National Hardwood Magazine - April 2017

Since 1950, the Southern

Since 1950, the Southern Forest Products Association, which was originally known as the Southern Pine Association, has conducted EXPO, the premiere event that showcases the newest developments for the wood products industry. Forest Products EXPO Has Rich History New Orleans, LA–It started with a breakfast and has grown into a feast – a banquet of tomorrow’s technology that has grown to international proportions by serving up the latest in forest products machinery and equipment. In a word, it is EXPO. The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), headquartered here, estab- Machinery & Equipment Exposition) to help advance the industry and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas con- A BRIEF HISTORY EXPO traces its roots back more than 65 years, when members of the Southern Pine Association, aka SPA (SFPA’s name until 1970), held a series of meetings to be improved. They determined that it was necessary to bring together machinery manufacturers and lumbermen for an exchange of ideas that would also lead to closer relationships. at SPA’s 1949 Annual Meeting. Equipment was on display and machinery manufacturers were on hand to talk about wide exposition to showcase these products on a regular basis took root. ery Exposition opened at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans. More than million of equipment was on display, and 500 lumbermen attended to inspect the latest technology. at a Southern Pine lumber mill in Warren, AR. Two weeks ing so other lumbermen could study the machinery. Wide- Please turn to page 68 20 APRIL 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

2 3 1 4 “It’s true that SFPA represents Southern Pine manufacturers, but EXPO represents the entire wood products industry. Beyond lumber manufacturing, this show also features equipment and services for the treating, pallet and many other related segments of our industry.” –Eric Gee, Exposition Director, SFPA 1. A crowd of more than 2,200 visitors and exhibitors attended EXPO 2015, held at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. 2. & 3. EXPO provides the opportunity for hands-on inspection of the latest equipment and machinery for the wood products industry. 4. The latest technology from some 200 manufacturers and suppliers is presented over three days at the Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition. APRIL 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 21