Midwest Tradeshow Created After Cancelled IWF

A small band of equipment suppliers in the secondary woodworking market has banded together to create their own tradeshow. Called the Woodworking Fair Midwest, the open house-style event will occur August 26-28, 2020 in Borden, Indiana.

The initiative started with the cancellation of the IWF 2020 (International Woodworking Fair). Two suppliers who have a working relationship, Northtech Machine, LLC, and Vecoplan Midwest, LLC began discussions on how to see numerous customers effectively in light of the IWF’s cancellation.

‟Bill (Miller, COO of Vecoplan Midwest, LLC) and I got to talking about what a bummer it was to miss out on the opportunity to see customers and prospects‟ explains Brandon Koetter, President of Northtech Machine. ‟I had mentioned hosting an open house at my facility, and Bill thought maybe he would do one too since many of our customers are the same. One thing led to another, and we found an empty warehouse that could serve as the venue for us, leading to the opportunity for other suppliers to be part of the event. We figure that more exhibiting companies translate to more attendees for all of us.‟
Another supplier to the market, JKL Machinery, the North American importer Casadei-Busellato NA, joined in on the brainstorming. The trio formed a steering committee, and after addressing how to manage COVID-19 precautions, the group decided to move forward. Vecoplan’s marketing department was enlisted to help implement the vision to the market.

The event has an active website, woodworkingfairmidwest.com, for attendees to register free-of-charge and for potential exhibitors to express their interest.

Vecoplan Midwest, LLC is a subsidiary of North Carolina-based Vecoplan, LLC, both of which are part of Vecoplan AG located in Germany. The companies manufacture industrial and mobile shredding systems for size reduction of virtually any material, selling into plastics, wood, recycling, and waste markets. The Vecoplan Midwest office focuses on the wood and biomass business and sells pelletizing equipment in addition to shredding systems.

Northtech Machine, LLC is a supplier of industrial-grade machinery to predominantly the secondary and primary woodworking market, with other offerings in metal and plastic working machinery. Their equipment includes machines and systems for sawing, planing, dust collecting, profiling, and sanding, among others. They are based in the Midwest with coast-to-coast parts and service support.

JKL Machinery, Inc. is a supplier and broker of equipment in woodworking, metalworking, plastics and composites, and dust collection. JKL Machinery is the exclusive importer of Casadei-Busellato machines in North America.