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visitor numbers were down from 10 years ago, by the tune of 18,000 – as 96,000 people attended LIGNA 2015.
As Deutsche Messe said, current subdued economic dynamics play into general industry sentiment and attendance numbers, so it’s possible that a better economic background in 2027 will see numbers increase again at the next LIGNA.
Less machines are being displayed than former years – digitalisation allows for effective presentation of systems instead, though the elevated costs of transporting equipment and the need for a larger and more expensive stand to accommodate machines surely also influences budgeting decisions of exhibitors.
North America was one of the strongest visitor nations represented in Hall 26 for wood-based panels production. Mills from South America, Australia and Asia were also visiting stands. In the solid woodworking machinery halls, TTJ ran into several UK & Ireland sawmiller visitors and furniture manufacturers.
One of the biggest talking points across the show was Artificial Intelligence, with machinery digitalisation platforms encompassing ever smarter features to increase production visibility, improve efficiency, and reduce costs and waste.
EXHIBITORS
Italian woodworking technology manufacturer SCM gave a world premiere to its Topset xxl throughfeed moulder. Topset xxl expands SCM’s automatic throughfeed moulders offer to meet new customer requirements. Increased working sections, spindle speeds of up to 12,000rpm, customizable compositions and feed worktables with micrometric settings for
optimal tooling set-up, are just some of the innovative features of the new machine. SCM was also proud to show a new CNC machining centre for timber construction – the Oikos xs 650.
The new model retains the advantages of the range while improving performance, offering greater productivity and flexibility when processing beams of cross-section up to 650x310mm.
The new machine will be equipped with the updated “Maestro lab beam&wall” software, developed internally on the new SCM “Maestro lab” CAD/CAM software. It enhances the functionalities of the current programming software, to the advantage of the machine performance and the operator’s user experience.
Next to the SCM booth in Hall 13, visitors could discover the latest innovations from Randek, SCM’s partner in supplying complete systems for the timber frame sector. Weinig was celebrating 120 years of the company’s history at LIGNA. It presented more than 45 current machines and solutions over an exhibition area of more than 5,000m2. The focus was automation, efficiency and futureproofing. Visitors experienced, among other things, the self-setting Powermat 3000, the WLP 200 vacuum gantry for fully automatic workpiece handling and the HS 200 with delta robot loading. Weinig System Solutions also presented innovative production concepts, including a 3D-animated CLT system.
Homag, the world’s largest woodworking machinery manufacturer, again had the biggest single stand at LIGNA, filling Hall 14. Under the motto Building living spaces, which unites all product brands and customer segments, Homag integrated the portfolio of SYSTEM TM to its show offering.
The technology is combined with the customer-specific complete solutions from KALLESOE, a specialist in automation and high-frequency presses, for the production of solid wood products.
The combination gave Homag a comprehensive offering of solid wood processing systems from SYSTEM TM, customer-specific glued timber solutions from KALLESOE, and leading timber construction expertise from Weinmann, and years of wood processing expertise from the Homag core business itself. IMAL PAL Group’s vast stand in Hall 26 covered the whole range of equipment for wood-based panels production and wood recycling. Executives from UK-based MDF Recovery were also on stand highlighting the partnership with PAL which has an MDF waste recovery solution on the market. A big screen demonstrated how the system works in a simplified way and was a big draw at LIGNA. Luca Ballerin of PAL told WBPI that the partners were working with IKEA on the project and the formulation of data. The first industrial application of the MDF Recovery process is taking place at UK MDF mouldings manufacturer W Howard, with an early 2026 start date.
One company which might be less familiar is Into Chemicals which presented its in-line fire-retardant solutions for the wood-based panels industry.
The company was founded in 2013 and is already established in several industries, such as the paper sector. It is also now present in the solid timber sector, with its fire retardants applied in a vacuum impregnation process. Cross-cutting specialist Kallfass displayed a multiple cross-cut saw for unedged goods with four saw aggregates; three of which ►
Above left: SCM Topset xxl throughfeed moulder Above right: Salvador Superangle 600
www.ttjonline.com | July/August 2025 | TTJ
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