The 2012 International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair, Aug. 22-25 in Atlanta, will be the biggest wood industry event this year, and sizably larger than the last edition in 2010. Since the show coincides with the general economic and wood industry recovery, exhibitors are already gearing up.

More than 900 exhibitors are expected at the show when it opens this summer. One of the highlights of IWF 2012 will be the Challengers Awards, with competition focused on new developments in machinery, systems and supplies. The deadline for the Challengers Awards was extended three weeks to April 27, allowing late exhibitors the opportunity to compete.

The first Challengers Awards entrant to reveal its plans to CWB is Accu-Systems, Inc. the U.S.-based custom machine manufacturers. Accu-Systems has been at every IWF since 1988, patented the pre-glued dowel, has been a Challengers Award finalist seven times, and a winner once. This year Accu-Systems says it will be entering two IWF technology introductions: its CXEP and 2S machines. The 2S is a multi axis, multi function CNC machine designed to size panels safely and quickly. After having been positioned against the fences, the work piece is automatically positioned for sizing by the CNC controlled work surface. With available options a CNC controlled shaping spindle engages the work piece and shapes the part.

The CXEP machine series is designed to produce end panels for face frame or frameless cabinets, handling all features necessary: top dado, bottom dado, back rabbet, inline boring, hinge pilot boring, construction boring, radiused toe kicks, square toe kicks, and cutting to length.

Comprehensive coverage of the Challengers Awards will be presented as Woodworking Network, CWB’s online outlet, issues the Official IWF 2012 Challengers Awards Entrants publication in June, in a digital format that also allows single printed and bound copies or e-book orders. The publication will include a retrospective on past winners in the Challengers Awards program. In July Woodworking Network will publish the IWF 2012 Technology Guide; followed in August by the IWF 2012 Supplies Guide.

Red Carpet Treatment
Woodworking Network will then team with IWF 2012 to roll out the red carpet as the Official IWF 2012 Show Videographer. At an Innovation Sound Stage we’ll do live interviews with attendees to find out what brought them to IWF, their business goals, and how they adapted operations to meet changing market demands.

Our sponsored roving cameras will also capture additional footage of product introductions at exhibitor booths around the show.

The Woodworking Network Thought Leaders Forum will take place during an evening reception, tentatively planned for August 24. Top wood manufacturing business executives, selected from among the WOOD 100 and Wood & Wood Products Market Leaders, will gather for the reception and colloquy.

And just for fun, Woodworking Network will coordinate a Passport to Innovation. Attendees who have their passport stamped at the list of key exhibits, will receive coupons for food and refreshment at local restaurants, and will be entered in a drawing for a free iPad.

IWF 2012 Education
The International Woodworking Fair is generously sponsoring teacher attendance at IWF 2012 for WoodLINKS affiliated schools. Attendees can also share in more than more than 27 educational sessions planned during IWF 2012, with sessions running 90 to 120 minutes. On Aug. 21, the day prior to the show opening, day-long sessions will cover finishing, sustainability, countertops and closets and home storage.

For the first time ever, the Cabinet Makers Association will launch its much anticipated live core curriculum class schedule for CMA Professional Certifications at IWF on Wednesday Aug. 25. That day will have three sessions, followed by three more class sessions each day on Thursday and Friday during the show. You do not need to be a CMA member or enrolled in the Professional Certification Program to attend. Classes include Pricing 101, marketing 101 and 102, Finance 101, 102 and 103, Ethics 101, and Wood 101 (the basics of wood properties, sawing, shaping, gluing and fastening).

The sessions will be delivered by CMA members and other industry experts and will approach the subject matter from a business owner’s or manager’s perspective.

More than 600 exhibitors — suppliers and machinery manufacturers — are already listed at the IWF 2012 show site. Registration is open for the exhibition floor and for the educational sessions at iwfatlanta.com.