SEMCO Publishing, parent company of Rock Products, sponsored the first AggNexus Digital Innovation Conference Sept. 9-10, 2025 at the University of Texas, Austin. The event engaged representatives of technology-savvy multinational or independent cement, aggregate, concrete and asphalt producers plus allied software developers or service providers.
SEMCO Publishing publications Rock Products, Cement Products and Concrete Products; and Route One Publishing Ltd.’s Aggregates Business International, teamed with On the Rocks Digital, a marketing and web design specialist based in France, to present AggNexus. Barry Hudson of Price-Bee, who contributes pricing articles to Rock Products, was also instrumental in helping organize the event.
I cannot stress enough that this conference was on the cutting edge of everything high-tech happening in the construction materials industry today.
Rapid evolution of the artificial intelligence model – and data capture or analytics methods that are transforming construction material producer field, plant or back-office operations – underpinned the conference, which was attended by almost 100 industry professionals.
Rock Products economics guru, Pierre Villere, in his The Strategist column, has written, “To summarize what AI means in a few words, thanks to AI in the mining industry, much more efficient extraction of ores and raw materials is possible, while also helping in the automation of different aspects of mining-related work. AI, machine learning and cognitive computing are all technologies that are already starting to support mining companies in determining when, where and how to mine most efficiently. We will see giant leaps forward in drill data, sample analysis, survey reports, geological data, and so many other areas that offer promises of increased efficiency and fewer errors.”
AggNexus organizers mustered 10 software or service overview presentations and three panel discussions from a diverse pool of producers and current or prospective technology partners – most inclined to open applications that can be readily integrated into user-tailored suites, narrow to broad. The panels were moderated by my colleague Aggregates Business International Editor Guy Woodford.
We are excited about the possibilities for this conference, and 2025 will be bigger and better. Don’t miss it.
Mark Kuhar