Technology talk.

It's been said time and again, trade shows provide one of the best methods for companies to learn about new machining technology in order to improve their productivity and profitability. This year, manufacturers can take advantage of the dual punch of the Ligna+ and AWFS fairs.

May's Ligna+ Fair, which will be recapped in next month's July issue, included displays by 1,879 exhibitors, spread over 1.4 million net square feet of display area. Along with the latest automation technology for secondary manufacturing, panel and veneer processing, displays also included machines for surface treatment, assembly and packaging.

Innovations at the 2007 Ligna+ included a new "hot melt" coating technique, which eliminates the need for fitter application and primer machines, as well as intermediate sanding. Also on display were ink printers for wood panels, which eliminate the need to change surface rollers.

Generating a buzz were the various systems for processing lightweight honeycomb panels. Initially introduced a few years ago, these systems have undergone refinement, with improvements being made in the fastening and processing technology. Among the innovations displayed by a few companies were edgebanders specially designed to band the wider, thicker material and backers needed for the "open" edges on the honeycomb panels.

Although there is yet no large production of these lightweight panels in the United States, this technology is of special interest to RTA, store fixture, closet and other manufacturers who require panels that are cost-effective to ship (due to their light weight) as well as offer easy maneuverability, both in the production plant and for on-site installation.

Take the Technology Tour

Those companies that didn't make it out to Ligna+ have the unique opportunity to see much of the same technology make its North American debut at the AWFS Vegas Fair, to be held July 18-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

More than 900 domestic and international exhibitors, spanning across nearly 500,000 net square feet of space, will display a range of cutting-edge machinery and new supplies available to the woodworking market. Show management is predicting a registered attendance of more than 30,000 professional woodworkers for the biennial event.

To jump start your AWFS Vegas Fair planning, in this issue we offer a special Technology Tour, featuring many of the products that will be on exhibit at the show. Beginning on page 103, we put the spotlight on more than 50 exhibitors, highlighting their product categories as well as an in-depth look at some of the products and services to be displayed.

Educating yourself on the new products and technology available will help you get a jump on the competition. Start now on the 2007 Technology Tour.

WOOD 100 REPS RECOGNIZED AT VEGAS

Representatives of this year's WOOD 100 firms will be honored by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers during a banquet ceremony at the AWFS Vegas Fair, The dinner gala is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 at the Las Vegas Hilton, The festivities will be emceed by Richard Karn, best known as Al Borland, sidekick to Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on TV's Home Improvement.

To accommodate the AWFS Fair schedule publication of the WOOD 100 Report is moved up to July.

In addition, members from the 2006 WOOD 100 will be featured speakers at the "Lean: Continuous Improvement" seminar to be held Friday morning, July 20. Wood & Wood Products Associate Publisher Rich Christianson will be joined by lean expert John Kim as well as Mark Loberg, PremierGarage; James Love, Rosewood Industries; and Randy Roark, Impressions Marketing. Discussions will focus on the steps needed to prepare for lean, unexpected areas in a plant that can yield savings through lean and how lean is articulated to customers from a sales perspective.

For more information on events or seminars at the AWFS Fair, contact show management at [phone] or visit www.awfsfair.com.