Woodworking Equipment Shows: We Don't Compete For Ribbons
Any industry has its own trade shows that are eagerly looked forward to every year by not only manufacturers, but customers. Just open up a big city's paper and you'll see that they have gardening shows, cooking shows, auto shows and woodworking equipment shows. The competition is just as fierce as at a cat, dog or horse show, but the winners here don't go home with trophies and ribbons - but with customer orders and envy of their peers.
The IWF
One of the most highly anticipated woodworking equipment shows is the IWF (short for International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture supply) in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the second largest show and general get-together to celebrate all work working tools and the woodworking business. Now only are there dozens of manufacturers, but dozens of buyers, too, in attendance.
And if you think no one would be interested in a woodworking equipment show, think again. The 2007 IWF was considered the twelfth largest trade show in America. Not only is woodworking celebrated at the IFW, but also working with composites and working with wood substitutes. Flooring, surfacing, laminating and even new store fixtures are often topics of conversation.
The AWFS Fair
Another eagerly anticipated woodworking equipment show is set on a smaller scale in Las Vegas at the AWFS Fair. (This time, the abbreviation is short for American Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers). This show is a bit more focused in what it brings together - those companies that supply the materials and tools for other companies. So, this is a good place to check out the latest and greatest.
This woodworking equipment show is considered very prestigious, as it is only held every two years to get a better show together. This often points to new trends in the industry. In 2009, they plan on having in attendance actor Richard Karn, who worked as Tim Allen's sidekick on the long-running comedy "Home Improvement."
Royal Highland Centre
America is not the only country that has a monopoly on the most prestigious woodworking equipment shows in the world. Scotland also has a biannual woodworking machinery trade show called, appropriately enough, Woodworking Scotland. It is held at the Royal Highland Centre (note the spelling) in Edinburgh.
Although it is stereotypical to think of engineers of any kind as being a Scot, there is a good reason for it. Woodworking Scotland is sponsored by Scotland's premier publisher of woodworking publications, the Nelton Group.
