LIGNA 2017 had delivered big in terms of innovations and global appeal during May 22-26, with a significant increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors from abroad and new impetus for the wave of digitalization currently redefining the industry. It had attracted a total of 93,000 visitors, including some 42,000 attendees from outside Germany who had come to Hannover from more than 100 different countries.
Mega-theme Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 concepts for the wood industry were the dominant theme at this year’s LIGNA, with major emphasis placed on digitalization, integration and automation.
Leader companies such as IMA, WEINIG, Wood-Mizer, Altendorf, Wemhoener, Dieffenbacher and Leuco introduced advanced new products and technologies through the fair. In line with the mega-theme of Industry 4.0, visitors were especially interested in the trend towards visualizing process and work steps.
In the HALL 11-13, the layout of Biesse’s stand was totally based on the concept of industry 4.0. With more than 40 technologies solutions and 300 experts on the spot, it help visitors to discover the advantages of digital factories and enable them benefit from the conditions offered by being Industry 4.0 ready. Customers can improve their production at lower costs.
Innovation highlights
There have been many sparkling innovation results of woodworking industry displayed on Ligna which reflected current industry trends and delivered practical benefits for visitors.
CERATIZIT team has shown the exciting innovation highlights on the exhibition. The cutting tools and tooling system they have offered can achieve improved surface quality in both hardwood and softwood machining. Besides, manufacturers gain a better cost-benefit ratio. Corrosion and oxidation resistance during cutting makes higher process reliability.
In addition, as a renewable energy source, biomass has been used widely in the industry. But burning biomass releases carbon emissions even higher than burning coal. However, INNERGY-THE specialist in boilers and thermal plants in the wood sector, offers sustainable installations and smart solutions to generate energy from biomass with low emissions which is good for environment.
Using technology improve forestry
The key concepts underlying LIGNA are automation, efficiency and networked processes which are also applied to forestry. RIF, the institute for research on sustainable forest management developed the virtual forest which supports various processes that are essential for an efficient work in the forest. With the technologies and system developed for forest, date can be efficiently managed which is of benefit of collecting forest information just in time and making comprehensive forest plan.
New LIGNA layout
The new LIGNA layout was also well received by primary industry visitors, with the four thematic areas of Forestry Technology , Sawmill Technology , Wood-based Panel Production and Energy from Wood . The focus was on the production of wood as a raw material for products or energy generation, through the planning, felling and retrieval stages. The current state of the art on the use in forestry of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), or drones, proved a popular drawing card, along with the latest forest surveying processes.
The next LIGNA will turn on May 27-31, 2019.
