Like a number of state forest products shows, EXPO Richmond is a good place to network with machinery suppliers and discuss the latest innovations. What makes EXPO Richmond stand out is all the equipment you can see up close and watch run live.
One of the best things you can do to make the most out of your trip to EXPO Richmond is to combine the show with plant tours. There are a number of quality pallet operations in Virginia, Pennsylvania and other nearby states where you can visit facilities on Wednesday or Thursday before the show. The best way to do this is to discuss with suppliers the equipment you want to see and ask if there is a plant near Richmond that has this equipment and may be willing to let you visit. Given the affordable rates of many domestic flights, consider stopping off in another location before you fly to Richmond.
You can also see which leading suppliers will be at the show by reading the article on page 34. This list is accurate as of mid-April. If there are specific suppliers you want to encounter, contact them to see their show plans. Many times, they have new products under development that they would love to discuss with you.
Another great reason to visit EXPO Richmond is that it contains equipment for all aspects of the forest products industry. You can network with sawmill machinery suppliers as well as pallet equipment companies. As more and more pallet companies add sawing capacity and, in some cases, even logging crews, a show with a larger focus can assist in your exploration of these potential opportunities.
Recently, due to COVID and other changes in trade show attendance patterns, some recent Richmond Shows may have been a little less dramatic than they once were. But the reality remains that if you want to see physical equipment and even see it run, there is no better show serving the pallet and low-grade sawmill industries.
Beyond the show, there is a conference on new forest products industry technology being put on by the staff of Virginia Tech University. This event is separate from the expo, but it will be held nearby on Thursday, May 19th.
The Forest Products Innovation and Technology Summit will focus on which technologies in the primary wood products sector can benefit your operation with regard to optimization, grading, management and distribution. Innovation and technology for both hardwood and softwood production will be discussed. The summit will provide you with the chance to hear about these technologies from experts and to interact with them about how they might fit into your operation. The summit will consist of presentations by the industry’s leaders in technology, discussion panels and networking opportunities.
Topics covered include automated softwood lumber grading technology and application; log scanning technology and automated hardwood lumber technology; the latest technology in sawmill optimization and automation; using information technology to support logistics and transportation; Industry 4.0; and the secondary woodworking industry in North America.
If you have questions, call (540) 2311-0978 or e-mail bbond@vt.edu. The cost of the event is $50. To register, visit cfpb.vt.edu/education/2022-expo-richmond-educational-session.
For over 60 years, EXPO Richmond has been a place where people come to investigate automation and technology options and dare to dream about how they could make their companies better. What if this year, you brought some of your top managers to see various technology? You could then take them to a few other plants or hold brainstorming sessions in conjunction with the show to explore ways to improve your operations, processes and business strategies.
Lastly, EXPO Richmond is a place where I love to connect with old friends and talk about the changes in the industry. I am planning on being at the Pallet Enterprise/Industrial Reporting Inc. booth on Friday, May 20th. Please stop by booth # 732, 734 and say hello. For more information or to register for EXPO Richmond, visit the show website at www.exporichmond.com.
