The 2009 trade show offers expanded seminars and new events to ensure that during the economic downturn, attendees can position themselves for a rebound.

Many seminars and presentations will be held on the show floor.

Despite a struggling economy, this year’s AWFS Fair, being held in Las Vegas July 15-18, will provide attendees with the opportunity to view the latest product innovations and learn from industry experts at the College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) — all to help them survive and emerge as better business people.

For more than 100 years, the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Supplies (AWFS) has advocated on behalf of the industry. For the past 50 years, the AWFS Fair has sought to bring industry members together in one location to showcase new machinery and the latest trends and to share educational opportunities. The largest U.S. woodworking event this year is no exception. AWFS executives say that the trade show will provide manufacturers and suppliers an opportunity “to position themselves to capitalize on pent-up demand when the economy recovers.”

“Economic forecasters are saying things will ease in the second half, meaning the worst thing a company could do would be to stay out of the market just as buyers are starting to loosen their purse strings again,” says Angelo Gangone, executive director, AWFS.

Continued Education a Key Opportunity
AWFS is touting its 2009 CWWK as a reason to head to Las Vegas this summer. In what the association describes as a “power-packed” lineup, the CWWK will feature topics dealing with industry challenges.

‘A new part of the CWWK this year is the “Going Green” track, which was included as a result of feedback from 2007 show attendees.’

“All of the seminars planned for the show will be structured to provide assistance to businesses on the key issues of the day,” says CWWK Committee Chair Philip Martin of Häfele America Inc. “Never have we had such a strong contingent of company presidents, manufacturing specialists, designers, engineers, marketing directors and trainers, all assembled to deliver some tough talk and impart knowledge they have culled from many years in the industry.”

The CWWK will consist of classroom seminars and panels, lecture demonstrations, all-day workshops and the Special Machinery and Relevant Technology (SMART) seminars, held on the exhibit floor.

The educational program has approximately 50 courses, such as “Positioning Your Company for a Future in Manufacturing,” which will feature industry insider, consultant and CEO of Premier Garage Don Shultz, who will discuss challenges of a traditional business model and will recommend new business models. Attendees can register for educational sessions online at awfsfair.org.

A new part of the CWWK this year is the “Going Green” track, which was included as a result of feedback from 2007 show attendees. The goal of the Going Green track is to help attendees decipher the numerous environmentally driven issues from certification to chain-of-custody and other initiatives. Topics for this track include: Understanding LEED, Linking Lean and Green, Greening Your Marketing Message, Chain–of-Custody: From Forest to Consumer, and Green Solutions for the Wood Finishing Industry.

A complete preview of other show activities, with an exhibitors list and products, will be in CWB’s July issue. For more information about AWFS events, visit awfsfair.org.

Seminars-At-A-Glance

Tuesday, July 14
Business Management: TU-10 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Lean Manufacturing: Hands-On Simulation Workshop

Safety & Environment: TU-11 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OSHA 10-hour General Industry Safety Training

Wednesday, July 15
Business Management: WE-28 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Marketing Yourself and Your Company; WE-32 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Lean 5S: Show and Tell

Software/Technology: SMART! WE-20 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #8403, Nested-Based Manufacturing Basics; WE-30 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Should I Automate? Blueprint for Success

Techniques/Applications: SMART! WE-21 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9231, Optimizing Your Sanding Operation; SMART! WE-22 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9616, Rapid Case Construction Through Doweling; WE-23 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Innovating with Mass Customization

Hand-Crafted Furniture: WE-24 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Designing a Marketing Plan; WE-29 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Making the Right Choices with Modern Adhesives

Safety & Environment: TU-11 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OSHA 10-hour General Industry Safety Training (cont. from July 14)

Going Green: WE-25 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Understanding LEED; WE-27 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Linking Lean and Green; WE-31 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Greening Your Marketing Message

Teacher Track: WE-26 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Teaching the Fine Art of Finishing

Thursday, July 16
Business Management: TH-45 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Lean Manufacturing: Hands-On Simulation Workshop; TH-47 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Profit Savvy: Smart Practices that Work!; TH-49 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sustaining Lean: Know How and Know Why; TH-52 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Positioning Your Company for a Future in Manufacturing

Cabinet/Millwork: TH-53 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Planning for Installation Success

Software/Technology: SMART! TH-43 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. In the smartSHOP Simplifying Automation in the Small Shop; TH-50 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Capitalizing on CAD: Enhancing Sales and Choosing Software; TH-54 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Integrating a Nesting Machine: What They Don’t Tell You

Techniques/Applications: SMART! TH-40 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #8403 EDGE-U-CATION: Edgebanding for Today’s Market; SMART! TH-41 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9616, Lean Flow Cabinet Manufacturing; TH-51 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Virtual Spray Operator Training

Hand-Crafted Furniture: TH-44 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Great Finishes Start at the Lumber Rack

Safety & Environment: TH-48 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Practical Shop Safety

Going Green: TH-46 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Chain of Custody: From Forest to Consumer

Teacher Track: SMART! TH-42 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #5200, Advanced CNC Operation and Technology for the Classroom; TH-51b 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Virtual Spray Operator Training

Friday, July 17
Business Management: FR-65 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Putting Lean to Work in the Office

Cabinet/Millwork: FR-64 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. How to Work with Designers — Profitably!; FR-68 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Turning Trends into Profitable Product Launches; FR-71 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Introducing the New Architectural Woodwork Standards

Software/Technology: SMART! FR-60 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m Booth #8403, Nested-Based Manufacturing Basics

Techniques/Applications: SMART! FR-61 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9231, Optimizing Your Sanding Operation; SMART! FR-62 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9616, Rapid Case Construction through Doweling; FR-69 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Gaining a Competitive Advantage with Lightweight Composite Panels

Hand-Crafted Furniture: FR-66 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Vacuum Pressing and Forming for Craftsmen

Safety & Environment: FR-67 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Reducing Your Environmental Footprint: Good for the Planet, Good for the Pocketbook

Going Green: FR-70 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Green Solutions for the Wood Finishing Industry

Teacher Track: FR-63 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Vacuum Forming for Teachers

Saturday, July 18
Business Management: SA-84 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Money Matters: Finance for Non-Financial Managers; SA-85 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Lean Manufacturing: Hands-On Simulation Workshop

Software/Technology: SMART! SA-82 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. in the smartSHOP, Simplifying Automation in the Small Shop; SA-86 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Making the Most of Your CNC Investment

Techniques/Applications: SMART! SA-80 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #9616, Lean Flow Cabinet Manufacturing; SMART! SA-81 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Booth #8403, EDGE-U-CATION: Edgebanding for Today’s Market

Hand-Crafted Furniture: SA-83 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Masterful Hand Joinery

Safety & Environment: SA-87 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Implementing the CARB Rule