IWF Partners Agree on Buyout
By Mike Botta May 24, 2012 – The Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA) and the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) have agreed to buy out the ownership interest in the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) that is...more »
Xylexpo 2012: Woodworkers Heading for Milan
By Mike Botta Final preparations are under way for woodworking’s big Xylexpo 2012 show taking place May 8 to 12, 2012 in Milan, Italy. ...more »
Building Pros See Business Improving
By Mike Botta March 22, 2012 – As recent news reports indicate that consumer confidence is on the rise, building industry professionals say they are seeing an increase in revenue....more »
U.S. Challenges China to Play by the Rules
By Mike Botta...more »
Awards Competition Includes Furniture Design
By Mike Botta February 9, 2012 – A New York-based online design service is inviting furniture designers, students and others to enter its second annual awards competition....more »
Affinity Tool Acquires HTC and Portamate
By Mike Botta January 26, 2012 — Affinity Tool Works, Troy, MI, has acquired tool and accessory manufacturer HTC Products Inc. and its Portamate business unit. The deal was effective January 14, 2012....more »
Knock on Wood for a 2012 Rebound
By Mike Botta January 12, 2012 – As we enter 2012, it’s looking a lot like 2011, 2010, 2009 and, dare we say, 2008. It’s tough to tell these days whether the news is good or bad. One day the word is that auto sales are healthy and...more »
Cabinet Makers Anticipate Growth in 2012
By Mike Botta December 22, 2011 – The nation’s cabinet makers and custom woodworkers are bullish on growth prospects for 2012, according to initial results of a survey conducted by the Milwaukee-based Cabinet Makers Association (CMA). ...more »
Wood Products Up Despite Economic Turmoil
By Mike Botta December 8, 2011 – While the deep financial troubles in Europe deepen and the fragile U.S. economy seems to be barely limping along, recent reports indicate some encouraging trends....more »
Cabinet Makers Looking for Industry Pros to Help Develop Curriculum
By Mike Botta The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) is looking for industry experts, including experienced shop owners and managers, to help develop the curriculum for CMA’s certification education curriculum. ...more »
Manufacturers: Canada Has Leg Up on U.S.
By Mike Botta Canada and the U.S. might be inseparably joined from the neck down, but not so much at the head when it comes to corporate taxes. ...more »
Group Introduces Woodworking Reports on Russia/CIS
Dublin, Ireland – International analytical firm Research and Markets has added "Timber & Woodworking in Russia/CIS" to its list of available research reports and data collections....more »
Manufacturing Jobs Are Key to Balancing U.S. Budget
By Mike Botta Drew Greenblatt is passionate about manufacturing and he’s hell bent on waking up America to the fact that manufacturing is, in his words, intrinsic to saving America. “You’re not going to save America by turning out...more »
Report: Manufacturing Outlook Brightens
By Mike Botta Most U.S. industrial manufacturers anticipate positive revenue growth for their companies over the next 12 months, according to issued July 28 by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). ...more »
Sourcing Overseas May Be Huge Mistake
By Mike Botta Is China the manufacturing miracle that countless global corporations believe it is, or have many of the same international giants simply been guilty of practicing “herd mentality”? Perhaps surprisingly, there’s a...more »
Report Card: Indiana ‘A’, New Mexico ‘F’
By Mike Botta Only five states received “A” grades for manufacturing and health while four others were slapped with “F’s” in a new report card released this month by Ball State University. ...more »
Study Urges Exporting States to Shun Woodworking
By Mike Botta A new study suggests that exporting states need to become more flexible in dealing with their international trading partners because products sought 10 years ago may not be the same products they want now. And, wood products are...more »
Harvard Study Gets Thumbs Up by Woodworking Group
By Mike Botta Tuscola, IL – The head of WoodLINKS USA, the non-profit national program designed to aid the nation’s wood manufacturing industry, recently applauded a report by Harvard University calling for high schools to improve their...more »
OSHA to Define New Dust Standards
Edited by Mike Botta The Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) wants to make industrial and wood products companies aware of pending new regulations concerning the safe handling of combustible dust. Federal regulators are drawing up new...more »
How to Fix Manufacturing, Let’s Count the Ways
By Mike Botta The more one watches Congress in action, the more one understands why it is so difficult to quickly move forward even on some of the nation’s more critical issues....more »




