September 6, 2023 By Paul Smith
It has been one year since I have had real face-to-face activity with my peers and colleagues and I must admit, I have missed it! Getting out in Nashville, Tennessee, at the 37th Forest Products Machinery and Equipment Exposition, was encouraging both on a personal level but even more so on a professional one.
Held from August 23 to 26, this year’s expo seemed to focus on the succession plan of our industry and especially my trade, saw filing. It was invigorating to talk to other professionals and take in the discussions regarding machine knowledge, automation, artificial intelligence, and my personal favorite, apprenticeship programs. Almost every conversation touched on one or a combination of these topics. From the largest players to the smallest, innovation and technology were on display! Visually, the show was a success. The location and venue were new to our group and a welcome change to most exhibitors and attendees. Being in a smaller venue made for a close, personal experience with the foot traffic through the 217 exhibiting booths and over 1,200 attendees, as reported by the Southern Forest Products Association.
It appeared that most vendors were actually able to spend quality time with their visitors and customers. Of course, it has potential for growth and hopefully the positive feedback shared back at home will create even more interest and an increase in attendees moving forward.
I think Nashville’s southern charm, good food and nightlife will bring us back again!
From left: Ken Lloyd (Peerless), Paul Smith (SSS-BID), Fred Oleson (York Saw & Knife), John Gammelgaard (Weyerhaeuser).
From left: Paul Smith, Jack Hebert and Stephen Kenny showing off one of Vollmer’s newest machines: the CHX 840.
From left: Jack Hebert, Stephen Kinney, Dustin Norris, Paul Smith, and Josh Thomas from Smith Sawmill Service – BID, who enjoyed meeting customers, both at the show and in the streets of Nashville.
Filing Solutions’ Franklin Goforth (left) and Paul Smith discussing how valuable the SLMA Saw Filer Apprenticeship Program is for the industry.
Instructional facilitators for Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association’s Saw Filer Apprenticeship Program. (L-R) Jeremy Symonds, Xavier Garibay, Paolo Morales, and the author Paul Smith.
The Nashville show hosted 217 exhibitors and over 1,200 attendees.
Paul Smith is a saw filing consultant and founder of Smith Sawmill Service, now part of BID Group. You can reach him at paul.smith@bidgroup.ca.
