LIGNA HANNOVER 2011 was a big success.
With significantly increased international participation, organizers say LIGNA surpassed exhibitors’ and visitors’ already-high expectations.
More than 1,765 companies from 52 nations showcased the latest innovations and the number of overseas visitors increased by 26 per cent from the last event.
More than 90,000 visitors attended the event.
“The LIGNA slogan ‘Making more out of wood: innovative, efficient, trendsetting,’ proved persuasive for visitors and exhibitors alike,” said Stephan Ph. Kühne, member of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe. “This year’s LIGNA has provided added momentum to the upswing in the international wood and forestry industries.”
Kühne said the show’s successful run underscores its reputation as the industry’s No. 1 event. “Exhibitors and visitors regard LIGNA HANNOVER as a hotspot for industry innovations,” he said. “Hannover is the perfect place to generate the kind of business leads that are needed to translate those innovations into sales.”
Dr. Bernhard Dirr, managing director of the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, said LIGNA has demonstrated impressive growth and proven its premium reputation. And as expected, resource-saving technology was a major focal point of the show.
During the five-day event (May 30–June 3), exhibitors showcased tens of thousands of products and services in the more than 130,000 square meters (approx. 1.4 million square feet) of exhibition space in 13 halls and outdoor venues. In addition to Germany, the most-strongly-represented exhibiting nations this year were Italy, Austria, Spain, China (including Taiwan), Switzerland, Denmark, Turkey, Sweden and the Netherlands.
“Innovations are clearly the driving force behind LIGNA,” Kühne said and added that many businesses sync their innovation cycles with LIGNA, and the breakthroughs unveiled here give users exactly what they need.”
LIGNA HANNOVER 2011 attracted 90,000 visitors – an increase of 13 percent over the previous event. And while the fair has always demonstrated great international appeal, this year’s increase in foreign visitors marked an impressive milestone in the event’s history, with some 40 percent of all visitors attending from abroad – a 26 percent jump over foreign attendance in 2009. “That is a truly outstanding figure,” Kühne said. Visitors came from a total of 90 nations, with major increases from Russia, Finland, the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden. Attendance was also up from the U.S. and the Netherlands.
The number of purchase orders signed this year was up 30 percent over 2009 and exhibitors reported "a genuine sense of optimism among businesses and customers alike."
The show’s keynote themes – lightweight construction, surface finishing and bioenergy from wood – were also well received by visitors.
The efficient use of resources is rapidly becoming a top priority for more and more sectors of the industry and Kühne said this trend was duly mirrored by this year’s event.
The next LIGNA HANNOVER will be held May 6-10 in 2013.
