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Doswell, VA will host the premier event for the forestry industry on April 12-13, 2024, with East Coast Sawmill, Logging, and Pallet Equipment Exposition taking center stage. This two-day extravaganza, hosted by the Virginia Forest Products Association and the Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia Tech, promises to be a dynamic platform where industry professionals, manufacturers, and enthusiasts converge to explore cutting-edge technologies and trends shaping the future of the forest products sector.

EXPO Richmond will be held at Meadow Event Park, providing a spacious and state-of-the-art setting for the anticipated gathering of hundreds of exhibitors from around the world. Attendees can expect a comprehensive showcase of the latest equipment, machinery, and innovations related to sawmilling, logging, and pallet manufacturing.

Key Highlights:
1. Global Participation: EXPO Richmond will feature exhibitors from various corners of the globe, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to witness the diversity of forest products technologies and solutions.

2. Cutting-Edge Technology: Industry leaders will unveil their latest advancements in sawmill machinery, logging equipment, and pallet manufacturing technology. From automated sawing solutions to sustainable logging practices, the EXPO will highlight innovations that are shaping the future of the industry.

3. Educational Seminars: In addition to the exhibition, attendees can participate in educational seminars and workshops led by experts in the field. Topics will include hardwood lumber grading, pallet design, and lumber drying practices for small operators.

4. Networking Opportunities: EXPO Richmond provides an ideal platform for networking, fostering collaborations, and building valuable connections within the forest products industry. Attendees will have the chance to engage with professionals, exhibitors, and industry influencers.

5. Live Demonstrations: Witness live demonstrations of state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, showcasing their efficiency and capabilities. Manufacturers will provide insights into the operation and benefits of their products.

6.Weiler Loader Contest: Watch operators show off their speed, agility and accuracy in the Weiler Loader Contest to benefit Log A Load for Kids. Log A Load for Kids is an annual campaign which began in 1988 when loggers and others in the forest products community donated the value of a load of logs to their local CMN hospital. Today, Log A Load is a leader in CMN Hospitals’ fundraising, raising more than $2 million annually through golf tournaments, fishing events, dinners, truck loads of log donations and other events.

The East Coast Sawmill, Logging, and Pallet Equipment Exposition is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the forest products industry. Whether you are a seasoned professional, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a technology enthusiast, this EXPO offers a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of forestry.
To register for the event or for more information, please visit www.exporichmond.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lesley Moseley
Executive Director
Virginia Forest Products Association
(804) 389-0787
staff@exporichmond.com

The revised website combines six Southern Pine lumber resources websites under one site

The Southern Forest Products Association has published its newly redesigned website – SouthernPine.com – to provide an easy-to-use, one-stop-shop for all Southern Pine lumber technical guidance, resources, and best-use applications. 

SouthernPine.com combines the following sites into a single resource for all things related to Southern Pine lumber: 

• SouthernPine.com (and the members-only site) 
• SFPA.org 
• Southern Pine Global 
• Southern Pine Decks 
• Raised Floor Living and Raised Floor Living Pro 

“The SFPA team put a lot of thought into the design and functionality of the site, focusing on how users like design professionals, builders, and DIYers would access the valuable information that supports the Southern Pine lumber community,” said Eric Gee, SFPA’s executive director. “The end result is a more unified and user-friendly experience for all, with the goal to further reinforce SFPA as the resource for all things Southern Pine lumber.” 

The re-envisioned website project came out of strategic visioning and planning the SFPA board of directors conducted in 2020. The new site meets all current accessibility requirements, and all content can be translated into 12 languages to drive Southern Pine lumber’s demand and increase user knowledge around the globe.  

“In addition to bringing all our resources under one recognizable brand and URL, we’re very excited to offer the growing international community of Southern Pine users a complete resource in their native languages,” Gee said.  

St. Martin, MN – Rotochopper, Inc. proudly announces the launch of Sarlac, a cutting-edge machine designed to revolutionize material downsizing and recycling for businesses operating across a wide range of industries. Sarlac is an innovative patent-pending shear point shredding solution that offers unprecedented proficiency in downsizing materials efficiently for businesses seeking cost-effective material handling solutions.

As the market demands sustainable and economically viable practices, Sarlac emerges as the go-to choice for businesses looking to maximize profitability while reducing waste. This state-of-the-art equipment efficiently downsizes materials that would typically be discarded, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for revenue generation through recycling. Sarlac enhances workplace safety and comfort, with an impressively low noise level and reduced airborne dust making it the ideal choice for a variety of work environments.

Key features and benefits of Sarlac include:

Compact Design: Sarlac is intelligently designed to occupy minimal space while delivering maximum performance, making it a versatile option for operations and workflows.

Economical Solution: Offering an affordable and cost-effective approach to material downsizing and recycling, Sarlac ensures optimized resource utilization without compromising on quality.

Efficiency in Downsizing: Sarlac excels in downsizing various materials, enabling businesses to process waste effectively, thereby reducing disposal costs significantly.

Revenue Generation Opportunities: By recycling materials that would otherwise be discarded, Sarlac opens new revenue streams for businesses, transforming waste into valuable resources.

Chad Angeli, Rotochopper Vice President of Customer Experience shared, “Sarlac’s versatility allows us to help more customers with their needs.  It’s compact design, low noise level, and reduced airborne dust, allow Sarlac to be used in more applications.  We’re confident it will help us create more partnerships with new and existing customers.”

Sarlac caters specifically to the needs of small pallet manufacturers and similar businesses, providing an alternative solution when larger Rotochopper equipment might not be a suitable option. Customizable to your specific needs, Sarlac offers versatility with different electric motor size options and conveyor configurations, ensuring a perfect fit for your operational demands.

"We are excited to introduce Sarlac to the market, offering a compact and cost-effective solution that empowers businesses to efficiently manage their waste while unlocking new revenue streams through recycling," said Tosh Brinkerhoff, Rotochopper CEO.

Sarlac is not just a machine; it’s a commitment to efficient, space-saving, and cost-effective operations.

For more information about Sarlac and how it can benefit your business, please visit https://www.rotochopper.com/product/sarlac/ or contact your sales representative for more information.

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Headquartered in St. Martin, Minnesota, Rotochopper designs, builds, and supports a complete line of horizontal grinders, wood chip processors, shredders, screening equipment, conveyors, and mobile baggers. Rotochopper is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the waste and wood recycling industries with a commitment to sustainability and excellence. We strive to deliver cutting-edge equipment that meets the evolving needs of our customers.

The Southern Forest Products Association has announced the 38^th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition will return to the Music City Center in Nashville, TN from August 6-8, 2025.  

 “The move to Nashville in August 2023 exceeded all expectations, and we heard it over and over on the show floor and for weeks after the event from exhibitors and attendees alike,” said Eric Gee, SFPA’s executive director. “We’ve already had booth space requests, so we can’t wait to return to the Music City Center for our 38^th edition.” 

Since 1950, Forest Products EXPO has provided a place for both hardwood and softwood sawmillers to gather, celebrate new technology, network, and learn about the industry’s latest machinery and equipment. 

The three-day tradeshow provides attendees with solutions for nearly every stage of wood product manufacturing. From raw material handling to crane operations; metal detection and scanning technologies; log optimization, drying, grading, sorting, packaging, and distribution. 

“The SFPA team has already started securing hotel room blocks, and our EXPO Advisory Committee is discussing plans to make 2025 even better,” Gee said. Exhibit space sales for the 38th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO are scheduled to open in May 2024. 

Sawmills are dangerous environments for cameras. There’s dust, debris, and full-sized logs and boards moving at high speeds. 

In a West Fraser mill in Florida, an Opticom CC04 camera took a direct hit by a board moving on the line—and it survived. The camera still works; it just had to be remounted on a new vibration mount. 

Here’s a photo provided by the mill that shows the immediate aftermath of the incident. Because West Fraser puts safety first, the operator was in his cab and all workers were safely outside the danger zone of the board.

This CC04 camera was (and is again) mounted on the mill’s edger to watch the edger tailor because, as the facility’s Lead Electrician, Richard Akers, pointed out, “Sometimes things don’t always move correctly, so the operator can see what’s going on back there.”

In this case, a couple of boards got stuck when the tailor was shifting. Boards behind them ramped up and slammed right into the camera. A board hit the camera and knocked it off its mount, then another board came behind and pushed it farther away. 

“At one point, the camera was hanging from one cord,” said Akers. “We were honestly surprised the cord held up.”

Here’s a zoomed-in shot of the camera right after the incident. The board moved it about 4-5 feet away from its mounted position, which was on the right side of this photo—by the electrical wiring.

You can see how the camera is being held up by the board and one cord. 

As any safety-conscious sawmill would, the team reviewed the footage to see what happened, which is when they discovered the stuck boards that led to the backup, ramping, and direct hit. 

The Opticom camera worked through it all. Akers said, “When we watched the footage, the camera went black for a second, then came back on to a different view because, of course, it had been pushed to a different spot.”  

“All we had to do was replace the mount,” he said. The camera continues to work, even after a high-speed direct hit. “This is a testament to the durability of Opticom cameras.”

West Fraser uses Opticom cameras primarily for monitoring operations in areas that are hard to see from operator cabs. “We’ve done our research, and they’re the best cameras that are available,” said Akers. “Plus, Opticom is super knowledgeable about sawmills and what we need for video monitoring.”

If you’re a sawmill that wants to upgrade your video monitoring to built-to-last cameras that can take a direct hit, let’s talk.

Quadco Corporate - Quadco, a leader in forestry equipment innovation, has purchased the distribution rights to the Bracke Forest AB line from Silvana Import Trading, Inc. This partnership will expand Quadco’s product offerings to include Bracke’s disc trenchers, mounders, planters and seeders, and felling heads.

Founded in 1922, Bracke holds many patents and offers top-quality forestry equipment with a focus on conservation. Their equipment is designed to promote soil reforestation and environmental health while maintaining economic and productivity standards. Located in Bräcke, Sweden, Bracke Forest AB serves customers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

This expansion of its product offerings will allow Quadco to provide its clients with additional solutions for their forestry equipment needs. It also supports Quadco’s interest in assisting its clients in meeting their goals for sustainable, renewable forestry practices. Quadco plans to retain key Silvana team members during this transition, ensuring that current Bracke customers in North America experience uninterrupted support and service.

Partnering with Bracke Forest AB is the most recent step in Quadco’s history of revolutionizing the forestry industry. The inclusion of new, regenerative products in its catalog allows Quadco to further support its clients by providing equipment to handle a wider range of forestry projects. With the combined history and innovative expertise of Bracke Forest AB and Quadco, forestry professionals will have greater access to the tools and support they need to operate effectively.

For product inquiries, contact: info@quadco.com

About Quadco: Quadco is a pioneer in the forestry industry. Incorporated in 1989, the company is recognized worldwide for revolutionizing the forestry industry through the development of the Quad Tooth System® as well as other valuable forestry attachments used by loggers every day. Its mission is to manufacture world-class cutting systems to fulfill customers’ needs, provide satisfying careers for all employees, and earn a fair return. Quadco is continuously improving in order to create partnerships with its customers for a collective successful future.

Registration is OPEN!

The 39th East Coast Sawmill, Logging and Pallet Equipment Exposition will be held April 12-13, 2024 at historic Meadow Event Park - birthplace of Triple Crown winner Secretariat - in Doswell, VA. Returning exhibitors have gotten a head start on registration and we are now ready to open registration up for everyone - NEW and returning exhibitors! 

There is something for everyone at EXPO Richmond. We have the latest and greatest in forestry equipment that you can actually get your hands on and see how it operates and learn directly from the sales reps how it could help your business grow. We also offer educational opportunities through Virginia Tech and the SHARP Logger program. And it's fun for the whole family - we have live demonstrations of equipment, live entertainment, local food trucks and more!

With an average of 6,000 attendees from all over the world, you don't want to miss your opportunity to get in front of the most serious buyers in the industry! If you have any questions please click below to see the maps, who is exhibiting and to register for your spot today! 

NOVEMBER 2023 – Capturing the growing interest of hobby sawmilling and the DIY woodworker movement, Wood-Mizer, a globally renowned leader in the sawmill industry, introduces the LX50START and LX50SUPER portable sawmills with a starting price of $2,995 USD. Combining premium quality features with an entry-level price, the LX50START and LX50SUPER portable sawmills are an exceptional value for anyone who wants to start sawing their own lumber and slabs for buildings, fencing, furniture, and more with minimal investment. Introduced as the lowest priced Wood-Mizer portable sawmills ever, the LX50START and LX50SUPER join the industry-leading line of reliable and durable Wood-Mizer sawmill equipment engineered for hobbyists and professionals throughout the world.

Premium Quality Features, Entry-Level Price

The LX50START and LX50SUPER portable sawmills feature the ability to saw 26” diameter hardwood and softwood logs into boards and slabs with a 23-1/2” width of cut and 8” depth of cut. Sawing capacity is maximized with the rectangular throat design that provides full width sawing at any cutting depth. In addition, longer logs can be sawn with optional modular bed extensions and no practical limit.

The LX50 portable sawmills add strength and durability where it counts with a premium steel sawmill frame, laser cut steel bed, diagonal bed crossbars for additional stability, and more. Packed with performance-enhancing features, both LX50 portable sawmills include reliable KOHLER gas engines, high-performance blade guide rollers, gravity-fed blade lubrication, quick up/down sawhead, and quick-set log handling for a user-friendly sawing experience.

The LX50SUPER portable sawmill, starting at $3,995 USD, includes multiple upgrades compared to the LX50START for better sawing performance and operation including a heavier-duty bent steel sawmill frame, more powerful engine, longer sawing length, bed leveling feet, heavier-duty side supports, extra log clamp, and more. These performance-rich features combined with the industry-leading reliability and durability of Wood-Mizer equipment makes the LX50 portable sawmills one of the best valued portable sawmills for the money in its class.

“Wood-Mizer strives to provide the sawmill industry with the most choices to accommodate various applications and preferences,” says John Smith, Wood-Mizer CEO. “In addition, we are committed to serving sawmill equipment owners at any experience level with excellence. The LX50 portable sawmills fit the need of hobby sawyers who want to start sawing their own boards at home with an affordably priced, easy to use, premium quality sawmill from a company that has a 40-year history.”

Market Availability and Ordering

The LX50START and LX50SUPER portable sawmills are now available to order worldwide. With a 2-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee in the United States, customers also have access to experienced and professional technical service. For more information or to order, visit woodmizer.com or contact your local Wood-Mizer representative.

About Wood-Mizer

Since 1982, Wood-Mizer has earned the reputation as a world-leading wood processing equipment manufacturer with a strong legacy from its innovative sawmilling products. Serving more than 100,000 customers throughout the world From Forest to Final Form®, Wood-Mizer offers an extensive line of equipment including narrowband portable and industrial sawmills, wideband sawmilling equipment, band resaws, board edgers, wood kilns, planer/moulders, firewood processing equipment, pallet recycling equipment, material handling equipment, sawmill blades, and blade maintenance equipment for woodworking and forestry hobbyists and professionals all over the world. Visit woodmizer.com for more information.

The 2023 Paul Bunyan Show is a wrap, and it was quite a show! Thank you to all of our exhibitors, sponsors, food vendors, suppliers, volunteers, equipment and wood donors and attendees. We could not do this without you.  

While the weather was a little on the chilly side, it was dry for the most part, and the cold didn't seem to keep people away. This year was the best attended show on record in both attendance and exhibiting companies. 

By the Numbers:

• 16,116 in Attendance 
• 164 Exhibiting Companies 
• 234 Booths  

The weekend was jam-packed with media interviews, equipment, vendors, educational seminars, chainsaw demonstrations, YouTubers, and fun! The 2024 Show dates are October 4-6, 2024, for more information visit www.ohioforest.org.  – Gayla Fleming, Ohio Forestry Association

OCTOBER 2023 - Capturing the robust interest of battery-powered outdoor equipment and electric vehicles (EV), Wood-Mizer, a globally renowned leader in the sawmill industry, introduces the industry’s first battery-powered portable sawmill. The lithium-ion battery-powered sawmill provides sawmill owners an alternative power choice which is environmentally friendly and delivers consistent, reliable, and high-quality sawing performance. The battery power option is now available on the popular Wood-Mizer LT15WIDE portable sawmill that enables woodworking hobbyists and forestry professionals to safely and efficiently saw logs into lumber.

Industry-First Battery-Powered Portable Sawmill

With feedback from several large community-driven and passionate sawmilling groups, Wood-Mizer’s strong commitment to answer their requests and interests led to developing a battery option on the popular LT15WIDE portable sawmill. The Wood-Mizer LT15WIDE sawmill currently offers a wide range of gas, diesel and electric power options with battery-power being the latest addition. 100% of the sawmill’s functions are powered by lithium-ion batteries which are the leading-edge technology in the automotive and outdoor power equipment industries. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, lithium-ion batteries are convenient, lightweight, easy to store, safe, and rechargeable. 

“Wood-Mizer strives to provide the sawing industry with the most choices to accommodate various applications and preferences,” says John Smith, Wood-Mizer CEO. “We take pride in closely listening to our customers and the industry and willingly invest in research and development in new products. Most importantly, we are committed to pushing the industry to the next level.” 

Features of the Wood-Mizer LT15WIDE Battery-Powered Portable Sawmill

The LT15WIDE battery-powered portable sawmill frees sawyers from relying on fluctuating fuel prices, reduces costs and time associated with fuel engine maintenance, and provides a more comfortable operation with reduced noise and odor. Offering the same optional trailer package and 36” log diameter sawing capacity as the LT15WIDE portable sawmill, the battery version comes with additional technological enhancements including:

• Patent-pending “Smart Feed” technology continuously monitors the amperage while sawing and will speed up or slow down the feed rate to optimize sawing performance.

• Powered saw head up/down raises and lowers the sawmill blade quickly and accurately for the next cut with servo driven power.

• On-board computer includes 3 independent libraries within the setworks that allow the sawyer to hold up to 13 board thicknesses within each library for creating custom cutting programs.

• Advanced saw head return includes bump return or stack return options depending on the sawyer’s needs. The “bump return” brings the head back for off bearing an individual board while production sawyers will opt for the “stack return” which returns the head and positions the blade for the next cut while the sawn boards remain in place.

Tested and Proven Lithium-Ion Battery Technology

Rigorous field testing in locations throughout the world has proven the LT15WIDE battery-powered portable sawmill can saw constantly and consistently for up to eight hours on six batteries depending on wood species, sawing conditions, and amount of time spent in the cut. As the State of Charge (SoC) of the batteries reduced, sawyers reported that the sawmill continued to perform at peak levels throughout the eight hours without losing power or performance. In addition, the patent-pending “Smart Feed” technology ensures the sawmill automatically adjusts to wood species, log size, and blade conditions to provide optimal sawing feed rates and overall performance. 

The lithium-ion batteries for the sawmill are derived from proven technology established in the automotive industry and governed by multiple safety standards. The batteries have passed internationally recognized design and testing requirements that cover compliance with vibration, thermal shock, drop test, mechanical shock, external short circuit, overcharge protection, overdischarge protection, over temperature protection and altitude. 

The base model LT15WIDE battery-powered portable sawmill comes standard with four rechargeable lithium-ion batteries but can run on up to five or six batteries. Each battery weighs approximately 20pounds, includes a 1.4 kWh capacity, and is covered by a 5-year warranty. The included six-battery charging base allows sawyers to charge all four batteries in under four hours, five batteries in under five hours, six batteries in under six hours, and is compatible with a standard single-phase (15 amp) 110 AC wall outlet connection.

Market Availability and Pre-Orders

European sawyers who are interested in using an alternative power source for sawmilling can preorder Wood-Mizer’s LT15WIDE battery-powered portable sawmill for an estimated end of year 2023 delivery. For those in the United States, pre-orders are being taken with an anticipated Spring 2024 delivery. Customers in the United States can also take advantage of new tax credits which became available in January 2023 with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA tax credit is available for US customers who purchase battery operated mobile machinery that operates at 7 KwH which is equivalent to a minimum of 5 batteries. For more information, pricing, and availability, visit woodmizer.com or contact your local Wood-Mizer representative.

About Wood-Mizer

Since 1982, Wood-Mizer has earned the reputation as a world-leading wood processing equipment manufacturer with a strong legacy from its innovative sawmilling products. Serving more than 100,000 customers throughout the world From Forest to Final Form®, Wood-Mizer offers an extensive line of equipment including narrowband portable and industrial sawmills, wideband sawmilling equipment, band resaws, board edgers, wood kilns, planer/moulders, firewood processing equipment, pallet recycling equipment, material handling equipment, sawmill blades, and blade maintenance equipment for woodworking and forestry hobbyists and professionals all over the world. Visit woodmizer.com for more information.

Wood-Mizer announces winners of their 2023 My Wood-Mizer Project Contest - a tradition since 1985 that recognizes Wood-Mizer portable sawmill owners who have built dream woodworking projects by sawing their own lumber.

The contest is open to any Wood-Mizer portable sawmill or woodworking equipment owner in North America interested in competing for their share of $25,000 in prize credits awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each of ten categories including Homes, Small Homes, Barns, Small Barns, Interior, Exterior, Furniture, Unique & Unusual, For the Good of Others, and People’s Choice. The public was invited to vote online for their favorite projects during the two-month contest to determine the People’s Choice Award winners.

With more than 200 projects entered and tens of thousands of online votes, the 2023 Project Contest was a huge success. “Every year, we continue to be amazed by the creativity and craftsmanship of Wood-Mizer sawmill owners all over the world,” said John Smith, Wood-Mizer CEO. “Congratulations to every sawyer who has accomplished their dream of building a project or business with a Wood-Mizer.”

For the Homes and Major Structures category, Tim Kirk from Montana received 1st place for his 5,000+ square foot multi-purpose workshop. "I needed additional shop and garage space and I love log and timber structures. Over 400 timber members were sawn on my Wood-Mizer LT40 Super Hydraulic sawmill," said Tim.

Blake Loree from Texas received 1st place in the Small Homes and Cabins category for his Windsor Chair studio, equipped with a loft and living space. "I used a Wood-Mizer LT40 sawmill along with an EG200 edger to mill over 20,000 board feet of premium southern yellow pine for this building. Both of these pieces of equipment cut beautifully and saved an enormous amount of money versus buying lumber already cut," said Blake.

Sebastian Lombardo’s “Hideaway Farm Barn” was an astonishing 7,500 square foot project, earning him 1st place in the Large Barns and Garages category. “I enjoy my Wood-Mizer LT35 Hydraulic sawmill as I love to cut wood. With the hydraulic controls and a 12’ bed extension, I can run the mill by myself and cut huge logs. I used the mill for the barn project and cut hundreds of logs, the logs that I milled came from developed land of new home construction sites. These logs are typically chipped up and used in a power plant, firewood, or for mulch. I put them to better use,” said Sebastian.

“I purchased my first mill last year, an LT15WIDE with auto feed and the trailer package. All the features and functionality have been great. Even for the hobbyist, I can’t imagine milling all this wood without the auto feed, well worth the money,” said 1st place winner in the Small Barns and Sheds category, Doug Palladino from Oregon.

The cedar table and bench set were created by Grant Boiser from Florida, 1st place winner in the Furniture category. “All of the wood used for this project was cut using my LT40 sawmill. I cut the logs, resawed the boards, cut the stumps to height, and then cut the benches to their final height once assembled,” said Grant.

Saving more than $10,000 on his farmhouse renovation, Cory Hill from Pennsylvania took home 1st place in the Interior Projects category. “I used my Wood-Mizer LT40 Super Hydraulic to cut the wood for this project. The Wood-Mizer allowed me to cut the wood to my desired specs for making the flooring, trim, and paneling,” said Cory.

Wood-Mizer LT40 portable sawmill owner Hugo Chartier from British Columbia was awarded 1st place in the Exterior Projects category for his round house project. "It is a 30-foot diameter round platform with reciprocal log gazebo in the middle of an old growth forest. This place is out of this world! I had my wedding in the structure,” said Hugo.

“It started as a conversation on a first date. It ended with a unique yoga studio and a marriage proposal. We built a timber framed 192-square-foot yoga studio from locally sourced standing dead timber. All of the trees for the project came from a local forestry project 25 minutes away. All of the timbers as well as the floors were burnt and brushed for looks and function. Jillayne learned to operate the LT15 sawmill completely on her own. She also learned how to cut joinery and raise a timber frame. I learned a lot more about yoga,” said Parker Dunbar from Colorado and 1st place winner in the For the Good of Others category.

The Trinity Knot Chapel by Wood-Mizer LT40 portable sawmill owner Jon Scott from New York, won 1st place in the Unique and Unusual category. “The Trinity Knot Chapel wouldn't exist were it not for the Wood-Mizer. I milled the lumber for my friends and farm owners Bill Miskimen and his wife, Amy Finnegan. The structure incorporates exposed cherry post-and-beam construction, plus antique glass windows reclaimed from the Tiffany Estate in Greenwich, CT and a brass bell, cast in 1820 in Troy, NY and obtained from a bell restorer in Michigan,” said Jon.

Receiving more than 1,000 public votes online for his outdoor shower project, John McKay from Pennsylvania won 1st place in the People’s Choice category. “For years I would take my lumber to a nearby mill to be sawn for my building projects. With grown children, I had the expendable income to buy a mill. I wish I'd done it twenty years sooner,” said John.

All projects from the 2023 contest are showcased in the Wood-Mizer Project Gallery online at project.woodmizer.ca.

2023 My Wood-Mizer Project Contest Winners

About Wood-Mizer

Since 1982, Wood-Mizer has earned the reputation as a global-leading sawmill and woodworking equipment manufacturer with a strong legacy from its innovative sawmilling products. From Forest to Final Form®, Wood-Mizer offers an extensive line of equipment including portable and industrial sawmills, resaws, board edgers, wood kilns, planer/moulders, firewood processing equipment, pallet recycling equipment, material handling equipment, sawmill blades, and blade maintenance equipment. For more than 40 years, Wood-Mizer remains committed to serving sawmilling and woodworking hobbyists and professionals all over the world throughout an established and growing distribution network. Visit woodmizer.com for more information.

METAIRIE, LA – Connecting. Exploring. Discovering. That was the agenda for the 37^th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO from August 23-25, 2023, at the Music City Center in Nashville, and early feedback shows exhibitors and attendees alike were able to successfully check off all three items on that agenda. 

After six shows in Atlanta dating back to 2011, the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), which hosts the biennial event, moved the show with exhibitors and attendees applauding the new host city and venue.

EXPO 2023 exhibit space actually sold out three different times before SFPA had to close booth sales because all available space was claimed. The 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 move to Nashville exceeded all expectations," said 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.” 

Since 1950, Forest Products EXPO has provided a place for both hardwood and softwood sawmillers to gather, celebrate new technology, network, and learn about the industry’s latest machinery and equipment.

The three-day tradeshow provided attendees with solutions for nearly every stage of manufacturing. From raw material handling to crane operations; metal detection and scanning technologies; log optimization, drying, grading, sorting, packaging, and distribution.

Onsite Activities

SFPA announced the 2022 John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards during the Sawmill & Safety Awards Breakfast on Thursday, August 24. This is the second year in a row there are seven mills receiving 2022 Sawmill Safety Awards with zero incidents among them. Click here to learn more about the 2022 recipients.

New this year included a welcome reception and The Lumber Yard, which expanded EXPO’s networking center with an outdoor-live feel that included wood picnic tables and activities.

Attendees also had the option to attend Productivity & Efficiency: A Conference by Timber Processing co-located at the Forest Products EXPO on Thursday, August 24.

“With nearly one-third of U.S. Forested Land, Southern States produce more than $100 billion in forest products,” said Alaina Hanson CPA, SFPA’s director of administration. “Nashville was the perfect choice because it’s within easy driving distance for both Southern Pine sawmills and hardwood sawmills. The surrounding areas, including the Eastern U.S. hardwood community, represent 42% of all lumber manufactured in the United States.”

Stay tuned to SFPAexpo.com for future host city and dates to be announced in the coming weeks. Booth sales for the 38^th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO are scheduled to open in June 2024, while registration is scheduled to open in March 2025.

EXPO 2023 By the Numbers

These are preliminary numbers. SFPA will announce final numbers in the coming weeks after a thorough audit.

• Attendees
  • 1,342 registered 
  • 1,228 confirmed 
  • 91.5% attendance rate
• Exhibitors
  • 217 exhibiting companies
  • 1,017 exhibitor personnel
  • 58,337 square feet of displays
• International Component
  • 319 international attendees
  • 21 countries represented
• Attendee Demographics (pre-audit)
  • Key Category
    • 71% - Manufacturing/Processing
    • 15% - Non-Exhibiting: Equipment Manufacturing/Dealer/Distributor
    • 13% - Forestry/Logging/Harvesting
    • 1% - Academia/Student
  • Job Title
    • 32% - Company Officer/Owner
    • 21% - Marketing/Sales
    • 15% - Engineering/Operations
    • 10% - General manager
    • 7% - Purchasing/Maintenance
    • 6% - Production manager
    • 5% - Superintendent/Foreman
    • 2% - Research and development
    • 2% - Student
    • 1% - Professor
    • 1% - Safety team leader