The world’s largest woodworking technology exhibition – the biennial Ligna in Hannover – is celebrating a special occasion.

This year will be its 21st edition. The exhibition (which runs from May 11-15) has now been the leading technology showcase for timber and forestry industries for more than four decades.

As someone who has already been to this show seven times, the words that come to mind are big, huge, all-encompassing…. the list of superlatives goes on.

This point was re-emphasised by Ligna organisers Deutsche Messe and the VDMA (German Engineering Association) at a press conference in London recently attended by TTJ and sister-title WBPI.

Ingo Bette, marketing manager of the VDMA’s Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers division, described Ligna as in a class of its own among woodworking technology exhibitions, being as large as the next five biggest shows put together.

And these, Xylexpo, IWF, Wood Processing Machinery & Intermob (Istanbul), WMF (Beijing) and Fimma (Brazil) are by no means smallfry.

So, whether you are a sawmiller, timber merchant, joinery manufacturer or cabinet furniture producer, you can rest assured that there will be every conceivable bit of kit on display.

The show statistics are impressive. About 90,000 visitors are expected during the five days, with 1,500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries displaying products over 120,000m2 of stand space.

Around two million business contacts will be made during the course of the show.

More than a third of visitors – 32,000 people – will come from outside Germany, with the average visit time being 2.6 days.

"This shows Ligna is the most international event when it comes to visitors," said Christian Pfeiffer, Ligna director.

He said this year’s show would be similar in attendance, exhibitor numbers and size as two years ago. "All the main players will be present again," he said.

"What makes Ligna so special is the fact that anyone can see any size or range of machine, from entry-level to the highest degrees of automated technology."

The UK is now the 8th biggest export market for German woodworking machinery, worth an estimated €71.5m in 2014, a 46% growth on 2013 and representing a 28% share of all woodworking technology exports to the country.

UK an investment hotspot
The VDMA estimates total global exports of woodworking technology to the UK at €215m in 2014, a 24% year-on-year increase.

"The UK was one of the investment hotspots in 2014 and will also be in 2015," said the VDMA’s Dominik Wolfschuetz.

"This is the case from sawmilling to lumber processing to furniture manufacturing."

UK sawmilling machinery manufacturer Stenner is a big supporter of Ligna and will display its own equipment, while also supporting international brands it distributes.

One of its partners Primultini will highlight its recent takeover of the Bongioanni company from the Pezzolato group. The main display will be a tilted Bongioanni CRL carriage, tilted Primultini 1600/SIH headrig and WSF three knife canter displayed as a complete line in Primultini colours.

CNC machining
Mega-trends being discussed at Ligna will include processing of mixed materials – composites, plastics and light alloys as well as wood. Manufacturers are receiving increased requests to be able to supply and process these in the joinery, cabinet-making, caravan and boatbuilding industries.

Timber construction will also be a focus area at Ligna, with organisers expecting to see the build method gaining further traction in the coming years.

The latest generation of machinery for producing timber frame and engineered timber structures are characterised by substantial improvements in productivity, economy and handling, with CNC technology changing the face of the sector.

Fully automated trimming machines are progressively replacing manual timber frame production techniques.

CNC technology for joinery and cabinetmaking firms will be on display in Halls 11, 12, 14 and 15, ranging from entry-level CNC options to series production.

For the panels sector, the hub will be Hall 27, divided between panel/veneer processing technology and sawmilling machinery.

"In the panels sector, all the large market players will be present," said Mr Pfeiffer.

"And we’re looking forward to a special focus on sustainable, efficient solutions."

One special exhibit for downstream panel processing will be a 100m-long demonstration panel production line, processing raw board into components for office furniture and kitchen manufacturing.

A joint IMA and Homag project, this will be designed to produce 1,000 parts per shift. "You won’t see demonstrations of this size at any other show," said Mr Pfeiffer. "We’re very proud of it."

Hall 16 & 17 will feature industrial surface treatment technology, described by Mr Pfeiffer as a "very vibrant, very fast-moving" sector. "We are highlighting this in the furniture industry as a special focus."

He also said a lot of exhibitors are starting to come on board with the Industrie 4.0 concept, which represents the next level of data integration between software, machines and people.

"Companies would like to adopt these steps because it’s the way to stay in business in Europe and other parts of the world."

Mr Pfeiffer said the main industry players were looking at making their large machinery completely integrated, with presentations being made on this subject by exhibitors. "It will feature some unique stuff," he hinted.

This "mega-trend" of integrated production will also feature its own guided tour at Ligna, as well as be the focus for a series of talks in the on-site Robotation Academy.

Economic drivers
Ingo Bette, marketing manager of the woodworking division of the VDMA, painted a picture of a restored German woodworking technology sector following the uncertain years of the worldwide financial crisis.

"The recession left quite a footprint in German woodworking machinery, but business has picked up and we are quite proud how the industry has performed since 2011," he said. "It is more stable." In fact, the VDMA is predicting a 5% increase in sales for the sector for 2014 and a 3% rise in 2015.

"South America is currently disappointing, with Brazil not doing very well at the moment. But Asia has picked up considerably since 2012 and the US has been doing extremely well for the last four years."

Mr Bette said Russia is dropping in importance because of the Ukraine crisis and the associated economic sanctions.

"Of course, this will effect business in Russia and we will see very few projects there at the moment because of the situation with the ruble.

"And there is no real market in the Ukraine at the moment."

By contrast, he said, the UK has shown "vivid growth" for some years."

Primary panel processing is thought to represent 20-25% of the German woodworking machinery industry turnover because of its high-value nature.

"We see more opportunities than risks at the moment. We expect a strong Ligna and strong demand despite some risks."

Mr Bette said the weak euro is also currently helping European woodworking machinery manufacturers "immensely".

However, he said all export markets had become more volatile in nature in recent years, which is likely to remain the case.

"The good news is that customers are investing in hi-tech machinery, even in traditionally low-tech places like India. Industrie 4.0 is a big topic there too."

And another major new development at the 21st Ligna will be the premiere of the Wood Industry Summit, comprising an exhibition area, matchmaking platform and a dialogue forum.

It targets exhibitors from international companies and economic regions that provide large-scale forestry machinery and other primary wood processing technologies.

Discussions will cover the entire wood chain from harvesting, processing and manufacture into products.