Over 105,000 square meters of exhibition space and more than 1,100 exhibitors: Ligna 2023 (May 15-19- 2023) celebrates its return to presence with a comprehensive overview of the woodworking and processing industry. Despite the tense global political situation, the positive booking status confirms Ligna's status as the world's leading trade fair. Global players and renowned companies from all over the world come together to present tools, machinery and equipment as well as smart solutions and new technologies. In addition to companies from Germany, companies from Italy, Austria, Turkey, Spain, China, Sweden, Slovenia, Denmark and the Netherlands make up the largest exhibitor share in terms of area. The world's leading trade fair was even able to expand its exhibitor portfolio: More than 180 first-time exhibitors want to benefit from the opportunities for business initiation and networking this year.
"Ligna offers a unique overview of the entire value chain of the woodworking and processing industry. It is the international showcase for innovations and the stage for world firsts. A great wave of euphoria has been reaching us from the community ever since planning began. The industry is looking forward to the face-to-face experience in Hannover," said Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Messe AG, highlighting the importance of the event at the Ligna.Preview media preview on February 16 in Hannover. "At Ligna 2023, visitors will meet exhibitors from 44 countries. This is where trends are set and discussed that shape the industry and point the way to the future."
Ligna focus topics move the industry
Ligna 2023 will also live up to its role as a trendsetter in its choice of focus topics. The topic of digitalization determines the development of the industry and is a prerequisite for production that is as resource-efficient as it is flexible. Under the title "Transformation of Woodworking", it is also receiving a great deal of attention at Ligna. Exhibitors will show how far the networking of machines, tools, components and materials has already gone and present innovations in the fields of robotics, automation and software. The buzzwords Smart or Connected Factory, Industry 4.0 or Internet of Things and IoT platforms will continue to become tangible at Ligna with concrete examples.
On the way to an economy based on renewable resources, wood as the most important renewable raw material forms a central basis. The wood-based bioeconomy is considered an innovative technology driver. The framework conditions for expanding resource-efficient wood use are part of the European Green Deal and pillars of a circular bioeconomy. A development that will rightly be in focus at Ligna 2023. On display will be development lines of the wood-based bioeconomy and technological innovations for the responsible use of natural resources, as well as process technologies for shaping chemically digested wood fibers.
Wood is also steadily gaining importance as a recyclable building material in the construction industry. The share of total construction volume accounted for by pure wood buildings and mixed wood structures is growing steadily both nationally and globally. LIGNA reflects this industry trend in the focus topic "Prefabrication Processes in Timber Construction": Because the increasing importance of timber construction also results in new requirements for technology and equipment. At Ligna.Preview, Bernd Oswald (GROPYUS) and Professor Achim Menges (University of Stuttgart) therefore spoke on this topic. Conclusion: The construction industry needs a technology boost in order to produce in a contemporary and efficient manner - in prefabrication as well as on the construction site. At Ligna, interested parties can discover suitable solutions and approaches that will determine the future of timber construction.
On site and digital
The focus topics also run as a common thread through the additional formats at Ligna:
The Ligna.Stage presents the live audience in Hall 12 with a varied forum program of solution- and user-oriented presentations and panel discussions along the Ligna focus topics as well as recruiting and sustainability. For those who cannot be present on site, the various program items will also be available on the Ligna website as a stream live and on demand.
Visitors can also look forward to the Guided Tours again - this year in a hybrid format. The tours offer a tailored overview of various topics. In groups of up to 25 participants, interested parties will be guided to selected exhibitors and receive exclusive presentations and live demonstrations directly at the stand. Like the Ligna.Stage program, the Hybrid Guided Tours are available live and on-demand in streaming in English and German on the Ligna website.
"By streaming our additional formats, we want to make Ligna and relevant industry developments accessible to those who can't be there on site," said Stephanie Wagner, Ligna project manager. "Independent of location and time, we can thus extend the radiance of Ligna far beyond the event period."
In addition, a networking service is available to all event participants. The prerequisite for access here is the Ligna ticket. After registering, visitors and exhibitors can activate the service via the Ligna website and then receive contact suggestions and the opportunity to arrange appointments.
In view of the shortage of skilled workers and concerns about young talent, Ligna also offers an overview of research, education and career opportunities in the woodworking and wood processing industry. The Ligna.Campus provides information on education and training courses offered by universities, technical colleges and technical schools. Teaching also presents current research projects.
At Ligna.Recruiting, potential employers meet interested skilled personnel. Companies - whether exhibitors or visitors - can post attractive job offers via a digital job wall. At Ligna, this offer can not only be viewed and accessed digitally at the recruiting area, but is supplemented by the on-site opportunity for personal matchmaking between human resources and interested parties and by company pitches from participating companies.
In addition to a VDMA lounge, the Ligna.Future Square powered by VDMA will present start-ups with lean solutions and new ideas. (OM-3/23)
Main focus of the Ligna 2023
Ligna covers the entire value chain of the woodworking and wood processing industry and presents itself in a total of seven product areas:
- Tools, machines and systems for individual and series production (Halls 11-15, 27)
- Surface technology (Halls 16,17)
- Wood-based materials production (Hall 26)
- Sawmill technology (Hall 25)
- Energy from wood (Halls 25, 26, open-air site)
- Machine components and automation technology (Hall 16)
- Machinery and equipment for forestry, roundwood and sawnwood production (open-air site, P32-35)
Ligna 2023 hall plan103 KB
Hall plan of Ligna 2023: Surface technology can be found in Halls 16 and 17
Contact
Deutsche Messe
Exhibition Center
30521 Hanover (Germany)
Tel.: -49 (0)511 89-0
E-mail: info@messe.de
www.messe.de
About the Ligna
The world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry is jointly organized by Deutsche Messe and VDMA Woodworking Machinery. It showcases the complete range of products and services for the primary and secondary industries: tools, machinery and equipment for individual and series production, surface technology, wood-based materials production, sawmill technology, energy from wood, machine components and automation technology, as well as machinery and equipment for forestry, log and sawn timber production.