South Boston, VA – The AWFI, formerly known as the American Wood Finishing Institute, is shifting operations from Southern New Jersey to Southern Virginia and expanding to serve a larger section of the coatings industry.

To that end the group has rebranded itself as simply AWFI and will be serving wood, automotive, aerospace, heavy manufacturing, marine, food and construction coating.

In announcing the move of its corporate headquarters and establishment of its new 12,000-square-foot coating lab to South Boston, VA, the group emphasized it is not diminishing its service to wood finishing and will continue its commitment to large and small wood shops.

Greater Resources for Wood

“The new AWFI Lab at Riverstone will allow us to significantly deliver even greater resources to our wood clients with the addition of automated equipment such as the flat-line UV technology and automated sanding,” Kenny Stevenson, AWFI partner, said on the organization’s Web site.  “In addition to automated equipment, AWFI has invested in state-of-the-art hand spray technologies as well as in a scientific color lab.

“The entire facility is atmospherically controlled, allowing companies to train and research in the same conditions experienced in their own facilities,” Stevenson added.

The custom designed facility provides process engineering and industrial coating application training. The $3.5 million facility is equipped with robotics and reciprocating spray equipment.

Advanced features of the new AWFI Lab include a fully programmable hang-line including 3D curing, a reciprocating spray flatline with convection IR and UV curing, a 24 x 10 ft high auto-pressurized cross draft booth, and a powder coat booth.

AWFI’s new address is 1100 Confroy Drive, Suite 2, South Boston, VA 24592; phone is 888-840-2934. www.awfi.org