44 | Panel Perspectives: WMF 2025


This year’s WMF 2025 is estimated to have attracted more than 30,000 visitors, with international panel production equipment suppliers generally reporting positive results.


SHANGHAI SUCCESS C


hina’s leading woodworking technology show – WMF – once again brought


together the leading international suppliers of technology and equipment with Asian woodworking companies in Shanghai. The September 9-12 event at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai · Hongqiao) brought another fresh collaboration this year – the partnership with an additional event – Sylva Wood Expo Shanghai – Asia’s only trade fair dedicated to wood raw and auxiliary materials. The latter is organised by the China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA), Shanghai Timber Trade Association, and Pablo Publishing & Exhibition Pte Ltd. The co-siting of WMF, Sylva Wood and the China (Shanghai) International Furniture Fair (CIFF) is designed to be an additional attraction to woodworking manufacturers. The strategic partnership is also intended to help drive innovation, foster collaboration, and propel growth across the global woodworking and furniture industries. Final attendance figures were not yet


available as WBPI was going to press, but over 30,000 people are estimated to have attended this year’s event, with about 400 exhibitors demonstrating technology over 50,000m2


of exhibition space.


WMF 2025 was expected to attract professional buyers and delegations from more than 37 countries and regions, including Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, the UK, France, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Austria, Brazil, Poland,


Belarus, Russia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. Under the theme “The Smart Balance of Manufacturing”, WMF 2025 centred on the delivery, cost, and aesthetic balance demanded by “light high-end customisation” by presenting comprehensive solutions powered by “smart production, flexible manufacturing, integrated line services, and data-driven insights”.


WMF was organised around five key tracks with clear upgrading paths: • Panel/full line smart factory Focusing on CNC cutting, laser/PUR edge banding, inline inspection, automated warehouses and AGVs, labelling, sorting, and packaging line integration with mixed batch and mixed-flow operations.


• Solid wood precision manufacturing Centred on AI material selection, smart panel assembly, 5-axis machining, piano- key sanding, curved spraying, online measurement and tool compensation.


• Softforming/contour edge banding Stable implementation and quality closed- loop for complex processes, including straight/curved/45° bevelled/J/C/L-shaped handle-free designs and thickened bevelled edges.


• Wood-based panel/plywood Smart transformation of core processes, including hot pressing, gluing, laying, trimming, and sanding, along with energy consumption monitoring toward green- scale production. • Upholstered furniture


Left (from top to bottom): Dieffenbacher at WMF 2025


Sunds Fibertech has won a big order for PressBoosters


IMAL PAL Group enjoyed a positive show


Chinese plant producer Yalian’s model of a press line


Right (from top to bottom): Siempelkamp was another big German plant supplier in Shanghai


Fagus-GreCon’s fire prevention and measuring systems technologies were presented at WMF


Visitors watching finishing technology from CEFLA


Panel samples at WMF WBPI | October/November 2025 | www.wbpionline.com


WOOD BASED PANELS INDUSTRY The main leading international plant suppliers for wood-based panels exhibited at the event, including Dieffenbacher, where it was situated together with its subsidiary Shanghai Wood-Based Panel Machinery Co Ltd (SWPM). This year, Dieffenbacher presented its new MDF refining system, featuring refiner sizes of up to 60in and a capacity of up to 40t/h – which it promoted as a milestone in panel production.


In addition, it showcased innovations


in continuous LVL production, Super PB production (a popular wood-based panels product in Asia) and Fine Surface OSB. Sunds Fibertech described WMF as inspiring, with “many valuable meetings with partners and customers, and strong interest in our technologies”.


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