IWF 2002 Dates and Show Hours Thursday, August 22, 2002: 8:00am to 6:00pm Friday, August 23, 2002: 8:00am to 6:00pm Saturday, August 24, 2002: 8:00am to 6:00pm Sunday, August 25, 2002: 8:00am to 3:00pm

ATLANTA, GA, USA: With the completion of the Phase IV construction at the Georgia World Congress Center, IWF 2002 will be the biggest event ever in its 36-year history. As of mid-April, IWF, which will take place August 22-25, is already approaching a sell-out with 1,238 exhibiting companies contracted to fill more than 800,000 net square feet of exhibit space with the latest technology in machinery, raw materials, supplies, hardware and services for both large manufacturers and small professional shops in the woodworking, furniture, cabinetry, solid surface, architectural woodwork, store fixtures, and plastic fabricating industries ñ totaling at least an 11.8% increase over the size of the last IWF in 2000.

Buyers at IWF 2002 will see the most comprehensive display of international and US-made woodworking machinery, supplies and services than any other trade show in the industry being held this year. "Every major machinery manufacturer in the world will have a presence at IWF 2002. No other industry event this year can say that. This is just more validation that IWF is a key player in the worldwide market. IWF is an event you canít afford to miss," commented John D. Bassett, III, chairman of IWF 2002 and president of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company of Galax, Virginia.

Buyers can also count on seeing more new companies, new products and new services. Of the 1,238 companies exhibiting, 173 are new to IWF, bringing fresh ideas to buyers in attendance; and more than 482 exhibitors have already indicated they plan to display, demonstrate or introduce new products or services to the industry during this four-day event.

To learn more about these new exhibitors and their products and services, visit the new IWF Connection online at www.iwf2002.com and search by company name, type of product, supply or service ñ or browse through the floor plan and see where exhibitors will be located during IWF 2002.

As the largest trade show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, IWF 2002 expects to host buying teams from more than 10,000 companies from 90 countries and will include a Technical Conference Program, the Challengers Distinguished Achievement AwardsÆ, the New Product Showcase and the Design Emphasis student furniture design competition among other features.

IWF is owned and sponsored by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA), the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA), and Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA).

For more information about the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair-USAÆ, go online to www.iwf2002.com, email info@iwfatlanta.com or call 770-246-0608.

ATLANTA, GA, USA ó Nine information-packed technical conference sessions will bring industry experts together during the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair USA, also known as IWF, in Atlanta, Georgia, August 22 to 25, 2002.

Sessions include ìFacing the Challenges of Moisture, Surface Preparation and Proper Application of Adhesives, E-Commerce: Getting Started, Woodworking Industry Standards & Safety, Ergonomics, Attaining Targeted Profitability, Equipment Cost Justification, Lean Manufacturing/Reduce Waste, Increase Productivity, and Profitability, ìInnovative Strategies for Attracting, Training and Retaining Today's Woodworker, and Successful Integration of Software and Automation for the Small Shop.

The cost to attend each session is $30 if pre-registered by July 19, 2002 or $40 if registering onsite. Pre-registration and more information about IWF is available online at www.iwf2002.com, by e-mailing info@iwfatlanta.com, or calling 770-246-0608.

Co-sponsored by FDM magazine, "Facing the Challenges of Moisture, Surface Preparation and Proper Application of Adhesives" on Thursday, August 22, from 10:00 to 11:30 am will focus on methods for controlling moisture problems and surface preparation for the proper application of adhesives. Dr. Gene Wengert, "The Wood Doctor" and a contributing editor to FDM magazine, will translate 40 years of experience into down-to-earth, easy-to-understand procedures and techniques, and Steve Wilhelm of Woodcraft Industries will discuss how his company manages moisture, machining and gluing to increase yield and profitability. Bruce Plantz, editorial director of FDM magazine will moderate this session.

On Thursday, August 22, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm "E-commerce: Getting Started" will illustrate how to successfully design, improve and manage an e-commerce Web site. In this session, co-sponsored by Modern Woodworking magazine, participants will hear about successes (and mistakes) from industry experts who have helped create successful Web sites; the nuts and bolts of starting or improving an e-commerce Web site; as well as suggestions for building traffic and providing quality customer service. Each speaker will discuss a different aspect of starting, improving and managing an e-commerce Web site. Speakers include Eres Katz from Objectware, Inc., Joan Gaulden, from designonline.com, and Charles Martell from Micro*D, Inc. Moderator John Koski, editorial director of Modern Woodworking magazine, invites participants to submit their business Web site addresses in advance. Selected Web sites will receive a free analysis by one or more of the speakers during the course of the session. Submissions can be sent directly to Koski, by August 1, 2002, at koskij@execpc.com.

"Woodworking Industry Standards and Safety", which is free to registered attendees and co-sponsored by AFMA, WMIA and WMMA, takes place on Thursday, August 22, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm and is an encore presentation of the 2000 session that includes recent updates. Presented in two parts, participants will learn the latest developments in woodworking standards and safety for the workplace including ANSI revisions, as well as woodworking with ergonomics to their advantage. Speakers include Heinz Schmidt of Schmidt Industrial Services, E.J. Lamulle from APA, Chris Leffel from CPA, George Carter from LMA, and Terry Zinn from KCMA. Registration is required for this session, but there is no cost to attend.

"Ergonomics" will take place on Friday, August 23, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and will review an effective ergonomics program that can reduce medical risk and improve quality and productivity in the workplace, and help lead to increased profit margins. Participants will learn how to identify risk through workstation evaluation and how to develop and maintain an effective program to minimize repetitive motion injuries and create more efficient workplaces. Speakers include Jeffrey Smagacz from HumanTech. This session is co-sponsored by KCMA and will be moderated by KCMA executive vice president C. Richard 'Dick' Titus.

"Attaining Targeted Profitability" will examine pricing, buying, unit sales, fixed costs, inventory and accounts receivable on Friday, August 23, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Co-sponsored by AFMA, WMMA, and WMIA, and moderated by AFMA executive vice president Andy Counts, this session will teach participants how to create a realistic profit target for their company and an action program to achieve this goal. Participants will learn from Al Bates, founder and chairman of the Profit Planning Group, how an improvement of as little as 1% in each area can positively affect a companyís bottom line, examine the relationship between a real sales gain and a return on assets, and learn how to set priorities for action and create sustainable improvements in one year.

"Equipment Cost Justification" on Friday, August 23 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, will focus on the critical issues involved in evaluating a major equipment purchase. Participants will learn how best to prepare a payback analysis for their boss, owner or banker, and examine actual case studies of how some peers have successfully approached these major decisions. This session will also include a review of current trends in financing, easing tax rules, and accounting practices that may clinch a decision to advance to the next step in your companyís growth process, and will be moderated by NASFMís director of technical services, Clyde Blaco. Speakers include Charles Serlin of American Express Tax and Business Services, Inc. and Reed Felton of TJ Hale.

In "Lean Manufacturing / Reduce Waste, Increase Productivity, and Profitability", moderator Philip Bibeau, executive director of WPMA, and a panel of speakers will examine exactly what lean manufacturing is, the concepts involved with producing more with less, how the process can improve a companyís bottom line and make a company more successful, how a company can go about implementing the process (including the positives and the negatives) and sources of assistance that are available. Participants will hear real life experiences from a variety of manufacturers including a wood products manufacturer with 40 employees that is one year into implementation, as well as companies that are three or more years into implementation that have more than doubled their production while reducing lead times by more than 50%. Speakers include Wil Lamarre of C.F. Wells, Inc., Duane Motzenbacher from Mississippi State University, Tim Rooney of Conestoga Wood Specialities, Steve Bullard from the Forest Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University, Sherrie L. Ford author and founder of Change Partners, LLC, James Illing of Rockwell Automation Power Systems and John Rockwell with SI Corporation. This session is co-sponsored by WPMA and will take place on Saturday, August 24, from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

"Innovative Strategies for Attracting, Training and Retaining Today's Woodworker" will take place on Saturday, August 24, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, and examine exactly what will have an impact on a company's recruiting, training and retention efforts and how to motivate a workforce to maximize a companyís productivity. Participants will preview a cooperative project that develops training programs targeting Hispanic workers and discuss the challenges and opportunities in tapping into this force here in the U.S.; and hear a status report on the WoodLINKS-USA program developed to educate students about the woodworking industry and its high-tech career potential. Speakers include Duane Griffiths of Stiles Education, David J. Case of D.J. Case & Associates, Marc Fruth of Sauder Manufacturing Company, and Scott Wothe of Environments, Inc. This session is co-sponsored by WCMA and will be moderated by WCMA executive director Steve Lawser.

On Saturday, August 24, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, "Successful Integration of Software and Automation for the Small Shop" will bring together owners of smaller-sized woodworking shops to discuss how they successfully brought CNC equipment onto their shop floors, including why they made the initial decision to purchase computerized equipment; the learning curve, time requirements and ìtips for successî they discovered while integrating CNC machinery into their production; how they are using it now and how it has affected the shopís capabilities, plus the software end / the learning curve for related software, what types of packages they are using, whether they are linked to the office and why, how they are using software to expand their capabilities or products. Speakers include Scott DeGenova of Custom Veneered Interiors and Steve Lenning of Dakota Kitchen and Bath. This session is co-sponsored by CWB magazine and moderated by CWB magazineís editor-in-chief, Helen Kuhl.

IWF 2002, taking place at the newly-expanded Georgia World Congress Center, will feature more than 1,200 exhibiting companies filling more than 800,000 net square feet of exhibition space with supplies, machinery, raw materials, hardware and services for both large manufacturers and small professional shops in the woodworking, furniture, cabinetry, solid surface, architectural woodwork, store fixtures, and plastic fabricating industries.

The largest trade show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, IWF 2002 expects to host more than 10,000 buying teams from companies representing 90 countries and will also include the Challengers Distinguished Achievement AwardsÆ, the New Product Showcase, and the Design Emphasis student furniture design competition among other features.

IWF is owned and sponsored by the American Furniture Manufacturing Association (AFMA), the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA), and Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA).

For more information about the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair-USAÆ, go online to www.iwf2002.com, email info@iwfatlanta.com or call 770-246-0608.

---

ATLANTA, GA, USA  — For 2002, the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair – USAÆ, also known as IWF 2002, will be expanding to fill the new $220 million building currently under construction at the Georgia World Congress Center.   

“This addition allows us to meet the demand for additional exhibit space that, to date, we have not been able to accommodate.  We’re optimistic that IWF 2002 will encompass 800,000 net square feet, up from the 706,007 net square feet we used in 2000,” commented John D. Bassett, III, IWF 2002 Chairman and President of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. of Galax, Virginia.

“To date, space sales are ahead of where we were at this point for IWF 2000.  The three exhibit floors are filling up quickly and we may need to expand into some of the meeting rooms and concourses to meet the increased demand.  Buyers should look forward to a fabulous show,” continued Bassett.

The new building, known now as the Phase IV construction, will be adjacent to the existing West Hall, north of the Georgia Dome, and accessible via two connecting concourses.  In addition to the exhibit floor, the new building will include a large drop-off area for buses and taxis, a registration area, restaurants, and a 3.6-acre landscaped plaza.   

For more information about the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair-USAÆ, go online to www.iwf2002.com, email info@iwfatlanta.com or call 770-246-0608.

IWF is owned and sponsored by American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA), Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA), Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA).

The largest trade show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, IWF expects to host buyers from more than 90 countries and will include a Technical Conference Program, a New Product Showcase, the Challengers Distinguished Achievement AwardsÆ and Design Emphasis 2002 student furniture design competition among other features.  For more information about the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair – U.S.A. Æ, go online to www.iwf2002.com, email info@iwfatlanta.com or call 770-246-0608.

How do I register for IWF 2002?

You can register online at http://ww2.expocard.com/shows/iwf021/. If you would like a registration form to be mailed to you, e-mail us your name and address at info@iwfatlanta.com.

What are the show hours?

Thursday, August 22, 2002:  8:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, August 23, 2002:  8:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday, August 24, 2002:  8:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday, August 25, 2002:  8:00am to 3:00pm

Will there be parking at IWF?

Almost 3,000 public parking spaces are available around the Georgia World Congress Center.  Additional spaces are available in independent lots throughout Downtown Atlanta that are within walking distance of the Georgia World Congress Center.  

Where do I pick up my Badge Holder if I have pre-registered?

If you registered early (before July 2002), your badge will be mailed to you.  Pick up your Badge Holder at the IWF Registration area.

What is the hotel shuttle bus schedule?

The schedule will be published just prior to IWF 2002 and will be posted in the lobby of each hotel served by an IWF Shuttle Bus.  If your hotel is served by an IWF Shuttle Bus, you can catch the shuttle bus from your hotel to IWF each morning of the fair.  Each afternoon shuttle buses will depart from the Shuttle Bus Pick-Up area in front of the Georgia World Congress Center and return to participating hotels.  

Can children attend IWF?

No one under the age of 16 is permitted on the Exhibit Floor for safety and insurance reasons.  No exceptions will be made.

Does IWF provide child care?

No. Children are not allowed at IWF and no exceptions will be made.  Check with your hotel for suggestions on how best to arrange suitable child care while attending IWF.    

Is IWF open to the public?

No. IWF is open only to industry trade, professionals, and serious woodworking enthusiasts.

How much time should I allow to cover IWF? How can I prepare or pre-plan my visit to IWF?

IWF is an extensive trade show.  Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.  Since IWF takes place over four days, pre-planning is essential for effective coverage.  To pre-plan, follow these tips: A few weeks before the show, read trade publications or visit IWF's web site for up-to-date lists of exhibitors and their booth locations.  Use this information to determine your objectives for attending the show.  Establish three priorities: (1) exhibitors you absolutely must see; (2) secondary exhibitors that you would like to see; (3) exhibitors with new ideas and new technology.  Be sure to leave some time in your schedule for exploring.  Then, using the Pocket Guide or Official Fair Directory you will receive at registration, locate the exhibitors on your list to establish an efficient route of all your "must see" booths.  For the best results: plan your visit, then follow your plan.

Is IWF segmented by products?

IWF is divided into two areas: Machinery-related manufacturers (located in Building B, Halls B-2, B-3, B-4, and B-5 and Building C) and supply/material/services companies (located in Building A and in Building B, Hall B-1).

Are there any international machinery and supply manufacturers represented at IWF?

Yes.  IWF has the most comprehensive display of both American-made and international machinery and supplies for the industry. 

Is there food service at IWF?

Yes.  The Georgia World Congress Center will offer a choice of fast-food concessions, buffet-style restaurants, and full-service restaurants. 

Where can I exchange foreign currency while at IWF?

Most of the major downtown hotels and banks have currency exchange.

Will there be interpreters?  What Languages?  Where will they be located?

There will be an International Business Center at IWF 2002.  Interpreters will be available for short-term consultation and assistance, providing translation services in Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese.