The 2019 Home Furnishings Manufacturers Solutions Expo: Bigger, Better…and Closer Too!

HICKORY, NC -- With an all-star roster of suppliers set to exhibit this year, the 2019 Home Furnishings Manufacturers Solution Expo is set to be an even better choice for furniture and home furnishings manufacturing companies looking for suppliers, equipment, and technology solutions.

This year’s Expo also has the extra advantage of being located in the heart of the furniture manufacturing region, in Hickory, NC. The two-day show gets started on Wednesday, July 17 at the Hickory Convention Center. Many of the exhibiting companies will be showcasing new product debuts being shown for the first time. 

Overall, on hand will be the latest products, services, machinery and technologies for the home furnishings manufacturing industry, along with a two-day educational program developed by the top leaders in the industry discussing regulatory environmental policy, the latest innovations and more.

The list of exhibitors continues to grow as more companies sign on but already confirmed to show are such companies as Leggett & Platt, Lectra, Gemini CAD Systems, Crest Leather and GSG. Many will be debuting new equipment and technologies specifically designed for the furniture and home furnishings market.

“Lectra will be showcasing the first ever Digital Cutting Room 4.0  for furniture on demand for made-to-order and made-to-custom,” said Heather Corrigan, North American furniture marketing manager. “This new solution allows manufacturers to automate and optimize the entire cutting process from customer order to the cutting room with ERP integration, material and process management and cutting room intelligence.”

For Gemini CAD Systems, the HFMSE Expo marks “the world-premiere of the first automatic leather nesting solution based on GPU technology,” said Mihai Mocanu, project manager for Thagora. “This technology significantly increases the leather consumption efficiency in the leather cutting process, a critical element for the competitiveness of a furniture company.”

For Crest Leather, the introductions will, ironically, be in other materials. “We will be featuring a new aniline collection available in rich, deep hues, with a buttery hand feel,” said Carla Bluitt, business development manager. “But we will really be highlighting what sets us apart from other suppliers: customer service, quick deliveries and the fact that we have over 100 SKUs ready to ship from our Greensboro warehouse.”

For many of the exhibitors, the chance to promote their products and services to American manufacturers makes the show essential. “We think that there are many opportunities for our customers to grow in the U.S.,” said Paul Block, president of sales for GSG. “Certainly, as labor continues to be difficult to find and train globally, the automation that we are able to offer our customers will help them succeed to grow in the U.S.”

For Leggett & Platt, the location of the Expo is critical. “The show is in our backyard with our facilities in Conover and High Point, so it made perfect sense for us to show and support our regional customers,” said Richard Weeks, vice president of sales. L&P will be showing various seating products as well as mechanisms that accommodate high leg furniture styles, he said. “We will also be showing our furniture construction fabrics, decking and webbing products.”

As momentum continues to build for the EXPO, attendees can pre-register now with an early bird special that offers free admission to the show floor as well as all educational events. Just use the special code “WSA” at the website, http://www.hfmse.com.