
Top 6 Cement Industry Conferences to Attend in 2026
IEEE-IAS, World Cement, Cemtech, Global CemFuels, CemCCUS, and GCCA — the definitive guide for cement professionals who want to invest their conference time wisely.
2026 Conference Calendar at a Glance
Apr 26–29
IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement Conference
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Apr 19–22
WCA Annual Conference
Bangkok, Thailand
May–Jun
Cemtech Series
Multiple Locations
Sep 2026
Global CemFuels
Europe
Jun 9–10
Global CemCCUS
Hamburg, Germany
Nov 2026
GCCA Congress
TBC
The 6 Conferences — Who Should Attend and Why
01
IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement Conference
68th Annual • Fort Lauderdale, FL • April 26–29, 2026
The IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement Conference is the premier technical event for electrical engineers, maintenance professionals, and plant reliability specialists in North American cement operations. Running since its first annual event, the 68th edition at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale focuses on practical, plant-floor problem solving: power systems, motors, drives, automation upgrades, and increasingly, AI-driven maintenance and digital reliability. Sessions are technical, vendor-neutral, and led by engineers who actually run cement plants — not industry consultants with slide decks.
Best For
Electrical Engineers
Maintenance Managers
Reliability Engineers
Plant Managers
Key Topics 2026
Power system reliability, variable frequency drives, kiln drive upgrades, predictive maintenance AI, IoT sensor integration, cement plant digital transformation
02
World Cement Association Annual Conference
Bangkok, Thailand • April 19–22, 2026
The WCA Annual Conference in Bangkok brings together global cement producers, industry executives, and sustainability leaders to address the strategic challenges facing the industry at large. The 2026 edition spans four days at The Athenee Hotel and focuses on decarbonization pathways, market outlook, circular economy approaches, and the role of alternative raw materials. This is the conference for C-suite leaders and strategic planners — not for equipment-level technical discussions, but for understanding the forces reshaping cement markets globally.
Best For
Executives
Sustainability Directors
Strategic Planners
Key Topics 2026
Decarbonization strategy, global cement market outlook, circular economy materials, ESG reporting frameworks, industry standards and policy
03
Cemtech Conference Series
Multiple Locations • Year-Round 2026
Cemtech (operated through Tradeship Publications / Global Cement Magazine) runs a series of regional cement technology conferences covering Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. The conferences target process engineers, kiln operators, and production management professionals — with sessions on kiln efficiency, grinding technology, clinker optimization, alternative fuels, and process automation. Cemtech events are valued for their regional specificity and the high proportion of technical case study presentations from operating cement plants.
Best For
Process Engineers
Kiln Operators
Production Management
Key Topics 2026
Kiln process optimization, grinding efficiency, clinker quality, alternative fuels trials, emissions reduction, process automation upgrades
04
Global CemFuels Conference
19th Annual • Europe • September 2026
Global CemFuels is the world's largest dedicated conference for alternative fuels in cement and lime manufacturing. Since 2007, it has assembled more than 200 international delegates annually — fuel suppliers, traders, cement producers, and combustion engineers — to address alternative fuels strategy, fuel mix optimization, and pyroprocess efficiency. The 2026 edition includes sessions on hydrogen and ammonia as kiln fuels, a specific focus area gaining urgency as decarbonization timelines tighten. If alternative fuels thermal substitution rate (TSR) is on your agenda, this is the essential event.
Best For
Fuel Managers
Environmental Directors
Combustion Engineers
AF Suppliers
Key Topics 2026
Thermal substitution rate optimization, hydrogen/ammonia fuels, fuel procurement strategy, combustion process efficiency, EU ETS and carbon cost implications
05
Global CemCCUS Conference
3rd Edition • Hamburg, Germany • June 9–10, 2026
The Global CemCCUS Conference — Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Sequestration — addresses the unavoidable final step in cement decarbonization. Even after alternative fuels, efficiency upgrades, and process changes, approximately 60% of cement's CO2 comes from limestone calcination itself and cannot be eliminated without carbon capture. The 3rd edition in Hamburg includes a confirmed field trip to Holcim's Lägerdorf cement plant, one of Europe's most advanced carbon capture pilot sites. An Awards Dinner on a dining yacht along the River Elbe adds a distinctive networking dimension.
Best For
Decarbonization Teams
EHS Directors
Carbon Engineers
Key Topics 2026
Post-combustion and oxyfuel capture technologies, CO2 utilization pathways, CCUS economics and financing, EU regulatory frameworks, project case studies from operating sites
06
Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) Congress
Annual Congress • 2026 Date TBC
The GCCA Congress brings together the leadership of the world's largest cement and concrete producers under the Global Cement and Concrete Association's umbrella. Unlike more technical conferences, the GCCA Congress is focused on industry-wide coordination on net-zero commitments, the 2030 and 2050 carbon roadmaps, circular economy advocacy, and policy engagement with governments and regulatory bodies. GCCA member companies represent approximately 80% of global cement production outside China — making this the most policy-influential gathering on the cement industry calendar.
Best For
C-Suite Leaders
Government Affairs
Net-Zero Teams
Key Topics 2026
Industry net-zero roadmap, policy advocacy, concrete sustainability standards, CBAM navigation, ESG investor engagement, innovation funding frameworks
Attending IEEE-IAS or Cemtech this year? The most-discussed topic at 2026 cement industry technical conferences is AI-driven predictive maintenance and CMMS integration. Oxmaint is purpose-built for cement plants — sign up free and come prepared for the conversation.
Which Conference Is Right for Your Role?
| Conference | Date | Location | Best Role | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement | Apr 26–29 | Fort Lauderdale, USA | Maintenance / Electrical Engineers | Technical plant reliability |
| WCA Annual Conference | Apr 19–22 | Bangkok, Thailand | Executives / Strategy | Industry strategy & markets |
| Cemtech Series | Year-Round | Multi-Region | Process / Production Engineers | Kiln and process technology |
| Global CemFuels | Sep 2026 | Europe | Fuel / Environment Teams | Alternative fuels strategy |
| Global CemCCUS | Jun 9–10 | Hamburg, Germany | Decarbonization / EHS Teams | Carbon capture technology |
| GCCA Congress | Nov 2026 | TBC | C-Suite / Policy Teams | Net-zero & policy advocacy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement Conference suitable for maintenance managers or just electrical engineers?
The IEEE-IAS/ACA Cement Conference is highly relevant for maintenance managers, reliability engineers, and plant managers — not just electrical specialists. Sessions cover predictive maintenance, digital reliability programs, drive and motor upgrades, and increasingly AI/CMMS integration. It is the most technically rigorous event specifically focused on cement plant operations. See how Oxmaint's CMMS capabilities align with the maintenance topics covered at IEEE-IAS.
Why attend Global CemCCUS if our plant doesn't have a carbon capture project yet?
With EU CBAM enforcement active in 2026 and carbon pricing expanding globally, understanding capture technology trajectories and economics is increasingly a mainstream planning requirement — not just for plants with active CCUS projects. The Holcim Lägerdorf field trip alone is worth attending for any cement professional responsible for long-term capital and decarbonization planning.
How do Global CemFuels and Global CemCCUS differ in scope?
CemFuels addresses alternative fuel substitution — reducing fossil fuel use through waste-derived and biomass fuels, and emerging options like hydrogen and ammonia. CemCCUS addresses carbon capture after combustion — removing the CO2 that cannot be eliminated through fuel switching alone. Both are necessary steps on the path to net zero, but they serve different technical teams and planning horizons. Book a demo to see how Oxmaint helps track the maintenance and compliance dimensions of both programs.
Which conference offers the most value for a cement plant investing in predictive maintenance in 2026?
For predictive maintenance and digital reliability specifically, IEEE-IAS/ACA is the primary destination — with practical sessions on IoT integration, AI diagnostics, and plant automation from engineers who operate cement facilities. Cemtech conferences also cover process automation with increasing depth. The ROI case for predictive maintenance in cement is well-established: up to 80% reduction in unplanned downtime and payback within 6–12 months for most deployments.
Can a small or regional cement producer benefit from attending GCCA Congress?
GCCA Congress is most valuable for producers who are GCCA members or who engage directly with EU policy and ESG-linked financing. Smaller regional producers with limited export exposure may find better ROI at IEEE-IAS or Cemtech events where technical sessions are directly applicable to daily plant operations. Oxmaint works with cement producers of all sizes — from single-kiln operations to multi-plant groups.
Show Up to Every Conference as the Plant That Already Made the Digital Leap
The conversations at IEEE-IAS, WCA, and Cemtech in 2026 will center on AI-driven maintenance, digital reliability, and connected CMMS platforms. Oxmaint gives your cement plant that capability — starting free, deployed in weeks, built for the operating realities of rotary kilns and ball mills.
