FORESTRY TRADE SHOW SLATED THIS WEEKEND MAY ATTRACT 7,000

Viking Engineering and Development Inc. will demonstrate the latest technology in the manufacture of pallets this weekend at the parking lot of the Show Me Center.

"We'll be making some stringer pallets and some block pallets," said Gene Sherburne, area representative for the firm headquartered in Fridley, Minn.

Viking, which produces computerized machinery used in the manufacture of pallets, will have one of the largest exhibits at the 1992 Midwest Forest Industry Show at the Show Me Center Friday and Saturday.

"We'll be introducing some new equipment," said Sherburne. "One of the new pieces of machinery is the Viking Champion, which produces pallets."

Many exhibitors for the two-day event will be introducing new and different equipment, said Ken Christgen, executive director of the Missouri Forests Production Association, which sponsors the show.

"We have a total of 113 exhibitors in the show," said Christgen. "Thirty seven of these exhibitors will be located outside the Show Me Center because of their size and activity. Some of the exhibitors will be demonstrating their equipment."

Brewer Inc. of Central City, Ky., will be one of the outside exhibitors, featuring band saws, rip saws and notching machines.

Outside exhibitors from Missouri include Baker Enterprise of Ellington and Ozark Machinery Co. of West Plains, which feature various machines for the pallet industry.

The exposition, which is held every two years, includes exhibits of machinery and equipment used in the making of lumber, wood, paper, and furniture products.

"This show is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S.," said Christgen. "Our exhibitors are well pleased with the Cape Girardeau area as a show site."

The exposition is appearing here for the third time. "We started here in 1988," said Christgen. "The show was previously held at Springfield, Mo., every two years."

As many as 7,500 people are expected. "Our preregistration is well ahead of that of two years ago," said Christgen. "We had more than 6,000 people at the 1990 show."

Christgen and several exhibitors started work at the Show Me Center Monday.

"The exposition will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday," said Christgen. "Although the show is designed for those associated with the forest industry, anyone may attend."

Admission is $5.

"We'll have people from the forestry industry coming in from all over the U.S., Canada, and England. We may have a group from Russia here," said Christgen, adding that the contingent may accompany a group from Texas.

Christgen said that more than $50 million worth of forestry equipment will be on display.

The show will feature about 200 booths inside the Show Me Center and 37 displays on the north parking lot.

"There will be exhibits focusing on burning wood waste for energy, computer-controlled equipment, logging equipment and band-saw operations.

"There is an increasing interest in all-new developments in the forest industry," said Christgen. "Lumber people are always looking for ways to save money, time and timber.

"One of the increasing emphasis is that of using thinner saws," said Christgen. "People are using thinner saws to save timber. When you take a log and cut it into boards, you're going to have a lot of sawdust with regular saws. If you use thinner saws, you'll have less sawdust and more boards."

Visitors will have an opportunity to talk with manufacturers and distributors of machinery and equipment. "They will have a chance to see what is new in tomorrow's technology," said Christgen.

The forestry industry is a $3-billion-a-year business in Missouri, said Christgen. "The industry is diverse," he said. "It ranges from sawmill and pallet operations to individual loggers."

Christgen said the industry in Missouri employs more than 33,000 people and has a payroll of more than $500 million a year.