U.S. Technology & Demonstration Center
A WMMA Community Project

Five years ago it was just an idea from a very creative Strategic Visioning session. After lots of exploration and analysis, the project was shelved-good concept, bad timing and poor logistics. Less than a year ago that concept was reborn but with a totally different slant. The concept is how to best showcase the ability of U.S. manufacturing companies to apply a systems approach in assembling a complete production line for potential customers. Everyone understood that, for the idea to take flight, the Association had to come up with a very special demonstration to help maintain the economic competitiveness of the wood machinery manufacturing industry in the United States. It would also provide information to enhance business-related skills in the development and manufacturing of wood products. Throughout the process, efforts would be made to recycle all scrap materials, making this a "green" project that produces no waste.

Well, now it is actually happening-The Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) proudly announces the launch of a new Association-supported activity: the U.S. Innovation & Demonstration Center?Xa WMMA Community Project at the IWF-08 during August 20 -23, 2008. This Center will provide WMMA members with the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate machinery, cutting tool, supplies, and systems during IWF 2008 beyond what they are doing within their own booths. Woodworking and non-woodworking professionals alike are encouraged to visit the Center and experience the different WMMA member products in operation through a number of manufacturing cells, each showcasing a different manufacturing process but brought together under systems integration.

Eighteen WMMA member companies are participating in the project, but all members will be featured. This exhibit, consisting of 3,600 sq.ft. (booth #5752 - B Hall of the Georgia World Congress Center), will showcase a total wood machinery system manufactured in the United States. The resulting "total solution" will produce complete sets of kitchen cabinets for donation to the Atlanta Chapter of Habitat for Humanity for their ReStore. One of these sets might be used in the construction of the 1,000th home by Habitat within the Metro Atlanta area.

By now, the participating member companies have made their decisions as to what equipment they are operating in the Demonstration Center. The floor layout of the equipment involved is complete. All participants have signed Letters of Agreement outlining their estimated costs in addition to what they will incur at their own booths. Promotion plans have begun. A grant request covering some of the incurred costs was submitted to the U.S. Forestry Service and is under review.

All of this effort would not be possible without the support of the WMMA Board to fund this novel idea and make the Demonstration Center the best it can be. Nor would the Association be where it is today without the wonderful leadership of Chris Hacker of JLT Clamps and Scott Brandenburg of Unique Machine and the other members of their task force. The Association also owes gratitude to three WMMA committees which have played various roles in building this project from concept to reality: Membership Services, Business Development, and Manufacturing Strategies. Look for more updates as the time gets closer to IWF 2008.