
Timber Manufacturing, Dry-mill Optimisation and Robotics & Automation
WoodTECH provides a unique independent platform for Australasian companies to evaluate the very latest wood scanning, sawmilling equipment and mill maintenance tools from around the globe
Online Series
Six WebinarsWoodTECH 2020 | Event Summary
COVID-19 changed everyone’s business plans and operations, almost overnight. Worldwide, industry events, trade shows and exhibitions planned for 2020 were impacted by the virus. Social distancing, tightening of travel and border controls and restrictions on meetings had meant that WoodTECH 2020, which was initially scheduled for mid-late August 2020 in New Zealand and Australia, had to be redesigned.
With no in-person event possible, we created an exciting new online format for dry-mill and wood manufacturing operations - running a series of six webinars in July 2020. Like the original event, this series showcased local and international leaders and early adopters of new and emerging technologies best suited for local wood manufacturing operations.
We had a brilliant turnout, with over 250 registering for the WoodTECH 2020.
A key highlight were the presentations from Australia's Hyne Timber and New Zealand's Wood Engineering Technology. These mills had just completed large scale operational deployments of robotics - a first for both countries. There was a lot to take in and the insights gained should go a long way in improving the performance of our sector.
Disruptive technologies continue to be a major theme within the manufacturing industry. While robotics (and cobots) are now more accessible than ever, employees are still essential. Innovations in augmented reality, wearable technologies and the use of exoskeletons for manual tasks around the mill were also hot topics.
To round out the series, we covered the creation of in-mill dashboards for better utilising collected machine data, a troubleshooting workshop for local timber machining and planing operations and an inspirational case study of a mill that has turned their timber manufacturing business on its head by focussing in on the culture of the business - with outstanding results.
Where to from here?
Planning is already well underway for the WoodTECH 2021 series (with a sawing, scanning and saw-doctoring focus), which will run in mid-2021 in both New Zealand and Australia.
At this stage, if interested in presenting or exhibiting at WoodTECH 2021 (in either New Zealand or Australia), please get in touch with us. If planning to exhibit, best to get in early as spaces will go very quickly. Further details will follow shortly.
The New Zealand and Australian wood processing industry, including:
- Wood processing & manufacturing site managers
- Dry-mill & production managers & supervisors
- Technology and R&D Managers
- Timber machining, moulding, finger-jointing, gluing and laminating operators
- Mill and lumber Q.C. personnel
- Mill maintenance staff
- Kiln drying operators
- Local and international equipment, product and service suppliers
- Wood treatment managers

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
WoodTECH 2020 offered a unique opportunity for companies involved in supplying products or services to Australasia’s wood manufacturing companies to be involved in this event. This series regularly sells out.
FIEA has earned a well-deserved reputation over 20 years of providing both event sponsors and exhibitors with a unique independent platform for promoting their products and services to forestry and wood products companies in this region.
For information on planned sponsorship options and benefits for future events, please contact Gordon Thomson, Sponsorship Manager, on (+64) 7 921 1384 or gordon.thomson@fiea.org.nz.

Contact Us
FIEA
Since 1998 the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA), a division of Innovatek Ltd, has run an extensive series of technology related events for Australasian forest products companies. Over 200 conferences, trade shows and exhibitions have been run for local companies.
FIEA’s objective is to improve the performance and productive capability of forestry and wood products companies in the region. It is now recognized as one of the most effective information providers for the Australasian forestry & wood products industries.
FIEA Contact Details
(+64) 7 921 1382
1800 126 398 (from Australia)
- Rotorua Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
Building X91, Sala Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
PO Box 1230,
Rotorua 3040, New Zealand
Ph (+64) 7 921 1382 - Dunedin Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
c/o Distinction Dunedin
Hotel, 6 Liverpool Street,
Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
PO Box 904,
Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Ph (+64) 3 470 1902
WoodTECH provides a unique independent platform for Australasian companies to evaluate the very latest wood scanning, sawmilling equipment and mill maintenance tools from around the globe
Online SeriesSix Webinars
13-24 July 2020
WoodTECH 2020 | Event Summary
COVID-19 changed everyone’s business plans and operations, almost overnight. Worldwide, industry events, trade shows and exhibitions planned for 2020 were impacted by the virus. Social distancing, tightening of travel and border controls and restrictions on meetings had meant that WoodTECH 2020, which was initially scheduled for mid-late August 2020 in New Zealand and Australia, had to be redesigned.
With no in-person event possible, we created an exciting new online format for dry-mill and wood manufacturing operations – running a series of six webinars in July 2020. Like the original event, this series showcased local and international leaders and early adopters of new and emerging technologies best suited for local wood manufacturing operations.
We had a brilliant turnout, with over 250 registering for the WoodTECH 2020.
A key highlight were the presentations from Australia’s Hyne Timber and New Zealand’s Wood Engineering Technology. These mills had just completed large scale operational deployments of robotics – a first for both countries. There was a lot to take in and the insights gained should go a long way in improving the performance of our sector.
Disruptive technologies continue to be a major theme within the manufacturing industry. While robotics (and cobots) are now more accessible than ever, employees are still essential. Innovations in augmented reality, wearable technologies and the use of exoskeletons for manual tasks around the mill were also hot topics.
To round out the series, we covered the creation of in-mill dashboards for better utilising collected machine data, a troubleshooting workshop for local timber machining and planing operations and an inspirational case study of a mill that has turned their timber manufacturing business on its head by focussing in on the culture of the business – with outstanding results.
Where to from here?
Planning is already well underway for the WoodTECH 2021 series (with a sawing, scanning and saw-doctoring focus), which will run in mid-2021 in both New Zealand and Australia.
At this stage, if interested in presenting or exhibiting at WoodTECH 2021 (in either New Zealand or Australia), please get in touch with us. If planning to exhibit, best to get in early as spaces will go very quickly. Further details will follow shortly.
Who Attended?
The New Zealand and Australian wood processing industry, including:
Wood processing & manufacturing site managers
Dry-mill & production managers & supervisors
Technology and R&D Managers
Timber machining, moulding, finger-jointing, gluing and laminating operators
Mill and lumber Q.C. personnel
Mill maintenance staff
Kiln drying operators
Local and international equipment, product and service suppliers
Wood treatment managers
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
WoodTECH 2020 offered a unique opportunity for companies involved in supplying products or services to Australasia’s wood manufacturing companies to be involved in this event. This series regularly sells out.
FIEA has earned a well-deserved reputation over 20 years of providing both event sponsors and exhibitors with a unique independent platform for promoting their products and services to forestry and wood products companies in this region.
For information on planned sponsorship options and benefits for future events, please contact Gordon Thomson, Sponsorship Manager, on (+64) 7 921 1384 or gordon.thomson@fiea.org.nz.
Event Sponsors | 2020
Industry Supporters | 2020
FIEA Partners
Media Partners
Contact Us
FIEA
Since 1998 the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA), a division of Innovatek Ltd, has run an extensive series of technology related events for Australasian forest products companies. Over 200 conferences, trade shows and exhibitions have been run for local companies.
FIEA’s objective is to improve the performance and productive capability of forestry and wood products companies in the region. It is now recognized as one of the most effective information providers for the Australasian forestry & wood products industries.
FIEA Contact Details
(+64) 7 921 1382
1800 126 398 (from Australia)
Rotorua Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
Building X91, Sala Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
PO Box 1230,
Rotorua 3040, New Zealand
Ph (+64) 7 921 1382Dunedin Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
c/o Distinction Dunedin
Hotel, 6 Liverpool Street,
Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
PO Box 904,
Dunedin 9054, New Zealand Ph (+64) 3 470 1902 Forest Industry Engineering Association: A division of Innovatek Ltd
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