The AWFS Fair in Las Vegas is just a few weeks away.
Earlier this spring, show organizers announced many of the major machinery manufacturers, which missed the 2009 show, including Stiles Machinery, Biesse America, C.R. Onsrud and Weinig, will be back at AWFS Fair this year. And with business picking up in 2011, organizers are expecting a bigger show than 2009 with more exhibitors and more attendees.
Held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre July 20-23, the event also promises a number of firsts. AWFS Las Vegas is an international trade fair for woodworking and furniture manufacturing and will feature manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, lumber, construction, materials, and other suppliers to furniture and cabinet manufacturers as well as custom woodworkers.
In addition, AWFS will once again offer attendees a wide range of educational programming.
For the first time, handcrafted furniture will be highlighted at AWFS Fair in a special area on the show floor called The Gallery. Furniture and case goods produced by students in the Fresh Wood Competition and professional craftsman from The Furniture Society will also be featured. The Gallery will also feature a lounge where visitors can take a break from the bustle of the show floor.
New this year
AWFS will also debut The Campus, an area focusing on developing and showcasing the skills of woodworkers of America. The Campus will have three distinct areas, all focused on industry skills and training opportunities. There is the WorldSkills Cabinetmaking competition, the smartSHOP, a fully operational cabinet shop, and the Woodwork Career Alliance professional evaluations.
WorldSkills is an international career technical education training organization. Students from around the world compete for gold medals. Attendees can watch students build projects showcasing their cabinet construction and woodworking skills. The smartSHOP, a fully operational cabinet shop on the exhibit floor, will showcase simplicity in automation for the small shop. Industry expert Gero Sassenberg will host smartSHOP and other professionals will be available to answer questions and demonstrate how machinery and software can improve the process of cabinet construction, from data input software to cabinet assembly.
Education
Because of high demand and positive feedback from its 2009 show, AWFS has created more educational programming for this year’s event as well.
The College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) education program will offer a host of seminars including eight educational tracks, including Business Management, Cabinet & Millwork, Software & Technology, Techniques & Applications, Handcrafted Furniture, and Safety & Environment. All are designed for cabinet and millwork shops, with a special series tailored to very small shops.
Small Shops Ten and Under, will focus on the issues and needs of shops with 10 or fewer employees. The new program is offered in response to a survey conducted by AWFS which found that more than 86 percent of 2009 attendees hoped seminars dedicated to the small shop could be offered at the next show. Other topics in the new small shop track range from sales and management to automation and software.
Implementing Successful Sales Systems will address the challenge small business owners face. The seminar will be presented by Rick Hill, owner of OnPoint Sales and founder of WoodReps.com, a nationwide association of independent sales reps in the woodworking industry. Business owners who wear all the hats in their companies will want to check out the in-depth workshop, Think Like an Entrepreneur!, based on the best-selling E-myth books of Michael Gerber.
A panel on Automating the Small Shop offers a view into automation conversion with two veteran shop owners and software and machinery representatives.
Tim Killen, author of the e-book, Google Sketch Up Guide for Woodworkers, will offer a two-hour Saturday morning session on Google Sketch Up for Woodworkers. This free software application may benefit companies that have yet to commit to purchasing a software system.
Cabinet & Millwork will feature designer Carol Lamkins. Aging in Place with Universal Designed Cabinetry will cover options for homeowners who want to remain in their homes in their golden years and have them customized to their needs and lifestyle.
In a panel entitled How to Work with Architects & Designers, a designer, architect and project manager for a cabinet company share their perspectives and wish lists for working together.
Other seminars will offer advice on how to transition from residential to commercial work and how to capitalize on market opportunities. In particular they will take a look at the realities and opportunities in healthcare furnishings, closets, historic government jobs and adding a millwork packages to your cabinet line.
