Photos: Woodworking
Dr. Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the managing board, Deutsche Messe AG, welcomed exhibitors and journalists to the preview event.
The countdown to LIGNA 2025 has officially begun with the LIGNA.Preview event held in Hannover, Germany as the kick-off to LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking & wood processing industry.
LIGNA, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will take place May 26-30.
LIGNA.Preview is the media preview event that saw journalists from around the world and more than two dozen leading exhibitors join LIGNA organizers Deutsche Messe and the VDMA (German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers' Association) for the official unveiling of the 2025 LIGNA program, themes and technology at an exclusive preview presentation at the fair grounds in Hannover.
This year's event 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 occupy more than 1.2 million sq. ft. of exhibition space, sending a strong signal in a challenging industry situation.
Silke Gathmann, spokeswoman LIGNA, moderated the event and introduced Dr. Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the managing board, Deutsche Messe AG who welcomed exhibitors and journalists to the preview event.
"LIGNA is currently almost at the same level as the previous event," Kicker says. "In view of the economic conditions, we are very grateful to everyone involved for their confidence in LIGNA. We are convinced that the world's leading trade fair for the industry will ensure greater productivity and sustainability through fantastic innovations and thus provide the much-needed motivation and confidence for investments."
"Hardly any exhibitor skips LIGNA – and for good reason," says Dr. Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director of the VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association.
"Especially in challenging times, direct dialogue with customers is crucial to generating new investment momentum through innovative solutions. LIGNA is the platform where pioneering technologies are presented to an international audience of experts. And it's not just manufacturers who cannot afford to miss this opportunity – customers, too, must be there, as the future course of the industry is set right here in Hanover."
Other speakers at LIGNA.Preview were Markus Huellmann, chairman of the board VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association and Ikea's Thijs Meijerink, a material and technology Engineer, who spoke about AI and data integration in the woodworking industry.
Stephanie Wagner, head of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe AG, also sees the strong industry response to LIGNA as a clear vote of confidence.
"We are looking forward to a powerful LIGNA anniversary edition and are convinced that the trade fair, together with its exhibitors and visitors, has the potential to inspire renewed confidence in the market. It wouldn't be the first time that LIGNA has served as the decisive catalyst for restarting the economic engine."
The three key themes of LIGNA 2025 – CONNECTIVITY, SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION, and ENGINEERED WOOD – are specifically designed to engage stakeholders across the woodworking community, including industry, trade, and forestry. "The digital connectivity for a sustainable wood industry along the entire value chain, with wood and wood-based materials as the materials of the future – this summarizes in one sentence for what industry, craftsmanship, and forestry want to stand for together in the future," says Stephanie Wager. She adds: "With connectivity, sustainability, and future materials, the focus topics highlight the three core elements of this transformation and will be prominently featured across all seven exhibition areas."
New and proven formats at LIGNA 2025
With LIGNA.Circular in Hall 12 and LIGNA.TruckStop in the open-air-site, two new formats will make their debut at LIGNA's anniversary edition in May.
"Thinking in circles" is the guiding principle of the new LIGNA.Circular format, which will be integrated into the LIGNA.Stage program. It will specifically focus on various aspects of circular value creation. Through presentations and panel discussions, CADEMI, the official LIGNA.Circular partner, will showcase sustainable innovations in processes, materials, and products. Key topics will include the necessary changes in collaboration among stakeholders and the transformation of business models.
The LIGNA.Circular program will also feature practical approaches and best-case studies, covering topics such as machinery and processes, raw materials and wood-based materials, product design, and recycling.
LIGNA.TruckStop is the ultimate destination for joiners and carpenters eager to experience the latest advancements in power tools, fittings, and fastening technology. Show trucks, transporters, and vans packed with practical solutions from brands such as Festool, Hettich, SawStop and Swiss Krono will be in the open-air site near the wooden Expo roof. In addition, a stage tailored to the trade will host live presentations, expert interviews, and hands-on demonstrations throughout the event.
The central LIGNA forum will once again be the LIGNA.Stage in Hall 12, featuring solution - and user-oriented presentations aligned with LIGNA's key themes, as well as discussions on major market and industry trends. Meanwhile, the LIGNA.Campus in Hall 11 will provide technical colleges, universities of applied sciences, and universities with a platform to present their educational programs. For first-time VDMA exhibitors and start-ups, LIGNA.FutureSquare – located in Hall 12 alongside the Stage and Circular – will showcase innovative products and services. And for those seeking career opportunities, LIGNA.Recruiting is the place to be. This format offers direct access to the industry's leading companies, providing valuable insights into career paths and professional development opportunities.
More information on LIGNA is available at www.ligna.de
