For nearly 50 years, the International Woodworking Fair Challengers Award program has generated excitement around the IWF show.

The Challengers Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes advancements in technology, process or significant contributions to environmental improvement in the woodworking industry. It challenges IWF exhibitors to develop forward-thinking solutions for the wood manufacturing industry.

The Challengers Award also challenges woodworking professionals to be ready to look anew for production solutions on the plant floor. In this 24th installment of the Challengers Award program, begun way back in 1966, wood manufacturing businesses will find inspiration in the quest to retool for recovery.

The Official IWF 2012 Challengers Award publication, produced by Woodworking Network, profiles 80 wood industry products from 62 companies entered in the 2012 competition. From the 21 finalists selected by panel judges earlier this month will be drawn seven winners, to be announced August 22 at IWF 2012, in Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.

The intense interest among wood industry professionals in the Challengers Awards is reflected in spiking traffic on features about them at WoodworkingNetwork.com. Just prior to IWF Atlanta, scheduled for August 22-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center, the judges will meet with representatives of the 21 finalist products the day before the show opens to select the winners, who will be announced on the first day of the show.

Storied technologies have seen their first look in this competition including CNC machining technology, panel sizing systems, UV curing, and dust spark detectors. The excitement launched by the wood industry’s first Challengers Award event in 1966 continues to build to 2012.

— Bill Esler, Editorial Director