LIGNA 2021, which was originally scheduled for May 10 to 14, has been postponed to the fall and will now run Sep. 27 to Oct. 1.
Following intensive reflections and discussions, and in view of the current developments in the global incidence of infections in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deutsche Messe and the German association VDMA have jointly decided to postpone LIGNA until the fall.
"Due to the ongoing pandemic, increasing restrictions and the renewed lockdown, there is great uncertainty in the market. We take this very seriously," says Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Deutsche Messe managing board member.
"The decision to postpone LIGNA was a very difficult one for us, but it is the only consistent measure to give all those involved planning security and the necessary lead time for preparations.
“At LIGNA, we have to take into account that entire machine parks are designed, assembled and presented in live operation with a long lead time and at great expense. This requires trade show planning that takes many months. This can only be achieved in conjunction with a sufficient number of international decision-makers on the visitor side.
“To ensure that LIGNA, the world's leading trade show for the sector, can live up to this expectation, suppliers and users alike must be given sufficient planning security for participation - and this is significantly higher for September and October than for May 2021".
As co-organizer of LIGNA, the VDMA (German Woodworking Machinery Association) also sees the postponement of the event as the only effective means of successfully staging the world's most important trade show for the international wood industry in the interests of all participants.
"The postponement of LIGNA is absolutely necessary. It is the world's most important platform for our companies and the customers of the woodworking and processing industry," says Dr. Bernhard Dirr, managing director of the VDMA.
"The industry needs this marketplace. With LIGNA in September 2021, we want to send out a signal of new impetus and investment in the global marketplace".
