AWFS Vegas: it's showtime.

Welcome to Las Vegas. A place of bright lights, star-studded extravaganzas ... and woodworkers.

During July 18-21, thousands of woodworkers will be pounding the hails of the Las Vegas Convention Center in search of new technology to help make their businesses more profitable.

Along with the masses, the staff of Wood & Wood Products, Custom Woodworking Business and CLOSETS magazines will be converging on Las Vegas in the next few months. For me, this will mark the 10th trip to the AWFS Fair; my second in Las Vegas.

The 1987 AWFS Fair in Anaheim was the first trade show I ever attended while working for a woodworking magazine. And despite the "rookie" warnings ringing in my ear (i.e., keep hands and hair away from moving spindles and blades), it was an awe-inspiring event, with hundreds of exhibitors displaying the latest and greatest in technology, supplies and services.

This year will be no different. More than 800 exhibitors will be on hand to display their wares in the North and Central halls of the LVCC. At this writing, the show is dose to capacity, with more than 470,000 square feet of exhibit space already sold.

In addition to the new technology on display throughout the exhibit halls, favorites like the New Products and First-Time Exhibitors showcases will be back, along with an extensive education program and International Buyers Program.

And, as with every show, there is always something out of the ordinary to grab your attention.

Off to the Races

This year it will be the first annual World Championship for Belt Sander races, in which qualified attendees at AWFS Vegas will have the opportunity to compete for awards on a 12-inch wide, up to 75-foot-long wooden track. The event is sponsored by Accuride International and the AWFS Fair trade show committee, in cooperation with the Belt Sander Racing Assn. (BSRA). The BRSA is a new organization formed by Accuride for this sport.

For the uninitiated, like myself, the belt sander races fall into two classes: Stock and Modified. To participate in the Stock class, the belt sander must be a standard, unmodified product manufactured by a conventional power tool manufacturer. Conversely, the Modified class allows the racer to enhance and improve the sander's speed and performance. Decorating or "personalizing" the sander is encouraged, according to information supplied by Accuride.

The rules to compete are simple: all sanders must run on standard 110V power with ground; all sanders must use an unmodified factory manufactured sanding belt; and any sander that does not stay on the track during the race will be considered a safety hazard and eliminated. (Details and complete rules can be found at www.accuride.com/bsra.) Awards will be given for first, second and third place, as well as for best design and a "judges choice."

If the chance to see belt sander races and new products aren't reasons enough to compel you to come to Las Vegas, just remember that the AWFS Fair marks the debut in North America of some of the newest technology in the woodworking industry, giving your company a competitive edge in the global market.

So, if you haven't done so already, make plans to come to Las Vegas in ,fury. For more information about AWFS and the events planned, visit www.awfsfair.org.

Show coverage in the magazine begins on page 103. Check it out and start planning for your company's future.