UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's large forest-products industry will be showcased during the 2015 Forest Products Equipment and Technology Exposition, June 5-6 at Penn State's Ag Progress Days site at Rock Springs.
Known as Timber 2015, the biennial trade exposition is hosted by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. Parking and admission are free.
Organizers expect as many as 90 commercial exhibitors at the event, which is aimed at loggers, sawmill operators, value-added processors and forest landowners.
The event gives owners and employees of forest-products companies a chance to stay current with the latest business trends, production practices, regulations and technology, according to Penn State's Bob Oberheim, Timber 2015 manager.
"Visitors can attend educational sessions, talk with business specialists and interact with commercial exhibitors," he said. "Live demonstrations will allow attendees to evaluate new harvesting and sawmill equipment, and a ride-and-drive area will provide an opportunity to test-drive selected equipment."
The leading hardwood-producing state in the nation, Pennsylvania is home to more than 2,100 forest-product companies and 500,000 forest landowners. The forest-products industry has $11.5 billion in annual sales and generates about $19 billion a year for the state's economy.
"The show gives exhibitors and vendors serving the forest-products industry and emerging biomass markets an opportunity to reach forest-products companies in Pennsylvania and surrounding states," Oberheim said.
Paul Lyskava, Pennsylvania Forest Products Association executive director, noted that the expo will provide attendees with prime opportunities for professional development.
"Technology, regulations and best practices are constantly evolving," he said. "The kinds of continuing-education and business-networking opportunities available at Timber 2015 are critical for success in today's competitive marketplace."
Lyskava said a Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative training course to be held on both days of the show will enable loggers to meet their annual PA SFI continuing education requirements. The course is free to attend, but there will be a $20 administrative fee for those who wish to register for continuing education credit.
The Ag Progress Days site -- at Penn State's Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center -- is centrally located for most of the state's forest-products industry. About 9 miles southwest of State College on state Route 45, the site has both indoor and expansive outdoor space, allowing for exhibitor demonstrations.
On-site and in-the-woods demonstrations will feature a range of forest-product technologies and machinery, including feller bunchers with processing heads, forwarders, log skidders, horizontal grinders and chippers. A ride-and-drive area will allow attendees to test-drive log skidders and forklifts.
A new attraction at this year's event will be the Game of Logging national finals, a competition based on a world-recognized chain saw skills curriculum. The contest, with landowner and professional logger divisions, combines Scandinavian logging techniques with the latest systems for working safely around trees.
In addition, the Pasto Agricultural Museum will present new displays and hands-on exhibits focusing on timber and logging history.
Primary sponsors for Timber 2015 include Forest Products Credit by AgChoice FC, Foster F. Wineland Inc., Metzler Forest Products LLC, Pendu Manufacturing Inc. and Taylor Machine Works Inc.
For information on Timber 2015, including details on exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, call 814-863-2873 or visit the show website.
Twitter users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #PaTimberShow.