Visitor numbers at Ligna this week were up 13% on the previous show, demonstrating new drive and vigour in the wood and forestry industries, organisers said.
Ligna Hannover 2011, which carried high hopes as an indicator of an upswing in the market, attracted 90,000 visitors, up from just under 80,000 in 2009. There was a 26% increase in visitors from abroad, with foreigners accounting for 40% of all visitors.
“This is a truly outstanding figure,” said exhibition director Stephan Kühne.
He added that there had been an excellent response to the keynote topics of lightweight construction, surface finishing and bio-energy from wood.
“The Ligna slogan ‘making more out of wood: innovative, efficient, trendsetting’ proved persuasive for visitors and exhibitors alike. This Ligna has provided added momentum to the upswing in the international wood and forest industries, which are clearly demonstrating new drive and vigour.”
There were 1,765 exhibiting companies from 52 countries, and the number of purchase orders signed was up 30% on 2009.
Weinig spokesman Klaus Müller said: “On the first two days alone we had 10% more foreign visitors at our stand than last time. There was a genuine sense of optimism in the air among businesses and customers alike.”
