Rethinking Brick – IAB DAYS “BUILDING MATERIALS” 2026 in Weimar

Decarbonization, energy efficiency, thermal process engineering, operational data, clay building materials, and meta-clay were the focus of the 2026 IAB DAYS “BUILDING MATERIALS.” Under the theme “Rethinking Brick – Materials. Processes. Future,” representatives from industry, research, and practice gathered at IAB Weimar on March 5, 2026, to discuss current approaches to resource-efficient and sustainable brick production.

The brick industry faces the challenge of combining proven product properties with significantly reduced emissions, more efficient processes, and responsible use of raw materials. It was precisely at this intersection that the IAB DAYS “BUILDING MATERIALS” 2026, organized by the Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar gGmbH, took place. The expert forum addressed key future challenges facing the industry: How can brick production be gradually decarbonized? What role do alternative energy sources, hydrogen, electrification, and heat recovery play? How can existing plants be operated more efficiently? And what new material approaches arise from clay, recycled raw materials, and thermally activated clays?

The event kicked off with a keynote presentation by Dr. Stefan Vogt of Wienerberger AG on the path toward CO2-free brick production. He demonstrated that decarbonization cannot be reduced to a single measure. Rather, the path to transformation arises from the interplay of raw material selection, product design, energy supply, kiln technology, and economic conditions. In addition to CO2 emissions related to building materials, material efficiency, dematerialization, and alternative energy sources were also addressed. It became clear that technical solutions exist, but their implementation depends heavily on site conditions, investment costs, energy prices, and funding frameworks.

Dr. Matthias Händel, IAB Weimar gGmbH, then presented the thermal process engineering at the IAB. Using various pilot plants, he demonstrated how laboratory and pilot-scale studies make industrial firing processes easier to understand and optimize. Among other things, he presented plants for natural gas, hydrogen, and mixed-gas operation, as well as for inert gas, vacuum, and calcination processes. Studies on the firing of ceramic products with natural gas and hydrogen made it clear that hydrogen firing is technically controllable with appropriate process management; however, issues such as color effects, NOx formation, combustion air requirements, and exhaust gas composition must be evaluated in a differentiated manner.

Holger Rottmann of LINGL SOLEAD GmbH provided a practical perspective on plant technology with his presentation on measures toward CO2-neutral brick production. The focus was on approaches that can also be implemented in existing plants: reducing flue gas losses, preventing false air ingress, improving heat transfer, kiln sealing, exhaust gas heat recovery, and adapted burner and control technology. The presentation made it clear that significant savings potential can already be tapped through consistent energy optimization of existing processes.

In his presentation “Operational Data as the Key to Efficiency,” Richard Lemke of August Lücking GmbH & Co. KG focused on data-driven process optimization. Operational data is available in many plants but is not yet always used systematically. Its structured analysis can help reveal correlations between raw materials, drying, kiln operation, energy consumption, and product quality, identify fluctuations, and derive more targeted optimization measures.

Marc Hohmann, IAB Weimar gGmbH, concluded the lecture series with a presentation on meta-clay development in tunnel kilns. Meta-clay was presented as a thermally activated clay raw material and a potential main component in binder systems for cement, lime, and geopolymers. The focus was on raw material selection, batch composition, thermal activation, mineral phase development, and reactivity assessment. The presentation highlighted new value-added prospects for ceramic raw materials, by-products, and alternative binders.

The conference was rounded off with a tour of the IAB laboratories and the IAB Recycling Pilot Plant. Participants gained insights into current research and the possibilities for investigating ceramic and mineral building material processes from the laboratory to the small-scale pilot level.

The IAB DAYS “BUILDING MATERIALS” 2026 made it clear: The transformation of the brick industry is not a single technological leap, but a bundle of coordinated measures. Decarbonization, energy efficiency, new kiln and drying concepts, hydrogen and electric processes, utilization of operational data, clay-based building materials, recycling, and meta-clay are interlinked and together open up new paths for sustainable building material production.

Outlook: The next event in the series will take place on October 8, 2026, at the IAB – Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar gGmbH, Über der Nonnenwiese 1, Weimar. Under the title “Clay Reimagined – Material. Processes. Future.”, the focus will be on current developments, innovative approaches, and concrete solutions for the use of clay as a sustainable building material. Presentations from industry and research will bridge the gap between science and practice; a hands-on workshop will provide a direct experience of clay as a building material. The program will be published online shortly; registration will open in mid-June.