44 | Panel Perspectives: IWF Atlanta 2026 Preview
STATESIDE
The biennial International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta takes place in August and provides a gateway to a massive market. Stephen Powney previews this year’s show
Attendees at IWF 2024 Y
ou only have to look at the wood-based panel manufacturers exhibiting at this
year’s International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta this year to know it is a serious show for people interested in panel products.
At least 14 major composite panel producers are exhibiting at the August 25- 28, 2026 exhibition, as well as a number of prominent laminates & surfacing specialists. With many of the leading machinery producers also exhibiting, the halls of the Georgia World Congress Centre will be an international meeting point for stakeholders in the sector.
The US is such a big market and many
companies will feel it is just too important to miss, despite the economic doldrums that has impacted demand for wood-based panels globally.
Established more than 50 years ago, IWF
will play host to a wide range of machinery, materials and tools exhibits spanning the breadth of the woodworking industries – from lumber and panels production, downstream processing, and furniture and joinery manufacture.
Last time around in 2024, almost 26,555 buyer attendees crowded the three IWF exhibition halls, with 1,093 exhibitors spread over 740,982ft2
of exhibition space. The
biennial event is the largest in North America for the woodworking industries and bigger than many international events as well. Newest technologies are presented, while educational seminars, awards ceremonies and social events are held to create a valuable
business networking and enjoyable experience. Among the panel producers exhibiting this year include companies from North America, Germany, Turkey, India and Austria. Companies include Egger, Tafisa Canada, Camsan Entegre, States Industries, Uniboard Canada, Teverpan MDF, Unilin Panels, Decospan, Lamitex, Arauco, AGT, Merino Industries, Ultralam, Greenlam, Kronospan, Weyerhaeuser, Swiss Krono and Georgia-Pacific. On the technology side, companies offering equipment for either primary panels production or secondary processing include: US Metal Works, Mereen-Johnson LLC, IMA Schelling Group, Fagus-GreCon, Cefla, SCM, Siempelkamp, Giardina, Superfici, Barberan, Smartech, Vecoplan, Costa Sanders, Burkle, Argos Solutions, Con-Vey, Biele, Henkel, Kleiberit Adhesives, Anthon, Vits, Sunds Fibertech, Dieffenbacher, and Hymmen. Here’s some feedback from attendees of the 2024 event: 93% of buyer attendees said IWF 2024 show met or exceeded all expectations
87% say IWF delivered high-quality exhibitors important to their business
83% named IWF as North American woodworking’s must-attend show
83% say IWF is their primary source for discovering product innovations.
81% named IWF as their preferred source for new woodworking technologies.
Visitors will arrive at IWF with US furniture
and construction markets in a difficult place. IWF says there is an ongoing slide of furniture and home furnishings sales. For
WBPI | Summer 2026 |
www.wbpionline.com
more than three years, furniture makers and sellers have dealt with the post-pandemic hangover that has resulted in diminished sales as consumers turn their attention to out-of- home spending. More recently, the war in the Middle East has meant dramatically increased costs in anything that is petrochemical based, from the materials used to make furniture to the costs of transporting products via ocean and land vehicles. US Government statistics for February 2026
show that even the traditional bump furniture gets from Presidents Day sales has not been enough to compensate for broader economic conditions as well as bad winter weather. Sales of furniture, according to the US Department of Commerce, fell 5.6% for the month versus a year ago, down to an adjusted estimated US$10.89bn. Through the first two months of 2026, the furniture and home furnishings category has recorded an unadjusted US$19.87bn in sales, off 4.8% from a year ago. But it wasn’t all bad news. The
Government statistics show that sales for building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up 3.8% for the month over February 2025.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME The IWF Education Conference provides woodworking industry professionals with practical learning and development opportunities relevant to contemporary business operations and management. Sessions cover a broad range, with the intention to help people work more
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