Underground construction faces tight regulatory demands and complex site conditions. Project teams increasingly focus on waterproofing, excavation methods and equipment performance while integrating environmental considerations.
Congrès International de L’Aftes 2026 runs from 12 to 14 October in Lille Grand Palais. The AFTES website lists associated activities and resources that contextualize the congress, including technical guides and educational initiatives.
Dates and venue at Lille Grand Palais
The event takes place between 12 and 14 October 2026 at Lille Grand Palais. AFTES provides supporting materials on its site such as a virtual tunnel tour and technical publications under the title Tunnels et Espace souterrain.
Who attends and commercial targets
Participants include engineers, contractors and suppliers engaged in tunnel and underground works. AFTES governance highlights committees that reflect market needs: Comité Technique, Comité Espace Souterrain et Transitions and Comité Matériels, Equipements et Produits MEP. For vendors, these bodies indicate the technical segments to approach: equipment and machinery, waterproofing and drainage systems, and transition-related practices.
Notable activities and resources announced by AFTES
Public information by AFTES points to recurring actions that complement the congress. These include a virtual visit to a tunnel under construction available in general and specialist versions, the Concours AFTES ÉTUDIANT for recent graduates, technical visits such as those referenced by COMEP, and recent publications like the guide on waterproofing and drainage. These outputs are useful to prepare technical briefings ahead of meetings.
Practical prospecting advice for underground works
- Prepare French technical dossiers
Deliver product datasheets and project case studies in French emphasizing equipment performance and compliance with waterproofing and drainage guidance published by AFTES.
- Target committee contacts
Seek meetings with committee representatives or working group leads relevant to your offering. The committee structure on the AFTES site helps identify interlocutors.
- Bring verifiable project evidence
Provide productivity reports, site photos and references from comparable projects. The availability of a virtual site tour and technical guides facilitates technical alignment during talks.
- Define a prompt follow up
Prepare a concise proposal and technical attachments you can send within 48 hours. Speed and clarity help decision makers assess feasibility during procurement phases.
Closing recommendation and official link
If your business supplies TBMs, waterproofing systems or instrumentation for underground spaces, align your materials with the technical guides and the committee topics listed by AFTES. Check event details and published resources at http://www.aftes.asso.fr/congres-aftes.html to finalize your meeting plan before 12 October.
