WoodTECH 2018 – Focus on wood manufacturing tech

After an absence of over eight years, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) will this year be focussing the WoodTECH 2018 event on innovations and new technologies around dry-mill and wood manufacturing operations. The previous two WoodTECH events, 2017 and 2015 have both concentrated on sawmill scanning, sawing and green-mill optimisation technologies.

WoodTECH is scheduled for 11-12 September 2018 in Melbourne, Australia and 18-19 September 2018 in Rotoura, New Zealand.

WoodTECH 2017 was a SELL OUT. The WoodTECH 2017 tech series drew in record numbers with over 400 delegates attending the New Zealand and Australian events. Exhibition booths sold out well in advance of the series being run. In fact, it was the largest gathering yet seen of sawmilling companies, saw-doctors and sawing technology providers from around the globe in Australasia. You can check out just what was covered and who was involved in the 2017 series by clicking here. clicking here.

What’s being covered in 2018?

New technologies, new processing systems and case studies to showcase “smart operating practices” in dry-mill and wood manufacturing operations will be profiled at the WoodTECH 2018 series this year. At this stage, we plan on covering;

• Robotics and automation and changes being seen in wood manufacturing
• Advances in wood scanning and board optimisation
• Finger-jointing, cross cutting and ripping
• Timber gluing and laminating
• Timber machining
• Kiln drying
• Timber finishing – planning, moulding and surface coating
• Material handling operations
• Mill maintenance – Changes to timber standards
• H&S, training and skills development

Like the 2017 sawmilling event, short focussed presentations, quick-fire technology updates and a large number of exhibitions will be used to provide a unique platform for local mills and manufacturers to learn. It’s anticipated that practical troubleshooting workshops will also be set up for production and operational staff to hear how they can extract the very best performance out of their own timber manufacturing equipment.

Early details on the September event can be found on the event website, www.woodtech.events. Information for expressions of interest to present at the tech series later in the year ad opportunities for exhibiting will be sent out later.

If wishing to keep updated on developments around the event, you can subscribe to event updates by clicking here.