HANNOVER. Germany - Details on the LIGNA.Innovation Network, the digital version of the world's largest woodworking fair, were disclosed recently at a virtual preview for the biennial show. The LIGNA.Innovation Network is scheduled to take place Sept. 27-29.

The LIGNA.Innovation Network consists of three pillars – Expo, Conference and Networking – and takes place in the H’Up streaming studio at the Hannover Exhibition Center. LIGNA is organized by Deutsche Messe and the woodworking division of the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA).

“As a trade fair organizer, we have acquired a great deal of online know-how and expertise over the past few months," noted Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG.  “In a LIGNA year, the woodworking and wood processing industry needs to discuss current industry trends, present innovations and network with interested parties, which is why we will present the LIGNA.Innovation Network in autumn.”

Highlights of the virtual conference will include key topics such as using digitalization and connectivity to transform woodworking, prefabrication processes in timber construction, or the new theme “Process Technologies of the Bioeconomy.” According to show management, the program looks at wood as the most important renewable resource and spotlights new processing options that drive forward economic and technical innovations in the industry.

In the Expo area, visitors will have direct access to extensive product overviews from exhibitors. Best-case applications, video tutorials, live streams, and video chats will enable them not only to learn about specific solutions for optimizing their processes, but also to enter into a direct exchange with exhibiting companies.

The Networking function enables all participants in the LIGNA.Innovation Network to directly contact exhibitors, speakers and visitors. A personalized entry page features a corresponding dashboard that displays the companies, speakers and participants relevant to the respective visitor. From there, attendees can initiate a direct contact request and then connect via chat or video call.

“LIGNA is and remains the meeting point where people and machines from all over the world come together at the exhibits in Hannover. But we also want the community to remain up to date and be able to discuss the latest trends. This is exactly what we should achieve this year with the LIGNA.Innovation Network,” said Dr. Bernhard Dirr, managing director of the VDMA’s Woodworking Machinery Association.

Rosenheim LIGNA.Conference set for June 2022
Following the LIGNA.Innovation Network, Deutsche Messe and the Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences will host the 1st Rosenheim LIGNA.Conference, which will also provide an in-depth look at the key topics of LIGNA. The LIGNA.Conference is scheduled to take place June 1-2, 2022.

“With the LIGNA.Conference we are finally able to once again provide the woodworking and processing industry with a live event for product presentations and professional exchange within the community. The next LIGNA in Hannover in May 2023 is the international innovation event with technology to look at, touch and try out,” says Christian Pfeiffer, global director LIGNA and woodworking shows at Deutsche Messe.

For information on LIGNA visit LIGNA.de. The next LIGNA Fair in-person event is scheduled to take place May 15-19, 2023, in Hannover, Germany.