AWFI

Spray Booth Construction Complete

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:26:07 +0000

March 28th, 2012
State of the Art Spray Booth Operational at Riverstone Training Center
AWFI Lab at Riverstone gets outfitted with 12′ by 24′ High Tech Spray Booth

Installation of the new spray booth has just been completed. This will be a great asset for AWFI to offer world class training and process engineering at the AWFI Lab at Riverstone. The spray booth was manufactured by Global Finishing Solutions and concept design provided by Industrial Concepts & Technology, of Louisville, KY, C limate Control Inc, and overseen by JE Burton Construction Company of South Boston, VA. Some of the unique features of the Spray Booth include a 140 degree bake cycle, zone finishing (two 12′ by 12′ or complete 12′ by 24′), Weather-ite air make up (30,000 CFM’s with volumatic air flow), a Global Finshing Solutions engineered insight controls, and a touchscreen controlled interface user panel.

____________________________________________________________

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact Kenny Stevenson at (856) 696-8467 or kenny@awfi.org. For online information please visit AWFI.org

June 20-22, 2012 | Industrial Wood Finishing II

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:05:44 +0000

Class Description

Advanced Industrial Wood Finishing II. Are you looking for a finishing foreman? Look to AWFI to provide training for your foreman or for any of your more experienced finishers in this comprehensive learning experience. This seminar covers all the elements of wood finishing to position your employee to oversee your finishing department with confidence.

Participants will learn:

Advanced Process and Procedure Training
In this three-day course, each step of the finishing process will be presented in depth to include the following:

Sanding technologies
Advanced staining and color control
All phases of quality control
Spray operator SOPs
Equipment selection and specifications
Material vendor specifications
Color system matching
Advanced multi-step finishing
Finishing room layout and specifications

Attending this course, along with Industrial Finishing I, will entitle you to receive our distinguished Industrial Wood Finishing Technician certification.

Who Should Attend

Plant supervisors
Finishing foreman
Industrial Finishing I attendees

Course Outline

Day One
Session 1 - Lecture | Overview of Advanced Wood Finishing
Session 2 - Lecture & Demo | Advanced Sanding Technologies
Session 3 - Lecture | Quality Control
Session 4 - Lecture & Hands-on | Advanced Staining and Color Control
Session 5 - Lecture & Hands-on | Color System Matching

Day Two
Session 1 – Lecture | Equipment Selection and Specifications
Session 2 – Lecture & Hands-on | Equipment Repair & Maintenance
Session 3 – Lecture Hands-on | Spray Operator Training Program
Session 4 – Lecture | Finishing Material & Vendor Specifications

Day Three
Session 1 – Lecture & Demo | Finishing Room Layout & Specifications
Session 2 – Hands-on | Multi-step Wood Finishing
Session 3 – Hands-on | Touch-up and Repair
Session 4 – Lecture & Hands-on | Finish Evaluations
Session 5 – Roundtable | Problem Solving and Participant Interaction

Details

When: June 20-22, 2012 (June 18-19: Industrial Wood Finishing I)
Where: AWFI Lab at Riverstone, South Boston, VA 24592
Who: Open to all. No pre-requisites required.
Cost: Only $1,495 | Price includes all course-related materials and a complimentary catered-in lunch.

Discounts Available

Discounts available if you sign up for two or more classes.

AWFI Lab at Riverstone Courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Classes fill up quickly, so register today to reserve your seat. Call 856-696-8467 or contact us to sign up today!

Additional Information

Satisfaction Guarantee
Your complete satisfaction is important to us. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, please notify your instructor and return your workshop materials at the end of the class, and we will issue you a refund or arrange for you to attend another AWFI program. It’s that easy!

Financial Policy
All seminars must be 100% prepaid before seminar start date. Payment may be made by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received in writing 30 days before seminar date will be refunded in full, less $100 cancellation fee. Written notification of cancellation 20 days before seminar date will be refunded 50% less a $200 cancellation fee. After 20 days prior to seminar date, entire class fee is due and non-refundable. Seminars may be transferred to another attendee with proper notification two days prior of scheduled seminar. No transfers from one seminar to another seminar will be allowed. Please call if you have any questions regarding this refund policy.

AWFI reserves the right to reschedule seminar dates depending on class enrollment levels.

June 18-19, 2012 | Industrial Wood Finishing I

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:03:56 +0000

Class Description

Industrial Wood Finishing I. This two-day workshop is designed to provide you with the essentials of fine wood finishing and give you valuable hands-on experience in solving your most challenging wood finishing problems.

Participants will learn:

How to choose the Best Finishing Material
You’ve heard of all the types of finishing materials – lacquers, varnishes, and urethanes – you ask yourself what’s the difference and which shall I use for my products? You’ll learn what is ideally suited for your finishing environment, along with what will achieve the highest quality finish possible.

How to Select Finishing Equipment
Have you ever been faced with choosing spray equipment from a multitude of vendors, each saying a different type of equipment best meets your needs? The reality is that each type of equipment (HVLP, Airless, Air-assisted, etc.) is best suited to do specific jobs. You will learn what equipment works best for your particular application. Attendees of this course can expect to reduce costly mistakes in the selection and purchase of finishing equipment.

Process Training
Increase profits in your finishing department by reducing the labor intensity of your processes. This seminar will teach you how to reduce unnecessary processing steps while still maintaining the highest level of product quality. Issues in less than optimal workflow due to the lack of trained labor and the use of inappropriate processes are addressed.

Who Should Attend

Anyone who wants to master multi-step finishing in order to gain a competitive advantage for your finishing operation

Course Outline

Day One
Session 1 - Lecture | Fundamentals of Wood Finishing
Session 2 - Lecture | Enlightenment of Finishing Equipment.
Session 3 - Lecture | Wood Preparation, Sanding Techniques, Sanding Abrasives, and Equipment.
Session 4 - Lecture | Staining and Color Work
Session 5 - Lecture | Sealers and Topcoat Applications
Session 6 - Hands-on | Preparing the Substrate—Sanding, Filing and Inspection
Session 7 – Hands-on | Staining and Color Uniforming the Wood

Day Two
Session 1 – Hands-on | Sealer Applications
Session 2 – Hands-on | Sealer Sanding and Polishing
Session 3 – Hands-on | Topcoat Applications
Session 4 – Hands-on | Touch up and Repair
Session 5 – Hands-on | Material Handling and Packaging
Session 6 – Roundtable | Problem Solving and Participant Interaction

Details

When: June 18-19, 2012 (June 20-22: Industrial Wood Finishing II)
Where: AWFI Lab at Riverstone, South Boston, VA 24592
Who: Open to all. No pre-requisites required.
Cost: Only $1,095 | Price includes all course-related materials and a complimentary catered-in lunch.

Discounts Available

Discounts available if you sign up for two or more classes.

AWFI Lab at Riverstone Courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Classes fill up quickly, so register today to reserve your seat. Call 856-696-8467 or contact us to sign up today!

Additional Information

Financial Policy
All seminars must be 100% prepaid before seminar start date. Payment may be made by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard.

AWFI reserves the right to reschedule seminar dates depending on class enrollment levels.

Upcoming Training Events

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Phase Two of Construction Underway

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:02:16 +0000

February 2nd, 2012
SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
AWFI Lab at Riverstone gets outfitted with Equipment

The second phase of construction is underway in the AWFI Lab at Riverstone. The development of the Lab includes a 20′ by 20′ enclosed spray booth for both hand spay and robotic coatings application, as well as automated and manual sanding equipment. Phase one of the project has completed, during which the required infrastructure has been implemented as well as the installation of a flat line UV coating system. AWFI Director of Business Development, Kenny Stevenson mentions, “The additional equipment is crucial to the center for allowing AWFI to offer training and process engineering projects already in the pipeline. Manufacturers who offer products rarely have access to this type of coatings environment that is needed for their project advancement.”

The lab is being recognized as a one of a kind facility, offering a comprehensive coatings center as well as lab-wide climate control. “We have the ability to replicate temperature and humidity levels for manufacturers across the US, which is vital when working with coatings,” says Stevenson. After the second phase of construction is completed during mid-2012, AWFI can begin to run process applications.

The third and final stage, set to begin late 2012, will include a metal line outfitted with automated robotic painting, electrostatic coating, and additional hand spray applications. The AWFI Lab at Riverstone will also include a 3D curing oven that will be unique here in the US. Kenny Stevenson concludes, “The construction of the center has been going as well as we could expect. We’ve been planning for over two years now and our success is largely due to the local construction contractors’ efforts and abilities on this project.”

____________________________________________________________

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact Kenny Stevenson at (856) 696-8467 or kenny@awfi.org. For online information please visit AWFI.org

Download (.pdf) | View Online

New Look…Same Team…Plus More

admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:16:38 +0000

AWFI Launches New Branding and Website…

Over the last two years, AWFI has gone through numerous changes. To better reflect the industries that AWFI participates in, the American Wood Finishing Institute is now known simply as AWFI. Wood finishing will remain a large portion of the business, but as AWFI expands and adds talent, the organization will service a larger section of the coatings industry.

These industries are broken down into seven different categories.

Wood
Automotive
Aerospace
Heavy Manufacturing
Marine
Food
Construction

AWFI delivers the same level of coatings expertise to these additional industries. A strong commitment to both large and small wood shops will continued to be served with the highest level of professionalism.

The new AWFI Lab at Riverstone will allow us to significantly deliver even greater resources to our wood clients with the addition of automated equipment such as the flat-line UV technology and automated sanding. In addition to automated equipment, AWFI has invested in state of the art hand spray technologies as well as in a scientific color lab. The entire facility is atmospherically controlled, allowing companies to train and research in the same conditions experienced in their own facilities.

We look forward to serving your application needs in the future as we have in the past.

Sincerely,
Kenny Stevenson

AWFI Relocates to South Boston, VA

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:03:48 +0000

AWFI moves to Riverstone Technology Park and opens new AWFI Lab at Riverstone

After more than two years of technology evaluation and partnership building, AWFI has completed the first phase of construction on the Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE) at the Riverstone Technology Park in South Boston, Virginia. The initiative has been a collaborative effort with the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the Riverstone Energy Center, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC), and the Virginia Tobacco Commission. The building infrastructure and lab investment represents over $15 million in investments. AWFI’s corporate offices, including staff, have already relocated to South Boston.

The AWFI Lab at Riverstone will be a game changer for the coatings industry, including state of the art technologies for multiple industries including wood, composites, and metal. Located in close proximity to many large manufacturers and universities, AWFI will be able to service these clients as well as its nationwide client base more effectively, providing them with research and development, process engineering, and training using the most advanced technology available, including automated solutions such as Flatline and robotic technologies.

AWFI’s New Jersey lab will continue to be operational until Phase Two completion sometime in the spring of 2012, at which point all assets will be relocated to South Boston. AWFI will continue to offer all the services performed at the Vineland, NJ facility, as well as expanding its curriculum and technology to better serve the industry.

For more information, please contact us online, or at (888) 840-2934 (tel) | info@awfi.org

April 9-10, 2012 | Industrial Wood Finishing I

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:28:07 +0000

Class Description

Participants will learn:

How to choose the Best Finishing Material
You’ve heard of all the types of finishing materials- lacquers, varnishes, and urethanes-what’s the difference and which shall I use for my products? You’ll learn what is ideally suited for you finishing environment, along with what will achieve the highest quality finish possible.

How to Select Finishing Equipment
Have you ever been faced with choosing spray equipment from a multitude of vendors, each saying a different type of equipment best meets your needs? The reality is that each type of equipment (HVLP, Airless, Air-assisted, etc.) is best suited to do specific jobs. You will learn what equipment works best for your particular application. Attendees of this course can expect to reduce costly mistakes in the selection and purchase of finishing equipment.

Process Training
Increase profits in your finishing department by reducing the labor intensity of your processes. This seminar will teach you how to reduce unnecessary processing steps while still maintaining the highest level of product quality. Issues in less than optimal workflow, due to the lack of trained labor and the use of inappropriate processes are addressed.

Who Should Attend

Anyone who wants to master multi-step finishing in order to gain a competitive advantage for your finishing operation

Course Outline

Day One
Session 1 - Lecture | Fundamentals of Wood Finishing
Session 2 - Lecture | Enlightenment of Finishing Equipment.
Session 3 - Lecture | Wood Preparation, Sanding Techniques, Sanding Abrasives and Equipment.
Session 4 - Lecture | Staining and Color Work
Session 5 - Lecture | Sealers and Topcoat Applications
Session 6 - Hands-on | Preparing the Substrate—Sanding, Filing and Inspection
Session 7 – Hands-on | Staining & Color Uniforming the Wood

Day Two
Session 1 – Hands-on | Sealer Applications
Session 2 – Hands-on | Sealer Sanding and Polishing
Session 3 – Hands-on | Topcoat Applications
Session 4 – Hands-on | Touch up and Repair
Session 5 – Hands-on | Material Handling & Packaging
Session 6 – Roundtable | Problem Solving and Participant Interaction

Details

When: April 9-10, 2012 (April 11-13 will be Industrial Wood Finishing II)
Where: AWFI Lab at Riverstone, South Boston, VA 24592
Who: Open to all. No pre-requisites required.
Cost: Only $1,095 | Price includes all course-related materials and a complimentary catered-in lunch.

Discounts Available

Discounts available if you sign up for two or more classes.

AWFI Lab at Riverstone Courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Classes fill up quickly, so register today to reserve your seat. Call 856-696-8467 or contact us to sign up today!

Additional Information

Financial Policy
All seminars must be 100% prepaid before seminar start date. Payment may be made by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard.

AWFI reserves the right to reschedule seminar dates depending on class enrollment levels.

April 11-13, 2012 | Industrial Wood Finishing II

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:36:35 +0000

Class Description

Advanced Industrial Wood Finishing II. Are you looking for a finishing foreman? Look to the AWFI to provide training for your foreman in this comprehensive learning experience. This seminar covers all the elements of wood finishing to position your employee to oversee your finishing department with confidence.

Participants will learn:

Advanced Process and Procedure Training
In this three-day course, each step of the finishing process will be presented in depth to include the following:

Sanding technologies
Advanced staining and color control
All phases of quality control
Spray operator SOP’s
Equipment selection and specifications
Material vendor specifications
Color system matching
Advanced multi-step finishing
Finishing room layout and specifications

Attending this course, along with Industrial Finishing I, will entitle you to receive our distinguished Industrial Wood Finishing Technician certification.

Who Should Attend

Plant supervisors
Finishing foreman
Industrial Finishing I attendees

Course Outline

Details

When: April 11-13, 2012 (April 9-10 will be Industrial Wood Finishing I)
Where: AWFI Lab at Riverstone, South Boston, VA 24592
Who: Open to all. No pre-requisites required.
Cost: Only $1,495 | Price includes all course-related materials and a complimentary catered-in lunch.

Discounts Available

Discounts available if you sign up for two or more classes.

AWFI Lab at Riverstone Courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Classes fill up quickly, so register today to reserve your seat. Call 856-696-8467 or contact us to sign up today!

Additional Information

Financial Policy
All seminars must be 100% prepaid before seminar start date. Payment may be made by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard.

AWFI reserves the right to reschedule seminar dates depending on class enrollment levels.

June 11 – 12, 2012 | Antiquing & Glazing III

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:41:38 +0000

Class Description

Antiquing, Glazing, and Multi-Step Wood Finishing III. Are you missing out on the high-end market that demands a multi-step finish which you are unable to produce because of the need of training in these advanced finishing processes?

This two day seminar will give you all the tools you need to produce those furniture quality finishes that will set you apart from your competition.

Participants will learn:

How To Choose Special Effects Finishing Materials
Have you ever been given sample materials to duplicate your choice of favorite finishes and experienced the disappointment of being unable to achieve that desired look? You will learn the most reliable processes, and find out the best products to use, in achieving the exact desired results.

Technique Training
Have you been given finishing material and told it will achieve the beautiful finish you cannot wait to produce, but you’ve never been informed of that special technique it required? In this hands-on seminar you will learn step by step, how to produce all those charming new finishes that are so popular in today’s marketplace:
- Antiqued finishes
- Glazed finishes
- Rub-through finishes
- Crackle finishes
- Multi-step finishes

Who Should Attend

Anyone who wants to master multi-step finishing in order to gain a competitive advantage for your finishing operation

Course Outline

Day One
Session 1 - Lecture | Introduction and Overview of Multi-Step Finishing
Session 2 - Lecture | Substrate Preparation and Base Coating
Session 3 - Lecture | Antiquing and Distressing Techniques
Session 4 - Lecture | Glazing and Shading Processes
Session 5 - Hands-on | Preparing and Base Coating Substrate
Session 6 - Hands-on | Distressing and Antiquing Effects

Day Two
Session 1 – Hands-on | Glazing and Toning
Session 2 – Hands-on | Special Effects – Splatter, Rub Through, etc.
Session 3 – Hands-on | Clear Coating Special Finishes
Session 4 – Lecture & Hands-on | Touch-up and Repair
Session 5 – Hands-on | Resolving Finishing Problems
Session 6 – Roundtable | Problem Solving and Participant Interaction

Details

When: June 11-12, 2012 (Color Matching will follow on June 13-15)
Where: AWFI Lab at Riverstone, South Boston, VA 24592
Who: Open to all. No pre-requisites required.
Cost: Only $1,095 | Price includes all course-related materials and a complimentary catered-in lunch.

Discounts Available

Discounts available if you sign up for two or more classes.

AWFI Lab at Riverstone Courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Classes fill up quickly, so register today to reserve your seat. Call 856-696-8467 or contact us to sign up today!

Additional Information

Financial Policy
All seminars must be 100% prepaid before seminar start date. Payment may be made by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard.

AWFI reserves the right to reschedule seminar dates depending on class enrollment levels.