GERMANY – Next year, from 27 to 31 May, Ligna will showcase the full spectrum of innovations from providers of woodworking and wood processing technologies.
“The R&D agenda in the surface technology arena is increasingly being set by a growing range of materials, new material mixes and the trend towards individualization. It’s all about achieving greater flexibility while keeping costs to a minimum. Automation and digitization are the most important factors in this context. At the upcoming Ligna, the exhibitors in Halls 16 and 17 and in parts of Hall 15 will present all the latest surface finishing technologies, applications, innovations and solutions,” said Christian Pfeiffer, Deutsche Messe’s Global Director Ligna & Woodworking Events.
In the industrial sector, the trend is towards digital printing and variable systems. When it comes to lacquers and glues, environmental friendliness and resource efficiency are primary considerations. The lines between manufacturers and the skilled trades are becoming increasingly blurred as cabinetmaking and carpentry firms gain access to technologies that have previously been the exclusive preserve of much bigger companies.
Another key factor driving this development is increasing market demand for highly authentic haptic surfaces, on both reconstituted and solid wood products, right across the furniture manufacturing and cabinetmaking sectors. Examples here include bronzed surfaces and rough-sawn finishes – challenges that call for highly specialized machines if they are to be mastered cost-effectively. Hence, in the industrial sector, digital printing solutions are gaining ground on their decorative gravure printing counterparts. In fact, thanks to recent advances, digital printing is now emerging as the more cost-effective alternative: “We believe that digital printing will generally cut production costs by over ten percent,” said Dr. René Pankoke, CEO of Hymmen Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH.
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