Story by Rich Donnell,
Editor-in-Chief
I hope by now you’ve made plans to attend the Timber Processing & Energy Expo scheduled this October 17-19 at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Ore. This is a new event sponsored by this magazine and our publishing company. What are we doing in show business?
Frankly, like most businesses, we at Hatton-Brown Publishers have had to diversify in order to strengthen ourselves. Life would be pretty simple if we merely had to produce magazines. Gone are the days when my only title was editor-in-chief. Now I’m also a Show Director. Who would have thought it?
The Portland event isn’t our first attempt at show business. For many years we’ve produced in-woods logging shows in the Southeast. Also, many of you may have attended or are at least familiar with our Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo, which is held every other year in Atlanta, Ga. And don’t forget our Bioenergy Fuels & Products Conference & Expo, which is close-coupled to the panel conference in Atlanta. These are primarily conferences, with several dozen speakers, supported by many small exhibits.
Timber Processing & Energy Expo is more of your traditional big machinery expo, with a small conference element to it. In fact more than 150 exhibitors will be showcasing their technologies to primary producers—such as yourself—of lumber, engineered wood products, veneer, plywood, and wood energy. Their exhibits will consume about 40,000 square feet. Meanwhile, we have scheduled what we’re calling “Workshop Day” on October 18, the second day of the event. It will feature 14 presentations covering Sawmill Scanning & Optimization, Veneer Lathes & Dryers, Wood Dust Issues, Machinery Alignment & Sawing Technologies and Wood Energy Developments.
Many of you, like us, for many years attended and exhibited at a previous machinery show in Portland. Like all shows, that one had its high points and low points. We decided to do our own event in Portland mainly because many of you had been asking us to do one. Given our growing experience with trade shows, and our familiarity with Portland and the wood products industry, the idea of doing a new show in Portland made a lot of sense.
We feel the event is hitting at the right time. There has been positive news in the building sectors as of late. And oh yes, isn’t there a presidential election happening the month after the show? That should generate some conversation as you enjoy the Beer Garden on the show floor.
More importantly, Portland presents an opportunity for you to conduct business with a vast range of exhibitors, many of which are introducing new or upgraded technologies. TP&EE may be the place to close your deal, or open talks for a new one.
TP&EE also allows you the opportunity to bring along some of your production personnel. Tell them to wear their company jackets proudly.
Last but not least, the Portland Expo Center is a different venue than the old Portland show was held in. The expo center is located off Interstate 5 between downtown Portland and Vancouver, Washington. I believe it will provide an environment much to your liking.