Wood focus of three-day expo

World leaders of wood processing, manufacturing and new product technologies will converge on Rotorua in September.

The three-day WoodEXPO event on September 11 to 13 is the region's first "business to business" wood industry show.

Rotorua will be the second event in the series, with a similar programme being run for the Australian wood products industry a week earlier.

FIEA director Brent Apthorp said the objective of the expo was to provide local companies with exposure to new technologies that can improve their efficiencies and productive capability.

"By running the two expos over a short two-week period, leading technology providers from Europe, North America and Asia can join in with each of the main equipment and product suppliers from New Zealand and Australia. It ensures local companies are accessing the very latest developments and the international technology providers participating in the event can maximise their time whilst in this part of the world."

As part of WoodEXPO 2013, a one-day Wood Processing Summit is being run.

It's designed to encourage senior managers to "think outside the square" - to look at global technologies that have the potential to provide a "step change" to what we're producing and how we're processing our wood resource.

The summit will be exploring strategies for future growth and, rather than small incremental steps for improving processing efficiencies, it will be exploring the true "game-breakers" that could make a significant difference to local companies' future profitability.

Examples of technologies that have the potential to change the shape and operation of the industry include 3D printing, automation and robotics in manufacturing, CT scanning for log and lumber optimisation, innovative new building and construction systems and a new super wood-based material and nanocrystalline cellulose.

Full details can be found at www.woodexpo2013.com