Sawmillers Show Up At EXPO
After six shows in Atlanta, Ga. dating back to 2011, the Southern Forest Products Assn., host of the biennial Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO, decided to move the 37th edition to Nashville, Tenn. Held August 23-25, this was an exciting change for exhibitors and attendees alike—the Music City Center was in the heart of the city, allowing everyone the chance to not only walk from the variety of hotels and top-notch restaurants to the show floor but also enjoy all that Nashville has to offer by way of its world-famous music scene.
“The move to Nashville exceeded all expectations,” comments Eric Gee, SFPA’s Executive Director. “It was great to see so many members of the forest products industry in attendance to be a part of this historic moment. I’m extremely proud of the exhibiting companies that helped transform the exhibit hall into a first-rate networking space.”
EXPO 2023’s final floorplan topped out at 217 exhibiting companies—a record number of exhibitors since 2007—spread over 58,337 square feet of machinery, innovation, and solutions to meet with more than 1,200 attendees.
The three-day show covered everything from raw material handling to crane operations; metal detection and scanning technologies; log optimization, drying, grading, sorting, packaging, and distribution with 217 exhibiting companies over 58,337 sq. ft. SFPA estimates over 1,200 passed through the doors.
Show Events
On the opening day, sponsors USNR, Real Performance Machinery, Optimil, The Timken Co., Nyle Dry Kilns, and MiCROTEC hosted a welcome reception on the show floor that proved popular.
Day two was jam-packed with events. First, SFPA announced the 2022 John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards during the Sawmill & Safety Awards Breakfast. For the second year in a row seven mills received 2022 Sawmill Safety Awards with zero incidents among them. Attendees had the option of adding on the Productivity & Efficiency conference presented by Timber Processing magazine during the bulk of the day. The day ended with an open popcorn and beer reception in the Valutec booth to celebrate the 2023 Timber Processing magazine Persons of the Year, Chris and Jason Brochu from Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.
The 38th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO’s host city and dates are to be announced soon, with registration to open in March 2025.
Latest News
The Logger Supply Chain Strain
During the Southern Forest Products Assn.’s educational sessions at the 2021 event, longtime sawmiller and consultant Huey Long noted that early in his career, one of his mentors said that to help maintain perspective, it’s important to always keep a basic line chart graph showing 20 years of lumber prices on your office…
Musser Plans More Byproducts
Musser Biomass and Wood Products, a division of family-owned and operated Musser Lumber Co., will invest $7.5 million and create 10 new jobs to expand its operation at Rural Retreat, Va. The expansion will more than double production of dried hardwood chips and sawdust the company supplies to composite decking…
Sierra Pacific Foundation Grants Scholarships
Sierra Pacific Foundation is awarding more than $521,000 in scholarships to 169 students as they attend colleges, universities, and trade schools during the 2023-2024 school year. “It is both an honor and a privilege for our family to continue to offer this ongoing support for these students,” says Carolyn Emmerson Dietz…
Bruks Siwertell Acquires West Salem Machinery
Bruks Siwertell Group has signed an acquisition contract for North American heavy machinery specialist, West Salem Machinery (WSM), effective July 1, 2023. The Oregon-based engineering and manufacturing company will continue to operate under its current name as a separate internal division within Bruks Siwertell…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.