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Indianapolis, IN – For well over 120 years, the IHLA’s Annual Convention in early February has been the premier state level association convention! Year after year, the downtown Marriott in Indianapolis is filled with a huge crowd from all segments of the forest products industry and perennially carries an exhibitor waiting list months in advance – even in the midst of the uncertainties for events due to Covid-19! Buoyed by the success of the annual convention, the IHLA is excited to host a second event next year with the first Hoosier Hardwood Expo, August 27th – 29th, 2021 at the conveniently located Marion County Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The EXPO will be a celebration of the region’s logging, forest landowners and manufacturing sectors with business networking opportunities combined with live demonstrations, competitions, entertainment and woodworking. Logging and sawmill equipment will be on display along with a variety of educational sessions for the industry and the public in an enjoyable, laid back atmosphere including crafts, food, live entertainment, beer garden and more. Come experience the unique upbeat “vibe” of an IHLA event! IHLA members are the most passionate, committed and positive body the industry has to offer! For additional information on the Hoosier Hardwood EXPO, contact Liz Mershimer at the IHLA office (317) 288-0008 or by email at [email protected].

Jones Saw Tools introduces its new Model 75SCS Portable Slasher Chain Sharpener to their line of preferred saw sharpening tools. Developed for use in logging, sawmill and firewood processing, this tool is designed to sharpen chains right on the machine and right at the job site. No more running back to the shop when you’re down to your last chain. Eliminates excessive downtime along with wear and tear on machinery from dull chains. The 75SCS Sharpener is a simple, easy to use tool powered by your own cordless or electric drill. Simply chuck your drill to the 3/8” shaft end and you’re ready to go. Sealed ball bearing posts hold the ½” drive shaft that is mounted to a rugged, lightweight aluminum frame. Easy to mount – Easy to use and also sharpens 3/8 and .404 chain. For more information on the new product and all of the quality tools from Jones Saw Tools, call Randy at 812-354-6981.

Portland, OR – Finally a small lumber drying system that is NOT a TOY! The new line of small kilns now available from HDE are perfect for high value custom orders, short runs of special stock, long lengths and the extremely popular and profitable thick stock for mantles and high-end table tops. Available from 2,000 to 12,000 bf, the HQSK comes standard with options and features only found on the industry’s top dry kilns, and never before on a small capacity custom unit. Features like: low maintenance, bolt together, all aluminum construction; a wide range of energy sources including low pressure steam, hot water, dehumidification and indirect gas fired; door designs and loading options to fit YOUR operation and product line including track and forklift loading, wing, lifting or sliding doors and optional hydraulic powered doors; variable speed drives, high efficiency adjustable pitch fans, accurate temperature and humidity control, internet connectivity, plus drying schedules for nearly every species on earth, make the new HQSK a rare breakthrough in kiln drying technology. Plus, when you install a new HQSK from Hildebrand Engineering you get Worldwide Experience and German Engineering that’s BUILT IN AMERICA.

The Woodworking Fair Midwest, a secondary woodworking industry event occurring August 26 through August 28 in southern Indiana, has grown in supplier participation to include more than 15 exhibitors. Commitments from local to multi-national companies demonstrate that getting in front of customers is still important to their businesses. Suppliers to the woodworking industry both big and small will be showcasing their products and services at the show. As of early August, the exhibitor list includes, in alphabetical order: • Cefla Finishing • Dekker Vacuum Technologies • Dubois Equipment Company • Honeyville Metal • IVEC Systems • CasadeiBusellatona • Lamello • Northtech Machine • Nova Dry Kiln • PMK Systems • Pyramid Technical Group • Striebig • TigerStop • Timesavers • RUF Briquetting • Vecoplan • Weinig Holz-Her • Woodtech Machinery Exhibitor applications will be accepted until August 19. The registrations to attend the event have doubled since early July. The show is asking all attendees to officially register on the WFM website, woodworkingfairmidwest.com, to streamline the check-in process upon arrival. Show management is heeding every safety precaution necessary to sanitize the facility and administer thorough health screening upon each person’s arrival before entering the show hall. Dedicated staff will be on-site to regularly clean surfaces, while exhibitors are required to have hand sanitizer in their booths and disinfect their space repeatedly. Face masks may be required if state or local regulations mandate them. The Woodworking Fair Midwest is a friendly, casual event designed for the good of the industry that was formed as a result of IWF 2020 being cancelled. A trade-only event, the focus is on the secondary woodworking market including wood finishing, planing, profiling, cutting, grinding, and sanding, among other technologies. The website, woodworkingfairmidwest.com, allows attendees to register free-of-charge and potential exhibitors to express their interest.

Wood-Mizer introduces the compact and versatile MP160 Jointer Planer as an efficient two-in-one woodworking machine for small workshops. The MP160 joins the Wood-Mizer range of woodworking equipment that includes two-sided planer/moulders, four-sided planer/moulders, and slab flattening machines. Starting at $4,495 USD, the MP160 Jointer Planer efficiently shares one horizontal cutter between two cast iron tables to produce straight-edged boards with the top jointer table and evenly planed boards with the bottom planer table. Switching between jointing and planing is done easily by moving the board from one table to the other without needing to adjust the table or stop the cutter or extractor. When jointing boards on the upper table, an adjustable board fence tilts up to 45° and locks into place for angled boards. When planing boards on the lower table, two power feed rollers move the board under the horizontal cutter at a fixed speed or optional variable speed. MP160 Jointer Planer Features • Starting at $4,495 USD • 2-in-1 jointer and planer combo • Switch between jointing and planing without adjusting the table or stopping the cutter • Jointing capacity: 9" wide • Planing capacity: 16" wide x 9-1/2" high • Adjustable jointer board fence up to 45° • 16 fpm fixed feed or optional 6-39 fpm variable feed for planing • Heavy-duty cast iron tables and sheet steel chassis • 240V 60Hz 1-phase or 3-phase power • Compact 56” x 32” machine footprint “Wood-Mizer is dedicated to providing the best in class equipment for sawmillers and woodworkers throughout the world,” said John Smith, Wood-Mizer CEO. “The MP160 jointer planer is a durable, versatile, and efficient machine that produces the same professional results of a jointer and planer in one compact footprint.” The MP160 Jointer Planer ships on a pallet and requires minimal assembly. Knives and comprehensive sawdust extraction systems are also available from Wood-Mizer. The MP160 Jointer Planer is now available to order worldwide. For more information, visit www.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. 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, woodworking equipment, 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.

Superior, Wisconsin – Barko Hydraulics (Barko) is proud to announce the addition of Ozark Machinery Company (Ozark Machinery) in West Plains, Missouri as the company’s newest dealer. Ozark Machinery has been an experienced logging and sawmill supplier since 1972, offering a wide range of new and used machinery, parts and technical service. Ozark Machinery will sell and support Barko’s full line of forestry equipment for the state of Missouri, with emphasis on Barko’s line of Utility Loaders. “Ozark Machinery has served customers in the forest products industry for almost 50 years – that’s an impressive legacy that Barko is proud to take part in,” said Joel Larsen, Barko President. “Their longstanding history as a high-quality sales and support provider is a great opportunity for us and an honor for Barko to be a part of.” Ozark Machinery is backed by a strong team who have years of experience in the forestry industry. Their large inventory includes popular built-to-last brands to ensure they offer their customers high-quality solutions to get the job done right. “For almost 50 years, we’ve worked hard to provide our customers with the highest quality products specifically built to meet their needs,” said Jeff Barber, owner and president of Ozark Machinery. “We’re proud to move forward with Barko as they have been a key player in the industry for many years.” About Barko Hydraulics Barko Hydraulics, LLC (Barko) is a trusted developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative heavy equipment solutions for the forestry, site prep and material handling industries. Based in Superior, Wisconsin, Barko is focused, responsive and committed to delivering products designed to help operators become more successful, comfortable and safe. Built tough and built to last since 1963, Barko’s lineup includes knuckleboom loaders, grapples, harvesters, feller bunchers, processors, industrial wheeled tractors and more. For more information, visit www.barko.com. Barko is an affiliate of The Heico Companies, a family owned business and parent holding company for a diverse portfolio of manufacturing, construction and industrial services businesses. About Ozark Machinery Company Ozark Machinery Company (Ozark Machinery) was founded in 1972 and has strived to provide the finest selection of logging and sawmill machinery and supplies available. Centrally located in West Plains, Missouri, Ozark Machinery’s highly experienced team services customers complete needs for new and used machinery, parts and technical support. In addition to offering sales and product support for Barko forestry equipment, they are also a distributor for Cummins, HMC, Mellott Manufacturing, Multitek, and Simonds International. For more information, visit www.ozarkmachinery.net.

After much deliberation, the Paul Bunyan Show Committee and the Ohio Forestry Association Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Paul Bunyan Show. The safety of our exhibitors, attendees, staff and volunteers are our top concern, and we do not feel we can put on a show of this nature and adhere to the COVID-19 safety measures put in place by the state and local health departments. Our goal has always been to put on a successful show for our exhibitors and an entertaining show for our attendees. With the uncertainty about the number of people that might be allowed to attend and what events we would be able to hold, we cannot in good faith ask our exhibitors to take the financial risk that would be involved in attempting to have a show this year. We look forward to returning October 1-3, 2021.

BORDEN, IN – A small band of equipment suppliers in the secondary woodworking market have banded together to create their own tradeshow. Called the Woodworking Fair Midwest, the open house-style event will occur August 26-28, 2020 in Borden, Indiana. The initiative started with cancellation of the IWF 2020 (International Woodworking Fair). Two suppliers who have a working relationship, Northtech Machine, LLC and Vecoplan Midwest, LLC began discussions on how to see numerous customers effectively in light of the IWF’s cancellation. Bill (Miller, COO of Vecoplan Midwest, LLC) and I got to talking about what a bummer it was to miss out on the opportunity to see customers and prospects? explains Brandon Koetter, President of Northtech Machine. ?I had mentioned hosting an open house at my facility, and Bill thought maybe he would do one too since many of our customers are the same. One thing led to another, and we found an empty warehouse that could serve as the venue for us, leading to the opportunity for other suppliers to be part of the event. We figure that more exhibiting companies translates to more attendees for all of us.? Another supplier to the market, JKL Machinery, the North American importer Casadei-Busellato NA, joined in on the brainstorming. The trio formed a steering committee, and after addressing how to manage COVID-19 precautions, the group decided to move forward. Vecoplan’s marketing department was enlisted to help implement the vision to the market. The event has an active website, woodworkingfairmidwest.com, for attendees to register free-of-charge and for potential exhibitors to express their interest. Vecoplan Midwest, LLC is a subsidiary of North Carolina-based Vecoplan, LLC, both of which are part of Vecoplan AG located in Germany. The companies manufacture industrial and mobile shredding systems for size reduction of virtually any material, selling into plastics, wood, recycling, and waste markets. The Vecoplan Midwest office focuses on the wood and biomass business, and sells pelletizing equipment in addition to shredding systems. Northtech Machine, LLC is a supplier of industrial grade machinery to predominantly the secondary and primary woodworking market, with other offerings in metal and plastic working machinery. Their equipment includes machines and systems for sawing, planing, dust collecting, profiling and sanding, among others. They are based in the Midwest with coast-to-coast parts and service support. JKL Machinery, Inc. is a supplier and broker of equipment in woodworking, metalworking, plastics and composites, and dust collection. JKL Machinery is the exclusive importer of Casadei-Busellato machines in North America.

We hope this finds you doing well during these unsettling times in our country. Just know that we are all in this together and we will come out of this stronger and better than before. The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association has made the decision to cancel the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo on September 10-12, 2020. This decision did not come easy but for the safety of our attendees, exhibitors, and the residents of Delta County it is for the best. If you are an exhibitor and have already submitted payment for your booth(s) we will be returning that to you within the next week. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will see everyone next year for the 75th Anniversary Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo! Contact Jennie Baker at (715) 282-7979 or [email protected] for more details.

The Virginia Forest Products Association’s Board of Directors met last week/on June 25, 2020 and made the decision to postpone EXPO Richmond until May 2021. The decision was made after the Governor released the details of Phase 3 in Virginia and it became increasingly clear that having an event of our size in 2020 is not going to be feasible. The VFPA Board feels that the rules and regulations when it comes to COVID-19 would adversely affect the EXPO experience and that is not what they want for their exhibitors and attendees. Please remain safe and healthy and we will see you in May 2021!