If you don’t act quickly, you’ll miss the largest trade exhibition for professional woodworkers in North America in 2019
There is still time to attend AWFS Fair, set for the Las Vegas Convention Center July 17 to 20. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until 2021 for the next AWFS Fair.
Staying on top of technological advances and digital transformation is a priority for many businesses. A lot can happen in a short time.
Show organizers are planning for more than 600 exhibitors this year, and more than 18,000 industry professionals are expected to attend.
AWFS Fair is intended for professionals who make cabinets, millwork, furniture, store fixtures, windows, closets, components, doors and other wood products.
It is the best place to see the latest innovations in woodworking technology, and will offer hundreds of ideas and products to improve any woodworking business.
The exhibit hall will be open Wednesday to Friday, July 17 to 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Even if you can only get away from the shop for a day or two, it’s worth attending.
New learning opportunities
The day before the exhibits open, AWFS Symposia presented by CCI Media and Woodworking Network will provide a full day of training in four symposia: Finishing, CNC Technology, Closets, and Leadership. Each will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 16. Go to https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/events-contests/awfs.
The College of Woodworking Knowledge is the AWFS Fair’s comprehensive seminar program. CWWK delivers a variety of panels, roundtables, demos and workshops in six different educational tracks.
AWFS attendees can choose subjects to explore in this education program offering many business and skill-building seminars, delivered by experts and practitioners.
Those attending AWFS can create their own customized learning curriculum from the 50 sessions spread over three days. Experts within the industry will discuss how companies can help deal with the skills gap and change their own culture to attract and retain the talent needed to develop a skilled workforce.
AWFS is also offering free seminars as a service to the industry. Seven free seminars related to workforce development, regulations and safety will be offered. Registration for these free seminars is required.
Go to awfsfair.org to see the Seminars-at-a-Glance schedule that shows day and time for each seminar in the categories of business management, culture and workforce, cabinet, millwork and furniture, software and technology, techniques and applications and teacher track. See accompanying story with further details in this planner.
Technology on display
A special feature of the show’s education program, the SMART! (Special Machinery and Relevant Technology) seminars combine lecture and technology demonstrations, live on the show floor before the show opens. From the newest concepts in nesting, edgebanding, and sanding, to Industry 4.0 implementation, the SMART! sessions provide an opportunity to learn from the technical experts at the show. Space is limited to 25 registrants in each session so attendees are encouraged to register early to ensure their place.
The AWFS Visionary Awards presentation honors the best new products of the year. It will be Friday, July 19 at 9:15 a.m. Attendees can see the Visionary New Product and First Time Exhibitor Product Showcase at the show.
The Industry 4.0 Showcase will emphasize technology that will influence the future of manufacturing including artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, and internet of things.
AWFS Fair Live will be a variety of short, single focus topics including the latest technologies, hardware and software products.
Search the AWFS Fair group at linkedin.com. Look for AWFS related videos on youtube.com/awfsfair. Receive Facebook updates at fb.com.awfsfair. Follow the show on twitter.com/awfsfair.
The Closets and Organized Storage Pavilion is co-sponsored by Closets and Organized Storage Magazine and will have its own designated area on the show floor. Also, Woodworking Network will publish a show daily printed publication on site for showgoers.
Fresh Wood 2019 will feature more than 40 pieces of furniture from the top high school and post-secondary woodworking students in North America. The 2019 special theme is “Sports and Games” and will feature furniture related to either a sport or a game. This year the “People’s Choice” ballots will be online, submitted through your mobile device. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday July 19th in room N109-N110.
The American Association of Woodturners will hold turning demonstrations and showcase turning techniques. Demos will be Wednesday through Friday at the top of the hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and at 11 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday.
WED Talks (Wood Education Talks), will consist of free 15-minute presentations on Thursday and Friday by experts on social media, marketing, technology, skilled trades development and the future of the industry.
The interactive mini-build will allow attendees to build things on machinery set up on the show floor during the first three days of the show.
To register, go to awfsfair.org, or call 877-303-0711 from the United States and Canada. Exhibit hall pricing is $30 if purchased before June 27, $55 if purchased after that date. Attendees can register on site from July 17 to 19.
AWFS Fair is the place to be for woodworkers this year.
AT A GLANCE
AWFS Fair
July 17-20, 2019
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
AWFS Fair show floor updates
The Thermwood Cut Center will be in action during AWFS Fair 2019 July 17-20. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how to run the Cut Center that can reportedly make almost anything a cabinet shop would want to make with no programming. Booth #7425.
AWFS Fair attendees can see the All-American Work Cell in action from Safety Speed Manufacturing. They will be guiding the AWFS Fair attendees in making bookcases and donating them to a Las Vegas charity. Booth #8651.
Felder Group USA will unveil the profit H80 CNC full nesting machine system. On display for the first time in the United States. Felder will also have on display their newly released Format – 4 Kappa 590 E motion double tilt sliding table panel saw. Booth #8625.
Attendees at AWFS Fair in Las Vegas are encouraged to take part in the Quickscrews Drive to Win Contest. All show attendees have to do is drive five of the Quickcutter screws faster than the person next to them. Booth #5702
Weima will once again be leading the effort at AWFS Fair to Destroy Responsibly, and attendees can follow the green carpet to see how. Weima can be found in booths #8914 and #8116, as well as behind the tradeshow hall.
IMA Schelling Group USA will exhibit new technology at the AWFS Fair. IMA Schelling’s Booth #7436 will display an IMA Novimat Compact L12 edgebander and a Barbaric LCV linear feeder system integrated with a Schelling s45 panel saw.
Vac-U-Clamp will offer no-cost thermofoil samples on the AWFS Fair show floor. If a visitor has something they would like to see foiled like a cabinet door or drawer front or something else, Vac-U-Clamp will do it at the show and at no charge. Booth #8081.
See more updates at https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/events-contests/awfs
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