Expo Richmond Machinery Show Shaping Up As a Sell-Out

The biennial trade show, also known throughout the industry as Expo Richmond, will be held in the buildings and grounds surrounding Richmond International Raceway, formerly the Virginia State Fairgrounds. The event is co-sponsored by the Virginia Forest Products Association and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Expo Richmond will be the largest trade show of pallet industry machinery in the Eastern U.S. in 2002 and one of the leading exhibitions of forest products industry equipment in the entire country. Machinery and equipment worth tens of millions of dollars will be on display.

Suppliers to the logging, sawmill and pallet industries will display some of the newest and most advanced machinery, equipment and technology. The displays will occupy over 500,000 square feet with acres of active hands-on machinery and equipment demonstrations outside.

The exhibits allow people in the forest products industry to see equipment in operating conditions, to get information from suppliers and make comparisons.

The trade show has attracted about 12,000 visitors in recent years, and about the same number are expected to attend next month.

New this year will be an expanded outdoor exhibitor area near the front of the raceway complex. In addition, new concession arrangements are being made to increase service to exhibitors. “Food service for exhibitors has always been a
challenge,” noted Mike Washko, exposition manager. “We are negotiating with
the concessionaire to have a separate food service area for exhibitors to speed things up. That will eliminate lines and help vendors to return quickly to their exhibits so they can keep meeting prospects
and make sales.”

The cost of the short course is $50
for one session or $75 for both. (To register for the short course, contact Virginia Tech at (540) 231-5876, or e-mail ctrfpmjo@vt.edu.)

Despite the recession, the terrorist attack and other factors, exhibit space is nearly sold out, according to Mike. Outdoor exhibit spaces — which have been expanded for 2002 — have all been booked, and the two largest indoor exhibit areas are sold out, he said. The remaining exhibit areas are expected to be sold, he added, bringing the total to more than 350 suppliers that will present at the event.

The strong response by suppliers followed a slow start to bookings last fall. Exhibit contracts were mailed to suppliers two weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mike noted.

Expo Richmond has been held for many years in the same location, but the facilities changed hands and Richmond International Raceway was the new landlord for the 2000 Expo Richmond.

The change of ownership has worked out well, according to Mike, who credited the raceway organization with doing a good job in maintaining the buildings and grounds. “They’re looking real sharp,” he said. “It’s very encouraging.”

Visitors to Expo Richmond who register in advance are admitted free;
those who have not pre-registered pay $5 at the gate. Spouses and children are
admitted free.

For more information about Expo Richmond, call the Virginia Forest Products Association at (804)737-5625.