With the support of TÜRKÇİMENTO and in collaboration with the Building Materials Manufacturers Federation (YÜF) and the Mimar Sinan Sectoral Center of Excellence, the seminar titled "Concrete, Mortars and Their Components Used in Buildings" brought together leading sector representatives and vocational high school teachers. Approximately 80 people attended the event.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Building Materials Manufacturers Federation (YÜF), comprised of sector representatives, continues to engage in various projects beyond industrial operations, fulfilling its social responsibility mission. The annual seminar provides a platform for teachers specializing in construction technologies and industry experts to share updates and experiences within the building sector.
This year's seminar took place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in collaboration with the Mimar Sinan Sectoral Center of Excellence and was hosted by Ankara Mimar Sinan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. Organized as in-service training, the seminar addressed construction technology teachers from vocational and Anatolian high schools in Ankara. Experts delivered presentations on the latest technologies in the construction industry, sector analysis, statistical data, production processes, and both national and international practices.
The opening session was chaired by Serkan Türk, R&D Manager of TÜRKÇİMENTO. Ayşe Şahiner, General Coordinator of the Mimar Sinan Sectoral Center of Excellence, delivered the welcome speech and introduced the Center. The school principal, Levent Kırcı, also gave opening remarks, thanking participants and expressing hope for a fruitful seminar before handing over to Ercan Kocakaya, Branch Manager of Vocational and Technical Education at the Provincial Directorate of National Education. Kocakaya emphasized the importance of vocational education and such informative seminars by sector representatives, highlighting the critical role vocational schools play in meeting the demand for skilled labor in industry and services. He thanked all the speakers for their contributions.
During the seminar, which began with a presentation on YÜF by Serkan Türk, it was emphasized that the growing need for skilled technical labor places significant responsibility on vocational schools and their teachers, and the importance of continuing and strengthening such cooperation was underlined. Teachers had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with experts. The event welcomed nearly 80 participants.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVENT:
Barış Akbelen, Technical Assistant at TÜRKÇİMENTO, presented on "Developments in Cement and Concrete Technology." He emphasized that cement and concrete remain foundational elements of the construction industry, and that the sector is accelerating its R&D activities to meet rising expectations and evolving needs.
He highlighted that the "Green Cement Promotion Regulation," which came into effect on January 1, 2025, will lead to a reduction of 11 million tons of CO₂ emissions over the next 10 years, equating to the environmental benefit of 500 million trees.
He also stated that waste heat recovery from 26 lines at 17 plants in the cement sector currently equals the daily electricity consumption of approximately 618,000 households, and this figure is expected to increase to the equivalent of 1.3 million households with planned investments.Akbelen noted that the sector continues to replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels, increasing alternative fuel use from 47,000 tons in 2007 to 2.1 million tons by the end of 2024. He also introduced innovative concrete types such as 3D-printed and flexible concrete, emphasizing their efficiency in meeting diverse needs. Akbelen highlighted that permeable concrete, allowing 200 liters of water per minute per square meter to pass through, contributes significantly to sustainable environmental practices by helping replenish underground water resources and maintaining the natural water cycle.
He also mentioned that only 10% of highways and state roads, and 40% of provincial and municipal roads in Turkey are concrete roads. If increased, this could lead to savings of about $3 billion over 10 years—$2.4 billion in construction and $450 million in maintenance. Reşat Sönmez, Secretary General of the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), delivered a presentation titled “Ready Mixed Concrete in the World and in Turkey.” Sönmez emphasized the association's significant contribution to the production of quality concrete and, by extension, high-quality construction.
He stated that Turkey leads Europe in ready mixed concrete production, and based on 2023 data, the sector contributed significantly to the national economy with revenues nearing 200 billion Turkish Lira, over 45,000 employees, and an annual output of 119 million cubic meters. He also noted the improvement in concrete strength in Turkey over time, with average concrete strength reaching C30. His presentation also included the history of concrete, its components, placement, curing, and maintenance. He underlined the importance of durability and designing concrete to withstand environmental conditions throughout a structure's service life. He concluded with insights into different concrete types and current trends.
Bilgihan Avşar, a member of the Technical Committee of the Aggregate Producers Association, presented on “Aggregates: The Main Raw Material of Livable Cities.” He explained that aggregates are materials like sand, gravel, and crushed stone, forming the largest share of mining activities globally and serving as essential raw materials for the construction sector.
He emphasized that Turkey’s position on an active earthquake fault line and the growing construction sector make high-quality, technically appropriate aggregate production increasingly important. Turkey currently produces approximately 300 million tons of aggregate annually, and the sector provides employment to around 25,000 people.
Alper Uçar, a civil engineer and technical office representative from the Turkish Precast Concrete Association (TPB), presented on “Concrete Prefabrication.” He discussed the production stages and usage areas of prefabricated components, including domestic and international examples. He detailed the advantages of the system, provided statistical insights, and covered topics such as connection techniques, prestressing, and post-tensioning technologies in prefabricated structures.