​Richelieu is thrilled to celebrate 50 years of innovation at KBIS in Las Vegas. Through our years of expertise and industry knowledge, Richelieu has built an extensive range of specialty hardware products for the kitchen and bath industry. Reaching out to the architecture, design and woodworking communities, we are proud to share this milestone achievement with our KBIS family.
 
Visit us at booth #C-9309 to see Richelieu’s latest innovations and learn more about our solutions for creating spectacular interiors and functional furniture. From a stunning line of new decorative hardware to the most impressive kitchen storage and organization solutions, Richelieu responds to market demands for both functional and stylish kitchen and bathroom accessories that you won’t want to miss!

See more information online at Richelieu.com/KBIS2019

Biesse has announced that Randy Jamison has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in North America. He previously held positions in the company as Vice President of Sales for the Wood Division and as Brand Manager for Selco Panel Saws, Biesse America and Canada. His more than 25 years of industry experience and insights into Biesse’s success in North America will greatly assist the company’s Wood, Advanced Materials, Glass and Stone Divisions in their sales, distribution and marketing strategies as they build a cohesive vision and offer customers ongoing technology leadership.
 
Jamison is a forward-thinking industry veteran with a strong background in sales and product management as well as plant design.  He understands the challenges companies have in realizing the potential of Industry 4.0, and the automation innovations that can smooth the way to their future growth, productivity and profitability. “Over the years, I’ve seen Biesse Group’s tremendous dedication to developing automation solutions that are easier for our customer base to justify.” Jamison said. “In my new role, I look forward to further broadening our ability to make access to, and integration of, technology available to all size shops working with all kinds of materials.”
 
“Randy’s well-deserved promotion comes at a particularly exciting time in the history of our subsidiary,” said President/CEO Federico Broccoli. “In 2019 we celebrate 30 years in North America as well as the 50 year Anniversary of the Biesse Group. This milestone, as well as our extraordinary growth, is a reminder of how important it is for our company to keep investing in the development of high level technology, dependable services and extremely qualified resources to enable our customers to reach superior standards. We are moving toward a One Company Concept which will allow our divisions to work cohesively, with common ground in best practices promoting more efficiency and effectiveness to our overall efforts. Randy’s promotion could have not come at a better time.”
 
“Biesse’s primary goal is customer satisfaction and our commitment to the evolution of the markets we are in will be my main focus.”
 
Biesse Group
Biesse Group is a global leader in technology for processing wood, glass, stone, plastic, and metal. It designs, manufactures and distributes machines, integrated systems and software for manufacturers of furniture, door/window frames and components for the construction, ship building and aerospace industries. It invests an average of €14 million per year in R&D, boasting over 200 registered patents. The company operates through 12 industrial sites, 39 branches, and 300 agents and selected dealers, exporting 90% of its production.  Its customers include some of the most prestigious names in Italian and international design. Founded in Pesaro in 1969 by Giancarlo Selci, Biesse SpA has been listed in the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since June 2001, and is currently included in the FTSE IT Mid Cap index. It currently has 4 300 employees in cities throughout the world. www.biesse.com

• 30 new on-trend TFL colors, many are embossed-in-register (EIR)
• 13 premium colors include matching end grain banding
• All products available to quote and purchase online

Atlanta Cabinet Shop, Inc. (ACS) has added Egger brand Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL) to its line of contemporary cabinet fronts. The product line includes both shaker (5-piece) and slab style door and drawer fronts. This adds 30 new Egger TFL selections, including 13 premium colors that offer a matching end grain banding. All products are available for online purchase.
 
Gary Balcom, President of ACS said, “The end grain banding, on the premium level selections is unique. This is an industry first that makes our 5 pc door stand apart from the competition. The new premium materials are also registered and embossed, giving them an unmatched look and feel.  Initial feedback on this product has been very positive and we look forward to getting it into the hands of more customers.”

EGGER is a global leader in decorative surfaces using wood-based materials and has developed a complete range of products and cutting-edge designs. Egger TFL has 18 manufacturing plants worldwide, with production slated to begin in 2020 in their new plant in Lexington, NC. All products are made from renewable resource wood, making them naturally Co2-neutral and environmentally friendly. The new TFL material is compliant with Carb 2 regulations.

ACS, located in the Atlanta GA area, is a premier source for contemporary cabinet fronts. ACS offers an easy online quotation/order entry platform and produces high-quality door and drawer fronts using the latest materials and technology. Their unique approach offers customers a better experience, increases quality and reduces lead times.
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Find out more at AtlantaCabinet.com

​The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is organizing several Accredited Skill Evaluator Training events over the next few months, including sessions during the AWFS Fair this summer in Las Vegas. 
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The course fee covers the half-day training session and materials plus a one-year membership as a WCA EDUcation™. EDUcation members also gain access to the WCA’s online archive of training videos and other valuable materials that they can use to develop or enhance their woodworking training programs.

ASE’s are a vital link of the WCA’s credentialing program. In most school woodworking programs, the ASE is also the instructor. An ASE is responsible for observing a person’s ability to perform a woodworking operation at a high enough caliber to earn tool points to fortify their woodworking credentials.

“The purpose of the training is for them to learn how to evaluate woodworkers using the WCA Skill Standards,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “They learn to test if a student’s or professional woodworker’s performance measures up to accepted industry standards in terms of set up, safety, part quality, etc.”

To date, more than 260 woodworking instructors and professionals have been certified as accredited skill evaluators by the WCA.

Upcoming ASE Training Sessions

April 26: The MiLL National Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO
WCA ASE training is offered as an optional upgrade on the third day of the three-day MiLL Academy event. For more information and to register visit https://themillco.org/academy.

July 17-20: AWFS Fair, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
The WCA will host seven ASE training sessions in its exhibit booth during the AWFS Fair. Morning and afternoon sessions are scheduled for July 17-19. A morning session will also be offered on July 20. Each session is limited to four seats. For more information and to register, contact Scott Nelson, WCA president, at snelsonwca@gmail.com or call 402-610-6043.
To find out how to schedule a WCA ASE Training event at your school or business, contact Scott Nelson at snelsonwca@gmail.com or call 402-610-6043.
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Learn more about the WCA and its credentialing program at www.woodworkcareer.org.

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued more than 2,000 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

The results from our 2018 Benchmark Survey are available to purchase for $39.95.

The CMA, in conjunction with FDMA magazine and Woodworking Network, conducts an annual survey of the woodworking industry in the U.S. and Canada. Designed to establish benchmarks, the survey probes a wide range of subjects such as business outlook, staffing and compensation, shop rates, CNC automation, construction methods, and marketing. On the demographic side, the survey paints a portrait of where shops are located, number of employees, and what kind of work they do.
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The full report from the 2018 survey, which includes all of the questions and answers, is available to purchase for $39.95. If you are interested in learning more about the state of the industry, please visit www.cabinetmakers.org/benchmark-survey.  Also on that page is a link to the survey overview, which was published in the December 2018 issue of FDMC.