Ligna further strengthens its position as the world's leading trade show

At Ligna 2023, the world's leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing, 1,300 companies from 50 countries showcased their solutions for the wood and furniture industry, wood crafts and the primary sector. The focus was on the megatrends of sustainability and digitalization. The response from Germany and all over the world was correspondingly high. 80,000 visitors from 160 countries came to find out about smart machines and resource-saving production processes. The anticipation for the trade fair and the opportunities for personal meetings was great after a four-year break. "Ligna 2023 exceeded the high expectations of exhibiting companies and visitors alike, demonstrating that the machinery, equipment and solutions presented at the show are paving the way for a sustainable and digitized wood, furniture and construction industry," said Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Messe AG. "An impressive 60 percent of visitors came from abroad. This means Ligna has further strengthened its position as the world's leading global trade fair." Smart, networked machines, systems and processes that make costs and production more efficient were therefore particularly popular with the community. There was also strong demand for automation and process-optimizing solutions to cushion the impact of the shortage of skilled workers. The entire spectrum of the value chain was on display, from woodworking machines and systems to tools and work processes, industrial robots and even exoskeletons to support experts from the trades and forestry. The machines on display are often no longer exclusively suitable for processing wood, but also for glass, plastics or composite materials.

A central theme of the trade fair was the importance of wood as a renewable raw material and its role in decarbonization. In the course of this, wood construction is becoming increasingly important and opens up new market opportunities for mechanical engineering. Exhibitors at Ligna 2023 presented solutions that significantly optimize all process steps in timber construction. In this way, costs can be saved and the use of the precious raw material can also be designed to be as resource-friendly as possible. The flooring sector and the furniture industry are also increasingly turning to wood as their preferred raw material, as sustainability is becoming more and more important to end consumers. For example, innovative adhesives based on renewable raw materials are also helping to reduce CO2 emissions. Ligna 2023 offered visitors a diverse supporting program with conferences, live presentations, special shows and awards ceremonies. At the Ligna.Stage in Hall 12, around 90 speakers presented current market developments and trend topics. The shortage of skilled workers and recruiting were also addressed in a dedicated area, which promoted exchanges between skilled workers and potential employers. The next Ligna will take place from May 26 to 30, 2025.