Exhibition news

LIGNA with new event dates from 2027 onwards
  • 2023-12-07

       Hannover. From 2027, LIGNA will be setting a new strategic course in terms of dates. It will leave the usual event period over Ascension Day and from 2027 onwards will continue to be held in the odd-numbered years – but detached from the public holiday – in spring in Hanover, Germany. This was a joint decision by the LIGNA organizers, Deutsche Messe AG and VDMA Woodworking Machinery after intensive discussions. LIGNA 2027 will be held in Hanover from Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14, and LIGNA 2029 from Monday, May 14 to Friday, May 18. The date of LIGNA 2025 over Ascension Day from Monday, May 26 to Friday, May 30 remains unchanged.        Stephanie Wagner, Head of LIGNA, Deutsche Messe AG: “The decisive factor for LIGNA’s rescheduling from 2027 is the change in visitor behavior on Ascension Day and the following Friday as a bridge day.” A look at LIGNA's history shows that the trade fair was originally deliberately scheduled for Ascension Day week. The visitor focus on the public holiday was particularly on the skilled trades sector. “The leisure behavior of visitors has changed significantly in recent years. Thursday as a national public holiday and the following Friday as a bridge day are very popular as an extended vacation weekend, particularly by German visitors from the skilled trades sector, but also from the industry. Our visitor analyses clearly confirm this. As the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry, we want to present our exhibiting companies with a high quality and quantity of national and international visitors on all five days of the fair – from all visitor target groups. From our perspective, this will only be possible if LIGNA leaves the Ascension week in future,” explains Wagner.        VDMA Woodworking Machinery considers a new event period for LIGNA from 2027 onwards to be of fundamental importance. Dr. Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director VDMA Woodworking Machinery, Frankfurt am Main: “Efficiency is the key to a successful trade fair these days, and that applies to exhibitors and visitors alike. Time at a trade fair is valuable and needs to be used optimally. This is best achieved when the number of visitors is spread as evenly as possible over all days. This is exactly what the new LIGNA date ensures.” Making even greater use of international visitor synergies with interzum in Cologne        When rescheduling a world-leading trade fair such as LIGNA, many different aspects and complex interrelationships have to be evaluated and taken into account. Especially with regard to the international LIGNA visitors from overseas, the proximity of dates to interzum in Cologne is a factor. The two trade fairs are traditionally held close to each other and together attract international visitors overseas, for example. And it is precisely these visitors who benefit from the proximity of the two thematically complementary trade fairs when planning their travel and visits.        Stephanie Wagner: “We are scheduling LIGNA 2027 before interzum. From 2029, LIGNA will then run parallel to interzum. By taking this step, we will enable all visitors to visit both trade fairs in a balanced and time-efficient manner and thus contribute to the average length of stay of an international visitor at European trade fairs, which according to our analyses is around 2.5 days.” LIGNA dates 2025 to 2029 at a glance: LIGNA 2025: Monday, May 26 to Friday, May 30 in Hanover (unchanged). LIGNA 2027: Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14 in Hanover (new). LIGNA 2029: Monday, May 14 to Friday, May 18 in Hanover (new).   About LIGNA The world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry is jointly organized by Deutsche Messe and VDMA Woodworking Machinery. It showcases the entire range of products and services for the primary and secondary industries – tools, machines and systems for custom and mass production, surface technology, wood-based panel production, sawmill technology, energy from wood, machine components and automation technology, as well as machines and systems for forestry technology.   Source :LIGNA  

CIFM/interzum guangzhou 2024 – “Surpass” as the new motto of the show
  • 2023-11-30

      CIFM/interzum guangzhou is THE premier event for the Asian furniture manufacturing sector and is scheduled to be held from 28th to 31st March 2024 at the Canton Fair Complex. Every year, the event in Guangzhou brings together the world's leading players in wood processing, furniture production and interior design. Surpassing "Surpass" is the motto of this year's exhibition. Companies that want to remain competitive, grow and take a leading position in the dynamic, changing market of the furniture industry must rethink their strategy. They need to rethink old patterns, reposition themselves and overcome boundaries in the process. Great line-up in 2024 CIFM/interzum guangzhou 2024 aims to create a strong global network that covers the entire supply chain. This year's event will feature around 200 prominent global brands. Halls 14.1 and 15.1 are of major significance showcasing outstanding upholstery components and textiles, together with the latest developments in interior decoration, surfaces, power mechanisms, wood, panels and adhesives. Well-known Italian brands such as Diviemme, Furnital, Italiana Ferramenta, Permo, Pessotto Reti, Sige, UNIONPLAST and VIBO, will be exhibiting their entire range of top-quality fittings. A diverse variety of materials representing different global upholstery styles will be showcased in the materials section. Established global brands in the surface materials industry, including Schattdecor, Rehau, impress, Interprint (IP), LamiGraf, Renolit and Munksjö, will offer comprehensive solutions to meet different sourcing requirements. The American Hardwood Export Council and American Softwoods will demonstrate their expertise in the wood industry. SCM, Paolino Bacci, Biesse, HOMAG, Leitz and Freud are among the leading manufacturers of woodworking machinery taking part in CIFM/interzum guangzhou. interzum guangzhou 2024 is strengthening its ties with the European woodworking machinery sector through an exclusive partnership with the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS). EUMABOIS has integrated the exhibition into its international network and will support the next interzum guangzhou in order to create an innovative platform for the woodworking machinery industry, providing evidence-based solutions and turning evidence into action. Awards for excellence        The interzum guangzhou Award has a strong and widely recognized industry standing. Every year, exceptional products are curated by a select panel of judges. Renowned international material and design experts such as Dick Spierenburg, Sascha Peters and Kristina Meyer will be on the panel for the upcoming 2024 edition. The interzum guangzhou Award is poised to set a new benchmark for outstanding companies and products. Visitor pre-registration for interzum guangzhou is now open. Please visit www.interzum-guangzhou.com for more information or to register.

Thailand's wood exports surged first four months of 2023
  • 2023-10-24

       (Bangkok, 24th October 2023) – The value of Thailand’s wood exports achieved a milestone in 2022, totaling 104 billion Thai baht. In the first four months of 2023 alone, export value has already surged to 36.4 billion Thai baht, reflecting a remarkable 5.31% increase compared to the same period last year.        In a recent webinar organized by Thailand International Woodworking & Furniture Exhibition 2024 (TIWF 2024), which was chaired by the Thai Timber Association and Thai Furniture Association respectively, it revealed that Thailand’s number one wood export is rubber wood, with China as one of its key markets. Thailand has over 3.5 million hectares of rubber woodland located largely in the southern part of the country.        Thailand’s wood product exports are divided into 5 segments, namely processed wood, fiberboard, plywood, furniture and other wood products. Processed wood, fiberboard, and plywood accounts for 73% of total exports, while furniture and other wood products accounts for the remaining 27%.        During the webinar, key Thai wood industry players, Ta Chou Industry Co., Ltd and Union Thai Plus Co., Ltd, led discussions on opportunities of Thailand’s wood industry. There is general consensus that Thailand’s wood industry has good growth potentials, due to abundance of raw materials. The industry also highlighted that there are many value added products and materials that Thailand can produce and export using innovations and technology. These include termite- proof wood, fire-resistance wood, application of nano-technology on wooden furniture, scratch resistance coatings, to name a few.        The well attended webinar also discussed the industry’s pain points. These include a lack of competiveness in design, quality and cost due to slow adoption of technology, machinery and automation. It resulted in lack of production standardization, poor productivity, inefficient upstream and downstream processes, high wastage and increased operating costs. The industry is hence calling for the Thai government to support training initiatives to upskill and upgrade productions through the introduction of new technology solutions and machinery automation.        According to Thailand’s 2021 woodworking machinery import statistics, Thailand is the world’s 34th largest importer of woodworking machines, valued at US$70.9 million. Imports are expected to rise as Thailand continues to rely on imports of machinery and technology in order to produce and export better quality wood products.        It is against the above mentioned backdrop, that an event like Thailand International Woodworking & Furniture Exhibition 2024 (TIWF 2024) is staged to provide Thailand and the surrounding South East Asian woodworking industry, with a dedicated face-to-face international forum to meet, discuss, exchange views, gain new knowledge, update on trends, forge new business partnerships and networks, while at the same time address sustainability issues impacting the environment.        Hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, TIWF 2024 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 18th to 20th September 2024, to present the latest machinery, technology, materials and supplies, fittings, hardware and components, and services, serving the wood industry of Thailand and the surrounding South East Asian region.        TIWF 2024 will take up over 5,000 sq. meters of exhibition space at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, with over 150 exhibiting companies, and 4,000 local and international attendees coming from the entire spectrum of the woodworking and furniture supply chain sectors.        One unique highlight of TIWF 2024 is its Hosted Buyers and Business Matching Program designed to identify and invite key buyers from South East Asia to attend. This program presents exhibiting companies with the opportunity to meet directly with key decision makers seeking solutions and answers to improve their production and manufacturing efficiencies.        The importance of TIWF 2024 as a key industry platform for the wood industry of Thailand and South East Asia is underscored by the strong supports that it has received, and is still receiving from many local and international wood industry organisations.        Locally, TIWF 2024 is hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as its Host Organization. The event’s strategic partners include the Thai Forestry Industry Organisation and the Kasetsart University’s Forestry Faculty. In an initiative to uplift the standards of Thailand’s wood industry, especially those located in the provinces, TIWF 2024 is working with its strategic partners to conduct a series of educational and best practice workshops in these provinces, prior to the actual TIWF event.        TIWF 2024 is also supported by related wood industry associations such as the Thai Furniture Association, Thai Timber Association, the Federation of Thai Industries, and Thai Hevea Wood Association, to name a few.        On the international support front, organisations such as Americans Softwoods, American Hardwood Export Council, French Timber, Malaysia Timber Council, Singapore Timber Association, Sabah Timber Industries Association, Wood Technologist Association (India), and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry have all confirmed their supports, and looking to participate in this event.        TIWF 2024 has also received plans for a “Made in Germany” Pavilion supported by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The German Exhibitor Pavilion is subjected to official confirmation, including those of other European Exhibitor Pavilion groups that the organisers will announce soon.        The decision to stage TIWF 2024 is a result of a year-long engagement the organisers have had with many industry stakeholders. The consensus pointed to a need for an event like TIWF to be staged in Thailand, as a key face-to-face regional industry platform to discuss challenges and opportunities of the wood industry of Thailand and South East Asian markets, while at the same time helps to create and enhance business opportunities in these markets.

Floortech Set to Gather Worldwide Industry Players to Meet Increasing Demand in Indonesia’s Flooring and Surface Markets
  • 2023-09-06

       Jakarta, September 2023. Continuing from its successful debut last year, the second edition of International Flooring Technology (Floortech) Indonesia will be held from 20-23 September 2023 at the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran. Featuring leading manufacturers and brands specializing in flooring applications, hundreds of exhibiting companies will showcase their latest innovative products to a wide-ranging audience from industrial, residential and commercial sectors.          Floortech Indonesia provides an exceptional platform for global exhibitors and prospective buyers who are eager to explore the abundant opportunities within the flooring and surface markets. It is an unmissable opportunity to discover cutting-edge products showcasing the latest innovations and technological advancements.        The upcoming Floortech Indonesia is set to surpass previous editions in terms of audience size, as it is a remarkable joint event in conjunction with the highly anticipated 10th edition of IFMAC & WOODMAC 2023.        The co-located events will feature an expanded line-up of exhibitors, providing a broader range of products and services for the larger crowd of visitors and potential buyers to explore. Moreover, it serves as a lucrative hub to delve into Indonesia's robust and untapped building and construction sectors.        Products on exhibit at the event include, among others, raw material processing such as varieties of woods, ceramics, stones, concretes, plastic composites, and others made for flooring applications.        As Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia has a promising market outlook. According to Statista Global Consumer Survey (insert source date), revenue in the country's flooring market will reach USD0.69bn in 2022. The survey also forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.45% for 2022-2027 and a projected market volume of USD 1.42 bn by 2027.        Despite the disruptive impact of the global pandemic on various industries, Indonesia achieved an impressive milestone in the wall and floor tile market, recording USD 12.7 billion in 2021, as reported by Ken Research.        The upcoming Floortech Indonesia exhibition serves as a testament to Indonesia's commitment to showcasing the latest advancements in the sector, providing a platform for industry professionals to explore innovative products and technologies. With a focus on safety and well-being, this event aims to create a conducive environment for exhibitors and visitors to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the continued success of the building and construction industry in Indonesia.        The last edition of Floortech Indonesia successfully connected exhibitors with 11,225 professional visitors. Building on this success, an even larger turnout for the upcoming edition is anticipated, with a projected participation of 15.000 visitors. Floortech 2023 will facilitate fruitful connections, knowledge sharing, and business opportunities within the vibrant atmosphere of the JI Expo show floor.  

IFMAC&WOODMAC 2023 – Driving further success for Indonesia's buoyant furniture manufacturing and woodworking industries
  • 2023-07-18

       Across four days from 20 to 23 September 2023 at the Jakarta International Expo. Indonesia’s largest furniture manufacturing and woodworking trade show, The 10th edition of IFMAC & WOODMAC will offer exclusive business opportunities arising from the country’s strong industry performance. Supported by Deutsche Messe under its portfolio of Woodworking Shows Worldwide, and modelling LIGNA’s brand as the world’s largest woodworking and wood processing tools, equipment and machinery exhibition for the Southeast Asian market, IFMAC and WOODMAC 2023 will be a renewed stage for furniture industry players who are enthusiastic about Indonesia’s prospects in securing more market share in the global furniture industry.          Organised by PT Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur (WAKENI), IFMAC & WOODMAC bears an illustrious track record as Indonesia’s most successful trade show dedicated for the country’s lucrative furniture industry. Delivering an integrated one-stop solutions platform for the country’s and Southeast Asia’s furniture manufacturing and woodworking businesses to source for top quality production needs, the trade show boasts a wide internationality of exhibiting companies.   On-track success with strong exhibitor support        With more than 90% of booth spaces already sold, the presence of international companies alongside homegrown Indonesia companies provides an exciting show floor for trade visitors to discern through a wide exhibit options.  These offerings include machinery, adhesives, coatings, paints, fittings and tools, timber materials as well as their intermediary wood panels, processing, surface treatment solutions, decorative components, foam and upholstery and many other related parts required for furniture manufacturing.          Rini Keim, Director of WAKENI shared that, “local businesses and international market leaders coming together on one stage at IFMAC & WOODMAC highlights Indonesia’s flourishing position as the centre of the global furniture industry development. The trade show exemplifies the push for innovation and technology advancement that Indonesia has been investing strongly to ensure the furniture industry’s growth as a key economic driver for the country.”          IFMAC & WOODMAC this year will see 60% returning exhibitors such as PT Felder Group Indonesia,Eu Nian Precision Technolgy, Alpha Utama Mandiri, Maju Adil Sejahtera, Maris Dwijaya, Selaras Citra Mandiri, China National Forestry Machinery Association (CNFMA), Lunjiao Woodworking Machinery Association, PT Qualitech Indopiranti, PT Ekamant, Cabinet Vision South East Asia, Coral S.P.A, Plytec Oy, Kikukawa Enterprise, inc. , Wood-Mizer LLC , Global Timber, American Hardwood Export Council from Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Germany, Finland, Turkey, Italy, USA, Japan respectively and 40% first-time exhibiting companies from Thailand, Hong Kong, Slovenia, India and others. The good mix of well-know industry brand names and emerging suppliers will provide a wider offering of software applications aiding high-tech production processes, as well as newer range of adhesive, woodworking machinery and other in-demand solutions.   Valuable industry opportunities – premise for successful staging        Indonesia’s furniture manufacturing industries has continue to see positive growth as businesses regain its pre-pandemic operational and sales momentum. One area of growth has been in e-commerce sales of furniture, as more consumers turn to online shopping causing an increase in demand for affordable and high-quality furniture products that can be purchased online and delivered to homes in timely fashion. Many Indonesian furniture manufacturers have responded to this trend by expanding their online sales channels and investing in omnichannel marketing to augment their service delivery.   Another area of growth has been in sustainable and eco-friendly furniture production. The pandemic has increased awareness about environmental issues and led to a greater demand for eco-friendly products. Many Indonesian furniture manufacturers have adopted sustainable production practices, using eco-friendly materials, and promoting their products as environmentally friendly. Overall, the earlier challenges faced Indonesia's furniture manufacturing industry in terms of disrupted supply chains and slowdown in global demand, have also created new opportunities for growth and innovation.          According to Abdul Sobur , Chairman of the Presidium of the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industries Association (HIMKI), “Indonesia’s unique selling points as a global furniture market supplier are rooted in its natural resources, skilled labour, competitive pricing, cultural diversity, and sustainable production practices. Its abundant natural resources with a variety of woods that are highly sought after in the global furniture market for their durability, beauty, and unique characteristics.  With its skilled craftsmen, made-in-Indonesia’s furniture are sought-after for its precision and creative designs, on top of its high-quality and competitively-priced characteristics that can be better manufactured with the latest global technologies.”          Given the awareness on sustainable production, Indonesian furniture manufacturers have placed a strong emphasis on sustainable production practices, including the use of eco-friendly materials and responsible forest management. This has helped to differentiate Indonesia's furniture products in the global market and attract environmentally conscious consumers. Indonesia's furniture market has been growing rapidly, driven by increasing domestic demand and rising exports. Businesses will continue to evaluate the potential demand for their products in the Indonesian market, as well as the potential for exporting to other countries; some of these becoming the motivating reasons for industry players to exhibit at IFMAC & WOODMAC.          The Chairman of Indonesian Sawmill and Wood Working Association (ISWA), H.M Wiradadi Soeprayogo also said, "The Indonesian furniture industry has enormous growth potential, and we are committed to supporting its development through strategic partnerships and collaborations such as with WAKENI in organizing IFMAC WOODMAC. With the introduction of advanced technologies and innovative solutions from global companies, we can enhance the competitiveness of our local furniture businesses, while also creating new opportunities for investment, employment, and economic growth. With the technological injection, Indonesia's furniture manufacturing industry is capable of delivering high-quality, eco-friendly products that meet the evolving needs and preferences of consumers worldwide."          Collaboration with international furniture manufacturers, designers, and suppliers can help Indonesian furniture manufacturers to access new technologies, design trends, and distribution networks, which can support their growth and expansion. In order to facilitate meaningful business exchanges, IFMAC & WOODMAC 2023 will see over 200 exhibiting companies from 16 countries and hosting 12,000 visitors. The machinery-filled show floor will be augmented with several seminars led by industry associations sharing insights on market trends and latest technology developments. Visitor registration is open now to international trade buyers, corporate retail purchasers and everyone involved in the furniture trade. For more information on IFMAC and WOODMAC, kindly visit www.ifmac.net or email project@ifmac.net  

Ligna 2023 Position as the world’s leading trade show further expanded
  • 2023-05-23

       Over its five-day run, from 15 to 19 May, LIGNA 2023, the world’s leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing featured a plethora of innovations, inspiration and networking. 1,300 companies from 50 different countries presented their solutions for the wood industry, the furniture-making industry, the woodworking trades and the primary sector. The focus was on the two megatrends of sustainability and digitization. The response from Germany and all over the world was commensurately high. 80 000 visitors from 160 countries took advantage of the opportunity to inform themselves about smart machines and resource-saving production processes.        The exhibitors from Taiwan are Co-matic, OAV, Gau Jing, Kuang Yung, Leadermac, Extend Light, Innovator, E-Chian, Sherng Yuan, CKM,Hoon Hsiang,TWMA etc.        Anticipation during the run-up to the trade fair was high. Exhibitors and visitors were thrilled to finally be able to assemble again in person after a four-year hiatus and witness first-hand the concentrated innovative power of the woodworking and wood processing industry. “LIGNA 2023 exceeded the high expectations of both our exhibiting companies and our visitors, demonstrating that the machinery, equipment and solutions presented at the show are paving the way for a sustainable and digitized wood, furniture and construction industry,” said Dr. Jochen Köckler, Managing Board Chairman of the Deutsche Messe group of companies. “An impressive 60 percent of visitors came from abroad. LIGNA has further strengthened its position as the world’s leading woodworking tradeshow.” Source:Ligna 2023