Pallet and sawmill companies will be able to take advantage of several major trade shows and machinery expositions that are scheduled the remainder of the year. These events provide an opportunity to meet suppliers in person and view and compare machinery and equipment. Some are biennial expositions, so it will be two years before they are held again. Many of the trade and machinery shows also contain some type of educational program, such as seminars and workshops on topics related to the forest products industry. Two of the major events for the pallet and sawmill industries are the Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition June 25-27 in Atlanta, also known as the Atlanta Expo, and the Midwest Forest Industry Show Sept. 26-27 in St. Louis. Both are biennial events. The Midwest Forest Industry Show, sponsored by the Missouri Forest Products Association, consistently draws good attendance and exhibitors from the pallet and sawmill industries and also features other aspects of the forest products industry. The Atlanta Expo, sponsored by the Southern Forest Products Association and APA-The Engineered Wood Association, focuses more broadly on the forest products industry. A number of well-established regional machinery expositions also are on tap, including the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition May 16-17 in Bangor, Maine. This event, sponsored by the Northeastern Loggers Association and Northern Logger & Timber Processor magazine is held annually and alternates between Bangor, Maine and Springfield, Mass. It is the predominant exposition in the New England region. Another major regional show to be held later this year is the Lake States Logging Congress, scheduled Sept. 4-6 in Escanaba, Mich., which draws heavily from the Lake States region. Two international events are scheduled this year. The Ligna World Trade Fair for Forestry & Wood Industries will be held May 26-30 in Hannover, Germany. The Canadian Wooden Pallet and Container Association will sponsor a European tour of pallet plants and sawmills Aug. 25-Sept. 13; the association has planned several different tour packages. Other trade shows and machinery expositions scheduled this year include the Oklahoma Forest Utilization Conf. & Equipment Expo April 29-May in Wagoner, Oklahoma; the Forest Products Equipment & Technology Exposition June 13-14 Harrisburg, Penn. The Pennsylvania machinery show is back after a temporary delay. It previously was held in the same year as the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition in Richmond, Va., also known as the Richmond Expo; both machinery shows are biennial events, and organizers of the Pennsylvania exposition decided to schedule it in the ‘off year’ for the Richmond Expo. Also coming up later this year, the Wisconsin Professional Loggers Assn. Logger Expo June 18-20 in Hazelhurst, Wisconsin; the Kentucky Wood Expo Sept. 19-20 in Bowling Green, Ky.; and the Paul Bunyan Show Oct. 3-5 in Nelsonville, Ohio.
