ISFA, IWF announce expanded partnership

The International Surface Fabricators Association and the International Woodworking Fair announced the formation of a partnership geared toward increasing the focus on the countertop industry for the 2014 IWF show.

The partnership includes an agreement in which the ISFA will work with the IWF to develop a full countertop educational track for the show and a “Countertop Pavilion,” which will be co-sponsored by the ISFA, according to the IWF.

The educational track will include six educational sessions geared toward the countertop industry, as well as continuing the full day Countertop Symposium that the ISFA has put on for the last two IWF expos.

“With so many laminate and solid surface fabricators already attending the International Woodworking Fair it makes sense to expand upon that and open the show up to fabricators of all countertop materials,” IWF 2014 chairman Rick Hannigan said in a statement. “The new educational track will include sessions geared toward laminate, solid surface, quartz surfacing, natural stone, concrete and other countertop materials.”

The new Countertop Pavilion is designed to bring new suppliers of materials, tooling, machinery, equipment and other products and services together in one area of the show for the convenience of those in the countertop industry. As part of the new focus, ISFA associate members who have not previously exhibited at the show will be afforded an exhibitor discount if they exhibit in the pavilion and all ISFA members will get discount admission to the show.

Additionally, the ISFA will have its 2014 annual member meeting at IWF and will also host a networking event for those in the surfacing industry.

“We have worked closely with IWF for the past two shows and expanding upon our established relationship will provide additional benefits for our membership and for the entire surfacing industry,” ISFA president Mike Langenderfer said in a statement. “Educational and networking events are a big part of what ISFA offers and solidifying IWF as an outlet for increasing those programs is another opportunity to bring together the industry and improve the quality of the products fabricators offer.”

IWF 2014 will be held Aug. 20-23 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.