At AWFS Fair.
This year’s AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, Nevada July 24-27, promises to be a good show as organizers report strong interest from exhibitors and visitors alike.
“The general impressions have been positive ones for sure,” says Angelo Gangone, Executive Vice President, AWFS. And that is a reflection of a “better overall economic backdrop from our previous show in 2011.
“With housing and construction on the rebound, we anticipate that the show will experience growth for the first time since our 2007 Fair in both exhibitors and attendees, although it's way too early to give any actual estimates.”
Gangone added that organizers “are also very encouraged that many exhibitors have taken larger exhibit spaces.
“This is a reflection of their growing confidence in both, the overall economy, and the woodworking sector in particular.”
AWFS Fair will feature hundreds of exhibitors offering everything from machines, tools and hardware to finishing products, software and services.
And with the show still months away, some of the major woodworking equipment companies have announced they will also take part in the show to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. They include Biesse, SCM Group North America, WEINIG and HOLZ-HER, which have all announced their plans to be at the show.
Meanwhile, major machine distributor Stiles has also said they are excited to sup- port the industry at this year’s event. The company will show- case the newest technology in their 7,000 square foot booth that will be staffed with experts who will be available to discuss solutions to help their customers work smarter, faster, and better.
Biesse will show many new products focused on flexibility, productivity, and lowering operating costs. There will be CNC routers, edgebanders, drilling machines, panel saws, wide belt sanders, five-axis machines and more.
SCM Group North America President John Gangone says: “The AWFS show has always been very positive for our company over the years. In 2012 we have seen a great increase of machinery activity due to the financial downturn finally coming to an end, and the signs in the market place are pointing to a stronger 2013 for the industry.”
SCM Group will exhibit at AWFS with a wide range of equipment, from the Minimax to high-tech industrial machines.
WEINIG and HOLZ-HER have also said they will display a full line of solid wood and panel processing technology.
“Since the WEINIG HOLZ- HER merger in 2010, our two companies have formed a powerful integrated operation to serve the industry, and the IWF exhibition offers a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the unique advancements in technology and innovation that will make our customers more competitive,” says Jason Howell, President of WEINIG and HOLZ-HER.
The WEINIG HOLZ-HER booth will display a full line of equipment for both solid- wood and panel processing and will introduce contemporary manufacturing solutions that are critical to meet today’s business demands.
In addition to assembling a wide selection of products and services, organizers have worked hard to make the show even better than previous events.
“In terms of what's actually new, we’ve added so many new features in the last couple of shows, that this year we decided to take what we have and make it even better,” says Angelo Gangone.
“Of course, our College of Woodworking Knowledge, is still a huge part of our over- all show experience, along with the Fresh Wood Student Design Contest and WorldSkills Student Competition,” Gangone adds.
“And this year we are putting a much bigger emphasis on new products with expanded show- cases for New Products and First Time Exhibitors.”
Free Seminars
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) will also offer three key-topic seminars free of charge to all attendees.
The free sessions are scheduled to run ‘one-a-day’ on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 24-26. To register, or to view the full 2013 CWWK schedule, go to www.awfsfair.org
