GERMANY – Ligna’s organizers, Deutsche Messe and the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, are extending the show’s exhibitor early-bird discount period by two months. Early-bird discounts for the show (Hannover, Germany, 10–14 May 2020) now close on July 31, 2020.

“The coronavirus crisis poses major challenges, not least for our exhibitors, as companies serving the woodworking and wood processing industries,” explained Christian Pfeiffer, Deutsche Messe’s Global Director LIGNA and Woodworking Shows. “We would therefore like to support them by giving them a little more time to focus exclusively on the extremely pressing and important task of running their businesses.”

Ligna is held every two years and is the most important wood industry event worldwide. Being a two-yearly event, its exhibitor planning and preparation period is much longer than that of annual events. Exhibitors typically register for Ligna as early as one whole year before the show’s official opening day. This long build-up period gives them the planning certainty and time they need in order to put together what are often very elaborate showcases. For example, the showcases of many market leaders in the wood industry regularly involve live demonstrations of large-scale plant and machinery, and some exhibitors even set up full-fledged production lines. Alongside multi-year contracts, early-bird discounts give Ligna exhibitors another prime way of keeping participation costs down.

“In 2021, as we – hopefully – emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, it will be absolutely crucial to kick-start industrial production, get the economy moving and give businesses a forum where they can advise and inform their customers in face-to-face-meetings,” Pfeiffer said. “And that is where Ligna comes in. We will do everything we can so businesses can effectively use Ligna to promote their products and services to an international audience of prospective buyers.”

Ligna is not only known and valued as the world’s flagship fair for woodworking and wood processing plant, machinery and tools, but also as a seedbed and spotlight for emerging trends, technologies and markets. LIGNA is also one of the most international events of its kind. In 2019, it featured over 1,500 exhibitors from 50 countries and attracted some 90,000 visitors from about 100 countries. More than 40,000 of those visitors travelled to Hannover from outside Germany.

Ligna 2021 will present solutions for every aspect of primary and secondary wood production and processing, grouped into the following display categories: Tools and Machinery for Custom and Mass Production, Surface Technology, Wood Based Panel Production, Sawmill Technology, Energy from Wood, Machine Components and Automation Technology, and Machinery for Forestry, Roundwood and Sawn timber Production. The displays will be supported by a range of special events, including the LIGNA.FORUM, the Wood Industry Summit for the forestry and primary wood industry, the Ligna Training Workshops with their practical guidance and tips for joiners, cabinetmakers and carpenters, and a program of Guided Tours addressing specific themes. The Ligna 2021 focus topics are Woodworking Transformation, Prefab Building Processes and Green Material Processing.