It’s the only place to be. The place to compare hundreds of new woodworking products, see dozens of technical seminars and mingle with thousands of other woodworkers is the International Woodworking Fair 2010 to be held Aug. 25 to 28, 2010 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. If you’ve cut back and are only going to attend one event this year, this would be the one.
"IWF is the largest wood industry trade show in the western hemisphere," said Chris Hacker, vice president of Taylor Manufacturing and JLT Clamps, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and chair of the IWF Task Force, a group of WMMA and WMIA member company representatives that are seeking to expand the show.
"With more than 350,000 net square feet of floor space and more than 800 exhibitors, and growing, IWF is the essential show providing continued value for the wood processing industry,” he says. “Nowhere else in North or South America can buyers see and evaluate more exhibitors in one place. These manufacturers and suppliers will be showing their advanced products and technology," says Hacker.
In mid-January, several of the industry’s largest companies made announcements that they would not exhibit this year. IWF is working to get some of the companies that earlier decided not to exhibit back into the show.
In response to these announcements, Patrick LaFramboise, IWF president and CEO, said, “There have been numerous reports and much speculation lately about IWF 2010. I want to report to you that IWF 2010 is alive and well.
“The purpose of IWF is to promote the industry and provide a platform for suppliers in the industry to make their products available to the industry in a face-to-face environment. IWF is also where industry professionals get the education they need through our conference program.
“Most importantly, IWF is the meeting point for the industry. There is no substitute for the value of networking with your peers in the environment of a trade show.”
Challengers list of entries
This year’s IWF features full list of participants in the Challengers Distinguished Achievement Award. This year, 65 companies entered 80 products for the competition. See the complete list.
"The Challengers Award and IWF are the platform for innovation and new product introduction," said Riccardo Azzoni, IWF 2010 chairman and president of Atlantic Machinery Corp. "Our industry continues to invest in the future. Industry professionals will have an unique opportunity to see some of the most advanced new products available.”
New for 2010, the Challengers Award finalists and winners will be recognized all four days in a visible display area on the show floor. The special area will provide buyers and the media information about the 2010 finalists and winners. See the updated list of finalists. The award recognizes advancements in technology or significant contributions to environmental improvement and it focuses on companies that have distinguished themselves by developing innovative technology in products, services or manufacturing techniques.
Technical sessions
The 2010 education conference includes four symposiums and 23 sessions. All-day symposiums the day before the show will cover finishing technology, selling closets, making a profit in countertops, and surviving in upholstery (see accompanying story). The technical conference schedule includes lean manufacturing, regulatory issues, managing expenses, maintenance excellence, recruiting the right people, green/sustainable workshop, estimating, eliminating waste, competitive finishing and many others. Be sure to leave time to attend a session on social media and marketing with CabinetMaker+FDM’s Bruce Plantz at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 27.
A complete list of technical sessions.
Attendees will also have the chance to see the 2010 Design Emphasis competition, which includes furniture pieces designed and built by students from colleges and universities in the United States.
IWF’s LaFramboise reminds potential attendees that thousands of products will be on display, thousands of industry peers will be in attendance, and there will be more educational sessions than ever before that will provide helpful ideas and solutions to the industry’s challenges.
IWF is also working with the Atlanta hospitality industry to ensure that the cost for food and entertainment will be less than it cost to attend IWF 2008. The website will offer a variety of discounts from the hospitality program in the coming months that will benefit attendees and exhibitors. Visit www.iwfatlanta.com for an up to date list of exhibitors, products and educational programs.
Plan on being at IWF 2010. It’s still the place to be.