LIGNA celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The fair was established in the German city of Hannover during the oil crisis of 1975 as the ‘International Trade Fair for Machinery and Equipment for the Woodworking Industry.’ The fair is now ‘The’ major trade show for the furniture, woodworking and forestry industries worldwide.

LIGNA’s origins date back to 1950, when it was the first ‘Woodworking Machinery Group Show’ at the German Industrial Trade Fair in Hanover, at that time covering 2,780 square metres. In 1975 LIGNA, a title derived from the German word for wood, had become so significant that it now stood as a major international event in its own right with exhibition space of 60,000 square metres.

The last Ligna fair held in 2023 was the first after the COVID enforced closures and despite both exhibitors and visitors being understandably cautious, 80,000 visitors attended to see 1,300 exhibitors. This year industry challenges include issues in construction, the shortage of skilled workers, and environmental issues like power supply, the circular economy and recycling, and green manufacturing. Despite these current worldwide challenges, this year’s fair to be held from 26^th to 30^th May promises to be a significant event.

LIGNA 2025 will be one of the most important milestones for the woodworking and wood processing industry on the way to the hoped-for industry turnaround. Three months before the trade show opens its gates in its 50th anniversary year, more than 1,200 exhibitors from all over the world have booked 112,000 square metres of exhibition space, sending a strong signal in a challenging industry situation in politically tense times regarding tariffs and exchange rates.

Truly Unique

LIGNA is a unique trade fair. Throughout its five decades, it has consistently succeeded in bringing together all industry topics under one roof while still providing each with its distinct space. The collective enthusiasm of industry participants for innovation and performance is unparalleled. The shared commitment to shaping technological progress and, in turn, ensuring business growth, stability, and prosperity motivates everyone involved.

“The success of German manufacturers of machines and tools for the wood industry would not have been possible without LIGNA. Becoming a world market leader requires being at the forefront of technology and showcasing this leadership on a global scale. I am not aware of any company in our industry that does not consider the next LIGNA date as the most crucial milestone in its innovation calendar. LIGNA is an inseparable part of our success story,” says Dr. Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director of VDMA.

Truly Historic

Some notable technologies and historic occurrences have happened over the last five decades. These include 1985 when microprocessor-controlled machines and equipment become more prevalent. 1987 and 1989 marked the era of the new electronic generation and the networking of entire operational processes. Individual CNC-controlled machines become interconnectable with each other. In 1991 the first LIGNA after the reunification of Germany (fall of the Berlin wall) was held.

In 1997 the fair was dominated by Batch size 1; the cost-efficient, adaptable serial production of furniture. In 2003 LIGNA faced a challenging situation with an economic downturn, terrorism, and SARS warnings, but by 2007 a construction boom and the global economic upswing started to turn things around but was dashed by the global financial crisis of 2008. 2011 saw the presentation of the first laser and plasma processing machines for edge banding.

In 2015, Industry 4.0 enters the wood processing industry. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything changed. A physical LIGNA was not permitted, and any trade fairs that were organised were digital, so LIGNA launched the LIGNA.Innovation Network. At the last show in 2023 the demand for automation and process-optimizing solutions to offset the impacts of skilled labor shortages was high.

Truly Progressive

This year, LIGNA’s anniversary edition will focus on the circular transformation in woodworking and wood processing, digital networking, and the development of intelligent products. Stephanie Wagner, Project Manager of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe AG said, “The primary goal is to initially build an active community where best practices, potentials, and challenges related to circular value creation can be shared. LIGNA.Circular aims to build much-needed bridges between users, service providers, manufacturers, and craftspeople.”

May last year the world was at the low point of a severe economic downturn, yet 80% of the net stand space based on the total area of LIGNA 2023 had already been booked for LIGNA 2025. As of January 1^st, 105,000 sqm of floor space has already been booked. Stephanie Wagner said, “That our customers are willing to make this investment despite the current economic situation underscores the high significance LIGNA enjoys.”

Dr. Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director of the German VDMA Woodworking Association believes automation solutions for all size classes, and solutions for resource-efficient production will help the industry to return to growth. If you plan on travelling to Germany for Ligna, and the Interzum fair in Cologne, held the week before, you may need to apply for an electronic visa. The new rules come into effect sometime this year, but the date has yet to be announced. The new rules are not likely to affect your Ligna visit this time, but to be sure, visit www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/the-basics/schengen website to find out more.