NexGen 2009 a success; repeat event planned for 2010

Company leaders for Biesse America and Stiles Machinery, who collaborated to organize the recent NexGen 2009 event, have agreed to hold another event in February 2010.

From June 8-13, the companies held concurrent open houses at their North Carolina facilities and it proved to be a successful week of interaction between attendees and company employees regarding the use of CNC machinery and other types of woodworking machinery those companies offer.

Stephan Waltman, vice president of sales and marketing for Stiles Machinery, says close to 300 representatives from about 200 woodworking industry companies were in attendance throughout the combined three locations of the event. Attendees came from various locations throughout the U.S. About 50 percent were from the Carolinas, the other 50 percent were from outlying states as far away as the West Coast, says Waltman.

Product demonstrations and machinery exhibits were held at the two manufacturers' North Carolina showrooms - Biesse in Charlotte and Stiles in High Point and Gastonia. Products on display included panel saws, CNC routers, edgebanders, finishing machinery, molders and sanders.

A meeting on NexGen 2010 is scheduled for this month. Waltman speculates there will be at least 10 to 12 similar machinery companies from the North Carolina region that will join the event next year.

For information, visit www.nexgenevent.com.