LIGNA enjoying strong exhibitor demand

Hannover, Germany. With LIGNA 2013 still nearly a year away, the show's organizer, Deutsche Messe, is reporting a solid registration count on the back of strong exhibitor demand. LIGNA, the leading trade fair for the forestry and wood industries, next runs from 6 to 10 May 2013, with "Making more out of wood: Innovations, Solutions, Efficiency" as its official motto.

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Dr. Jochen Köckler, the responsible member of Deutsche Messe's Managing Board, remarked: "A pleasingly high number of companies have taken advantage of our early-bird discount and registered before the end of May. So far, around 800 companies have joined us, which is 17 percent more than at the same time in the lead-up to LIGNA 2011. This fantastic response underscores LIGNA's position as the top international exhibition for the wood and forestry industries. LIGNA is the international benchmark for wood-industry tradeshows, known and respected for its global focus and professionalism."

All display areas at LIGNA are dedicated to the latest solutions to the big global challenges and trends of our times, such as sustainable, smart production, resource efficiency and individualization. The "Handwerk, Holz & mehr" section of the show, for example, features new production processes and materials for the skilled woodworking trades. In 2013, LIGNA will also be exploring the issue of energy efficiency as it relates to window systems. Other key themes include wood bioenergy - a regular favorite at the fair. "These display categories capture the essence of what is driving today's wood and forestry industries," Dr. Köckler said. "LIGNA is the leading tradeshow for wood-based bioenergy and will once again highlight real solutions against the backdrop of current market trends and regulatory developments."

One of the highlights of the fair is the "lightweight.network" special presentation, which Deutsche Messe is staging in Hall 17 in association with Germany's Lightweight Construction Association (igeL). The presentation will explore lightweight technology as a driver of innovation in the furniture industry. Lightweight design is not just about conserving wood resources; it also has strong functional and emotional dimensions. For instance, furniture made of lightweight panels in various honeycomb and sandwich arrangements can accommodate functional fittings and items of electrical and electronic equipment, such as lights, iPod docks and the like, while at the same time offering enhanced scope for design. Lightweight design and multifunctionality are also key trends for the people who make furniture. In order to be able to deliver variety without sacrificing efficiency, furniture manufacturers need highly sophisticated, versatile machinery and equipment. They need to keep up with the latest developments in manufacturing and learn how they can benefit from them to deliver creative flair at an affordable price. The latter point is important, because although the market has become more attuned to quality and design, it is still in many cases price-sensitive. As the premier marketplace for furniture industry innovations, LIGNA takes a close-up look at all of these aspects. Next year, its "lightweight.network" exhibition area will feature displays by numerous companies from various stages along the furniture process chain. Some of these exhibitors - such as EGGER, Häfele, Möbel Hunger and Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences - are already providing valuable input into the preparations for the presentation. EGGER will also be showcasing its roadshow truck, which recently won the iF communication design award and the RedDot Design Award. The truck contains numerous displays, including a materials library integrated into a virtual EGGER house in which visitors can navigate through various rooms via an interactive glass table. The display successfully combines real and virtual building design elements and maximizes the truck's limited space to convey a wealth of information.

About LIGNA

LIGNA 2011 featured 1,723 exhibitors, including 867 international companies from 48 countries, and occupied 130,000 square meters (1,399,000 sq. ft) of net display space. It attracted 88,000 visitors, more than one third of whom came from outside Germany, with the total turnout spanning more than 90 nations. LIGNA 2013 will pick up on this momentum, offering a valuable platform for relationship management and new business and providing a truly international showcase of industrial technologies and solutions. LIGNA 2013, which runs from 6 to 10 May next year, is the place to go to experience the latest technical refinements, innovations and emerging trends in the wood and forestry industries.