WMMA/WMIA merger finalized
Robot material handling in Stiles booth at IWF

The WIA will continue to own and manage the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) through its tenured IWF staff in Atlanta; and WIA will continue the tradition of hosting the Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) each spring.

The results are in and the merger of two machinery associations — the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA) — has been approved. 

The announcement read:

"We are pleased to announce that both the WMMA and WMIA memberships have approved the agreement and plan of merger in which WMMA would be merged into WMIA effective January 1, 2024. The name of the merged association will be changed to the Wood Industry Association (WIA).  

The WIA Board of Directors will be meeting in Austin on November 1-2, 2023 to discuss programming, events, committees, logos/branding, and the budget for 2024. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks."  

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On Oct. 26, members of the two organizations voted to merge and create a new organization, the Wood Industry Association (WIA). The WIA's mission is to promote the business interests of all those engaged in the manufacture and distribution of woodworking machinery and ancillary equipment in North America.

Benefits of a merger include:

  • One unified voice for the wood machinery industry in North America More resources to invest in member programs, safety standards and public policy
  • Expanded committee and volunteer opportunities
  • Greater efficiency through streamlined operations and fewer redundancies

 

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Larry Adams | Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).