LAS VEGAS - The Convention Center here is buzzing with woodworking activity as AWFS Fair 2011officially opened Wednesday. The return of the largest manufacturers of CNC machinery created its own buzz, with crowds massing not only at big equipment manufacturers but at surrounding equipment and software manufacturers.
AWFS Fair is also the first time Delta Power Equipment is exhibiting since its spin-off from Stanley Black & Decker. At a press conference yesterday Delta outlined its showed new woodworking products in its development pipeline, some in prototype and others in design stage.
| Woodworking Software/Booth No. 20-20 Technologies 1318 Cabinet Pro 1545 CADCODE Systems 1467 CIM-Tech.com, Inc. 4969 CNC Automation 9305 Compass Software 9706 Delcam ArtCam 4010 Etemplate Systems 9806 Eurosoft Inc. 1016 Fagor Automation Corporation 9514 Joinerysoft, Ltd. 1018 KCD Software 1113 Kval, Inc. 9021 Laser Products Ind. 8249 Microvellum, Inc. 1535 OSAI-USA, CNC & Automation Controls 9332 Planit Solutions, Inc. 1613 Pytha 3D CAD 1419 RazorGage, Technical Services 8142 Riverside Tool Corp. SA International 1013 ShopBot Tools, Inc. 7909 SL- Laser Systems LP 9018 Stiles Machinery 8900 Thermwood Corp. 4210 TradeSoft, Inc. 1024 Trakware Systems 1768 Vectric Ltd 4746 |
In addition to the big names in computerized applications, the AWFS Fair show floor holds more than two dozen software manufacturers serving the woodworking industry, including business applications, design applications and manufacturing applications, many of them very specialized to unique solid wood machining operations. AWFS Fair is also the gathering point for the woodworking industries major governing bodies, and the educational organizations that serve the woodworking industry, large and small. 
Opening day of AWFS Fair the Cabinet Makers Assn. formally launched its certification and training program.
The WorldSkills championship commenced, with two top student cabinetmakers competing for the opportunity to enter international competition.
The WoodLINKS educational organization that advances partnerships between the woodworking industry and schools and establishes educational curricula for high school and technical colleges held its appreciation Wednesday afternoon. This annual recognition event honors top supporters of woodworking industry education, with three awards:
Stiles Machinery educational services director Duane Griffiths received the annual Hilchie Award; Albuquerque, NM educator Max Rivera was named Teacher of the Year; and Microvellum marketing manager Clay Swayze was named Partner of the Year. Swayze was cited for his efforts to launch a dramatic and fresh new website for WoodLINKS, which is now live.
The event also marked the transition of leadership of the board of WoodLINKS, as Patrick Molzahn, program director for cabinetmaking and millwork at Madison Technical College takes on a three-year presidency of the board from David Peel, president of Microvellum.
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