Ligna 2015, which drew to a close in Hannover on Friday, 15 May, was an outstanding success for all parties concerned, featuring an impressive array of innovative technologies and production scenarios, large-scale machinery and the rapid strides made by Industry 4.0 in the woodworking and wood processing industry. “Exhibitors here presented their latest innovations to a global audience, clearly demonstrating the new, high standards of communication between people, machinery and smart workpieces in the furniture and wood industry,” stated Dr. Jochen Köckler, the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member in charge of Ligna. “Pioneering new technologies are the key to success for joiners and cabinetmakers, putting integrated manufacturing within their reach” Köckler also said the outstanding success of the event cemented its leading status worldwide.
A total of 96,000 visitors attended the fair, including approximately 40,000 from outside Germany.
The top visitor nations were Austria, France, Italy, the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, China and Brazil. The percentage of professionals in attendance rose again, from 94 percent in 2013 to 96 percent this year. Some 1,567 exhibitors showcased their leading-edge solutions, technologies and innovative production equipment on over 120,000 square meters of display space. There was a clear focus on integrated, high-efficiency manufacturing. The new Wood Industry Summit was an instant success, and the new “Surprisingly Versatile” theme also met with keen interest.
Attendance from Asia was up considerably, from 2,800 in 2013 to 4,700 in 2015. An upsurge of 86 percent was noted for the Near and Middle East, and an increase of 62 percent was registered for South, East and Central Asia. The show attracted 2,800 visitors from South and Central America, thus topping the 2013 figure (1,700) by a wide margin
Live demonstrations of furniture production in simulated factory settings were right on target for Ligna visitors, offering them a first-hand glimpse of the benefits of integrated manufacturing. There was also a wealth of information to support attendees in their future purchasing decisions, with exhibitor presentations focusing strongly on the aspects of flexibility and economic efficiency. The new ideas for customized mass production featured at this year’s Ligna will set the agenda in the woodworking and wood processing sector for years to come.
The solid wood working displays featured a wealth of new technologies and efficiency-boosting innovations. Here too, the spotlight was on integrated manufacturing, with exciting new technologies paving the way for substantial cost reductions.
Integrated manufacturing was clearly a hot topic for companies of all shapes and sizes. Ligna also featured displays of innovative solutions for efficient manufacturing processes among joiners and
Large-scale machinery was well represented at the event, particularly in the section of the show dedicated to forestry, where the open-air site provided an ideal backdrop for these modern-day giants. The forestry displays were also more international than eve, a fact underscored by the first-time appearance of various exhibitors from abroad. The sawmill technology displays put the spotlight on increased efficiency and added value. The “Energy from Wood” showcase provided space for concepts and solutions aimed at making optimal use of wood as an energy source. The panel products sector also abounded in innovations, with displays clearly reflecting the growing significance of timber construction. And the skilled trades sector displayed a growing interest in Cnc technologies.
The next Ligna will be staged from 22 to 26 May 2017, once again in Hannover, Germany.
The next Ligna will feature a revamped, more visitor-centric layout of themes. The new structure reflects today’s Ligna visitors’ work situations more accurately. There is no longer a clear demarcation between skilled trade and industrial-scale operations, the choice of machinery is no longer driven by size or scale and the differentiation between solid wood and wood based panels has lost relevance in many cases. The new site layout reflects the commitment of Ligna’s organizers to meeting the changing needs of trade visitors and to making the fair as efficient and productive as possible for visitors and exhibitors alike.
“Ligna is the world’s leading trade fair and innovation marketplace for the forestry and wood industries. Its new layout reflects market developments and brings key future-defining trends into sharper focus. The changes we have made will ensure Ligna’s market leadership well into the future,” said Dr. Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director of the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, at the closing press conference for Ligna 2015.
The most notable change is the consolidation of three display categories revolving around processing technologies: Solid Wood Processing, Furniture Industry and Woodcrafts (skilled woodworking trades). These categories will now be combined into a new display category called “Tools and Machinery for Custom and Mass Production.” The reason for the change is that there is now an increasing overlap between the production technologies used by SMEs in the woodworking sector and those used by industrial-scale operations. From a machinery perspective, there’s no longer a meaningful distinction between these two sectors – not even in Europe, with its long-standing and strong tradition of small craftsmen businesses. And for non-European exhibitors and visitors, the distinction never carried much meaning in the first place. Another reason is that many companies do not focus exclusively on solid wood or wood based panels, which has resulted in a broader range of machinery being offered by machinery manufacturers. Ligna’s new layout will also bring all the related technologies closer together, making it easier for solution-seekers to navigate the show. The main changes are as follows:
– The majority of exhibitors of Solid Wood Processing machines will be located in Hall 27, adjacent to the Sawmill Technology exhibits in Hall 25. The closely related Timber Construction displays will also be right next door – in Hall 13.
– The close proximity between the Surface Technology exhibits in Hall 17 and the Wood-based Panel Production Technology exhibits in Hall 26 will exploit the natural synergies that exist between the two display categories.
– The “Energy from Wood” displays will be moved next door to the Wood-based Panel Production exhibits.
– The Automation Technology exhibits will have their own display category and be given greater prominence in the centrally located Hall 16.
Dr. Jochen Köckler, Deutsche Messe’s Managing Board in charge of Ligna, had this to say about the benefits of the show’s new layout for trade visitors: “Ligna’s new site layout is going to maximize synergies by bringing complementary technologies closer together. Despite the fair’s substantial size, visitors will find it easier and more efficient to navigate than ever before”.
Ligna’s new layout means that nearly all regular exhibitors will be relocated. To allow plenty of time to work with exhibitors on finding the best possible locations for their stands, the fair’s organizers, Deutsche Messe and the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturer’s Association, have significantly extended the timeframe for the space allocation process.
