If you’re thinking of investing in new woodworking technology, then a trip to Hannover from May 6-10 is a good bet.

Every two years the Deutsche Messe exhibition ground becomes a magnet for the latest developments in machinery across the entire value chain – from forest harvesting right through to joiners shop/craftsman, while materials and wood-based construction will also be strongly represented.

The show, which has an overarching theme of "Making more out of wood: Innovations – Solutions – Efficiency" will feature 1,700 exhibitors and is expected to attract 90,000 visitors.

The Handwerk, Holz & mehr is Ligna’s fairwithin- a-fair for solutions for the skilled woodworking trades, involving 300 exhibitors over 22,000m2 of space, while forest machinery will be showcased outside under the dramatic Expo engineered timber roof.

A key theme this year is window manufacturing, backed up by a group pavilion of the German ProHolzfenster wood window association.

Other themes include surface finishing, lightweight materials and resource efficiency and energy saving. Ligna is also billed as the world’s leading fair for bioenergy from wood, with exhibits in two halls.

The UK is the 10th top visitor nation at Ligna and about 13 UK companies have signed up to exhibit, including Stenner, JJ Smith, Teknek and Stakapal.

Total exhibition space will be similar to the last event in 2011, even though only 10 halls (2011: 12 halls) will be open. This is because Deutsche Messe decided it was better to have every hall filled, rather than some with empty corners, as was the case two years ago. Ligna 2013 will also see the launch of Ligna TV, featuring "talk shows", newsflashes and a 400m2 TV studio staffed by 30 people. Coverage will be edited into a film of the show.

"For the exhibitors, when Ligna is over they will still be present in the market with this Ligna film, " said Ligna spokesperson Anja Brokjans. Visitors also now have the LIGNA2go app for easy navigation of the fair using their mobile telephones.