Changes made as IWF returns

The International Woodworking Fair, cancelled in 2020 by the pandemic, returns Aug. 23-26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

“IWF 2022 will continue its long-running role as the epicenter of U.S. woodworking industry innovation this August with a trade show and conference unmatched in scale, product resources and networking opportunities,” says Andreas Muehlbauer, executive vice president of Stiles Machinery and IWF 2022 chairman.

“Our mission to sustain and expand customer engagement, reach new customer sectors, enhance product depth and breadth and build momentum for IWF’s first opening day since 2018 continues to produce positive results. Attendees and exhibitors from across the U.S. and around the world have come to depend on IWF as a top global trading exchange. That is exactly what we intend to deliver in Atlanta starting August 23.”

IWF 2022 will have new show hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. There will be new digital exhibitor/product sourcing and locational tools for attendees; and a networking event for all attendees is in the works.

The IWF’s signature event, the Challengers Award Competition, will include entries from the cancelled show in 2020.

IWF 2022 will also feature 50 finalists from the Design Emphasis student competition. Winners will be announced on opening day.

“This on-site announcement is a first in the Design Emphasis competition history,” the IWF explained in a statement. “Student participants can meet the Design Emphasis judges and network with attendees from major furniture manufacturers immediately after the awards presentation.”

The show’s Education Sessions will have a new track, called Exhibitor EDU, featuring relevant exhibitor presentations on the show floor.

Register at iwfatlanta.com. 

This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue.