The world’s largest woodworking machinery fair, Ligna, is on course to match the results of two years ago, despite the world economic recession.
Andreas Zuge, Ligna director at exhibition organiser Deutsche Messe, told a London press conference that current exhibitor bookings totalled 850 – ahead of 2007 – with the final figures forecast to reach 1,800 by the time of the May 18-22 event in Hannover.
Net display space booked as of February was 70,500m², just 335m² behind two years ago. Nine UK exhibitors have so far booked.
Mr Zuge described Ligna as “the lighthouse in heavy waters”, using an image of a lighthouse rebuffing fierce waves to illustrate Ligna’s good performance even in uncertain economic times.
“Companies are cancelling their representation at smaller regional shows and are concentrating on Ligna,” he said. “Or they are not intending to build two-storey stands or bring all the machinery they used to in the past.
“They say Ligna is a ‘must-go’”.
Mr Zuge said Ligna had detected a “real concern” from machinery companies about the future due to the recession. “It’s not that people do not want to buy things, it’s just down to the effects of the financial crisis.”
He said timber prices had fallen but emphasised the importance of investing in technology for the future upturn. “I am sure within a couple of years prices of wood will go up and up again. Chinese demand will grow and timber is getting scarcer.”
Hence Ligna 2009’s theme – “Making more out of wood – Technology for resource efficiency”, with highlights on using lightweight honeycomb boards and sawmill yield optimisation technology.
Features include wood energy (industrial), timber frame construction, a national competition for joiners and cabinet makers and even the Belt Sander Racing Championship
For more show details visit www.ligna.de
