FIEA Technology Events Planner 2016

Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) technology events for forestry and wood products companies in Australasia continue to set the
benchmark for the local industry. Record numbers of delegates over the last two years, increased participation from leading technology providers
and companies continuing to link in their own practical workshops and meetings means that the technology events continue to grow and add
value to all those participating. Based on detailed discussions and feedback from the wider forest products industry, technology related events
for 2016 have now been scheduled and are described. Events planned are;

Well over 400 forestry managers, forest owners, harvest planners and harvesting contractors attended
HarvestTECH 2015. In addition to harvesting specialists from throughout New Zealand, equipment
suppliers, researchers, forestry companies and international contractors from Australia, Canada, the US,
Finland, Austria, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa attended the two-day event.
The North American industry, like New Zealand, is increasingly moving to mechanization of their
harvesting operations both to improve safety and productivity on steeper slopes. For the first time in Canada, a Steep Slope Harvesting event is being planned for
Vancouver in early March by FIEA in conjunction with leading New Zealand innovators and the Logging and Sawmilling Journal. A one day event followed by a full day of
site visits to local harvesting operations is planned.

www.steepslopelogging.events

Since the first MobileTECH event ran in 2013, it has has firmly established itself as the major industry
event for showcasing new technologies in this regions primary food and fibre based industries.
MobileTECH focuses on improving communication networks, the use of cloud computing, wireless
monitoring, data management, mobile computing, UAVs, robotics and automation. MobileTECH 2016
will be packed with innovative presentations, demonstrations and panel discussions. Attendees will hear
from, connect with and be inspired by both sides the technology developers and industry users.

www.mobiletech.events
Over 200 wood treatment and timber manufacturing companies participated in FIEAs Wood Innovations
2014 event. The technology series provided an insight into new and emerging wood preservative
formulations, treatment processes, changing timber and treatment standards, international developments
and issues impacting on local operations. Wood plastic composites and modified wood products were
also a key focus. As well as growing imports, they were a commercial reality, were being produced
locally in growing quantities and provided local manufacturers with opportunities for future growth.
Wood Innovations 2016 will provide a timely update on this rapidly growing market. In addition to
preservative wood treatment and modification, the series will also be looking this year at surface coatings, timber durability, engineered wood products and some of the new
technologies being developed to mitigate environmental issues around wood treatment.

www.woodinnovations.events

Over 300 forest managers, harvesting contractors and wood transport companies in the region participated
in FIEAs Wood Flow Logistics 2014 event. With 30-40 percent of delivered log costs being contributed
by transport, local companies were keen on checking out just what innovations had been developed and
how new technologies were being employed to improve efficiencies - from harvest operations through
to the processing plant or port.
An array of new decision support tools being used successfully in Australia, New Zealand, Canada,
Ireland, Brazil and Chile by larger forest products companies were discussed as part of this series. Wood Flow Optimisation 2016 will again provide an independent platform
to review the very latest tools & new innovations that have been developed, adopted and used to improve planning, logistics & operations within the wood supply chain.

www.woodflow.events
ForestTECH 2014, was one of the largest gatherings of inventory and resource foresters seen in this
region. In addition to two conferences, four practical workshops, two each in New Zealand and Australia,
were set up by forestry companies and several of the main technology providers to capitalise on those
attending the technology event.
Remote sensing over the last couple of years has made a significant impact on how foresters are planning
and managing their forest estates. With rapid advances being made in sensors, mobile communications
for real time data capture and analysis and adoption of these new technologies by leading forestry companies, the focus of ForestTECH 2016 will again be on advances being
made in data capture, forest inventory management and remote sensing.

www.foresttech.events

Sponsoring or Exhibiting?

Wanting to Present?

Mark these dates into your diaries. If interested in sponsoring or

being involved with displays at any of these planned events in 2016
(best to book early as these are sold out every year), please contact
FIEAs Sponsorship Manager, Gordon Thomson,
Tel: +64 7 921 1384 or gordon.thomson@fiea.org.nz
Longer term sponsorship and branding opportunities can also be
discussed.

If interested in presenting (your company or a company you

represent in Australia or New Zealand) at any of the 2016 FIEA
events listed, in the first instance please contact FIEA Director,
Brent Apthorp, Tel: +64 3 470 1902 or
brent.apthorp@fiea.org.nz