WoodTECH 2020 goes digital
WORLDWIDE, INDUSTRY EVENTS, TRADE shows and exhibitions planned for 2020 have all been casualties of the COVID-19 virus. Social distancing, tightening of travel and border controls and restrictions on meetings have meant that the WoodTECH 2020 conferences and exhibitions, originally scheduled for mid-late August 2020 in New Zealand and Australia have had to be cancelled.
However, working with presenters, technology providers and sponsor’s, the organisers have instead, been able to set up a new format for drymill and wood manufacturing operations. Short 60-90-minute interactive webinars are going to be run from 13-24 July 2020. Like the original event, the new webinar series will showcase local and international leaders as well as some of the early adopters of new and emerging technologies best suited to local wood manufacturing operations.
“There are a number of key advantages to wood manufacturers still struggling to get back to pre-COVID-19 conditions using this new format,” says Director of the Forest Industry Engineering Association, Brent Apthorp. “Being short sessions, they’ll ensure only a short time for production or operational staff from their work station or business, multiple employees from the same site or operation will be able to be involved and there are significant reductions in attendance costs as there will be no travel, accommodation or two-day conference registration rates involved.
“The other big advantage when speaking to the industry is that timing has been set up to enable Australian, New Zealand and North American wood manufacturing operations to be involved – from their own site, office or home at the same time – and, during their normal working day,” says Mr Apthorp.
The series will include insights into the first large scale operational deployment of robotics being used in mills in New Zealand and Australia, along with an inspirational case study of a mill that’s been able to turn its timber manufacturing business on its head by focussing in on the culture of the business. “We’ve also built in an invaluable troubleshooting session for all timber planing and machining operations,” adds Mr Apthorp.
Full details on the content, presenters involved and registration information of all six interactive webinars can be found on the event website, www.woodtech.events/wt20
NZL