AWISA 2016 is Australia’s biggest trade show ever of machinery, materials and fittings for the woodworking, stone, aluminium, plastics and glass industries. The event, organised by the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association Ltd, is the largest AWISA show ever and occupies 20,000 m2 of the venue. It has extraordinary support from the major machinery and hardware companies. In this record year, the scale of some of the individual exhibits is the biggest ever. Machinery exhibits do not just cover woodworking but include aluminium, stone, plastics and glass.

AWISA’s website, www.awisa.com, contains information about visiting the show, including links for hotel accommodation and visitor pre-registration. AWISA will be running shuttle buses from Melbourne airport to the venue on show days. Full details are on the website, but visitors only need to walk to one of the domestic baggage claim areas to meet bus company representatives. An exhibitor list and floorplan are already on the website.

The exhibition is the must-see event for everyone in woodworking and associated industries and professions. Shop and office fitters, furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, kitchen manufacturers, joinery manufacturers, architects, designers, builders, and other wood, timber, stone and panel processing industries are encouraged to attend.

The main pedestrian entrance to the venue is in Clarendon Street, opposite Crown Casino, with a second entrance near the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. AWISA 2016 is a trade-only exhibition and admission is free. All visitors are asked to register at the counters in the foyer prior to admission, but it is preferred that they pre-register at www.awisa.com.

In the interest of safety, children over six months of age and under 15 years of age will not be admitted to the exhibition. AWISA prefers that children are not brought to the venue; however, a professionally run children’s hospitality suite is provided, with activities and entertainment to suit the children’s various age groups.

There are over 50 hotels within two kilometres of the venue – in the Southbank and South Wharf area immediately adjacent to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, and in the Melbourne CBD just across the river. Special rates have been negotiated at a number of these hotels. Visitors are recommended to book early as this will give them a greater choice of rooms and hotels. The Lido Group has been appointed to handle visitors’ accommodation and there is a link at www.awisa.com