SASDEA Annual Conference 2026
Don’t miss the South African Saw Doctors Education Association (SASDEA) conference!
Traditionally, the conference has focused on specifying, maintaining, fault-finding, and repairing circular, horizontal, and framesaw blades, tooling, and knives used in sawmills and value-adding plants.
Robert Welsh, SASDEA’s Chairperson, says that to ensure the content remains practical, relevant and aligned with industry needs, we invite you to share:
- Topics you would find most beneficial
- Current operational or technical challenges you are experiencing
- Areas where additional training or skills development may be required
- Emerging technologies or best practices worth exploring
We would you like to include discussion on the quality requirements of modern sawmills in the context of changing technologies and global markets.
Call for speakers and sponsors
If there are specific speakers you would recommend, or if you would be willing to contribute as a guest speaker, please let us know.
Robert is calling for suppliers, researchers, technology manufacturers, timber engineers, and blade maintenance companies to participate in the conference. Time is running out.
If you are interested in sharing your knowledge, please contact Roger at roger@sawspecialist.co.za
Confirmed speakers
- Robert Welsh: Robert is a highly experienced third-generation qualified saw doctor and owner of Saw Specialists.
- Arthur Smal of Umicore: The increasing cost of silver solder and alternative solutions
- Ian Schwartz of Ultramat: Ian is a regular and entertaining speaker at SASDEA. This year, he will critically examine carbide and why it is expensive.
The organisers are waiting for confirmation from additional speakers.
Who should attend
Saw doctors, sawshop workers, production managers, mill managers, furniture manufacturers and woodworkers.
Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre.
When: Thursday 19 March – Friday 20 March 2026.
Cost:
All accommodation and meals are for the delegate or their company’s account. Payment details are on the registration link below. Attendance will be confirmed when payment has been received.
Early arrivals: Wednesday 18 March (dinner and bed): R2,040
Thursday, 19 March Accommodation (bed, breakfast and dinner): R2,040
Thursday Conference fee: R590
Friday, 20 March Half-day conference fee: R540
Please click here to complete the registration form.
Info: Tracey on 0731732593 / traceybeekresourcing@gmail.com
“A mistake in the saw shop has a knock-on effect throughout the value-adding process. Every mistake a saw doctor makes lowers sawmill recovery. It can cause huge financial losses for the sawmill,”
– Fanie Smit, Saw Doctor at Northern Timbers.
Source: SASDEA