National Hardwood Magazine - May 2023

WCMA INSIGHTS
BUSY YEAR AHEAD FOR WCMA
It has been a busy spring, and I have
enjoyed being back on the road attending
several industry events and seeing
members in person. I can always tell
when business is good by the attendance
rate at these events, and it has
been a great spring!
2023 European Plant Tour
Event
The WCMA is excited to once again be hosting our
European Plant Tour event. The WCMA is partnering
with SCM, CMS, Superfici and Friulmac to put together
a truly unique opportunity to visit manufacturing facilities
in Northern Italy. The event is being held June 12-16.
Throughout the week, attendees will get an exclusive
look into state-of-the-art cabinet, furniture, and machinery
manufacturers, giving them an edge in discovering
“what’s next” in the global woodworking industry.
This event also provides an excellent opportunity to
network with your peers. Conversations during the bus
rides, shared meals, and during the debriefing at the end
of each day will allow attendees to build camaraderie
and the learning experience becomes even more valuable.
Below are just a few comments from attendees at previous
European Plant Tour events:
“This was my second trip with the
WCMA group to Europe and it lived up to
our expectations. The combination of the
plant tours, networking with other members,
and just taking the time to see how
other businesses operate was amazing.
This will certainly help me in the future to
make better decisions in our company’s
growth in technology and manufacturing.”
“I found the quality of the plant tours to be excellent.
They offered a diverse view into the European philosophy
of manufacturing by utilizing more automation and
technology, replacing aging equipment quickly, and utilizing
a wide range of wood composite materials. I saw
levels of automation in action that I had often dreamt of
but never believed were being applied in real woodshop
applications. I left my week in Europe inspired and ready
to apply aspects of what I learned in my own business.”
Registration is now open. Maximum number of attendees
for the event is 40 individuals, so visit the website,
www.wcma.com to register today.
2023 Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event
We will also be collaborating on our 2023 Fall Conference
& Plant Tour Event with WMMA for the third year in
Please turn to page 77
BY AMY K. SNELL, CAE,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
WOOD COMPONENT MANUFACTURERS ASSOC.,
LINDSTROM, MN
651-332-6332
WWW.WCMA.COM
20 MAY 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.org