HANNOVER, Germany - Woodworking industry startups will take center stage during LIGNA, the world's largest trade fair, which takes place May 26-30 at the fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany.

During the second edition of LIGNA.FutureSquare and at the Startup Area in Hall 12/A04, start-ups from within the wood industry, as well as young companies from other sectors looking to develop products or services for the wood industry or establish contacts, will have the opportunity to present.

“The Startup Area at LIGNA.FutureSquare reflects the industry’s desire to offer innovative young companies easy access to the wood industry and traditional mechanical engineering,” said Stephanie Wagner, LIGNA project manager at Deutsche Messe AG, co-organizer of LIGNA. “By participating in the Startup Area, they exhibit alongside VDMA members and partner companies – some of which are also attending LIGNA for the first time. This naturally facilitates initial networking opportunities.”

The 14 companies showcasing their innovations in the Startup Area include: Artesa, BlastGate, COISS, deepl.ai, eco2grow, improvem, Jug Projektmanagement/Liniar Wood, Ligenium, NextCNC, parastruct, STEXON, VisionX, Voodin.Blades and Talen Robotics. According to show organizers, the new products, solutions, applications, and developments to be shown on the stage align with the key themes of LIGNA 2025: Connectivity, Sustainable Production, and Engineered Wood, with offerings ranging from software for process optimization and resource efficiency, to timber construction innovations, sustainability solutions for a circular economy, and tools for measuring CO₂ emissions. The startups will also present their ideas on the LIGNA.Stage – on Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

“If you want to shape the future, you have to create spaces where new ideas can grow. With the Startup Area at LIGNA.FutureSquare, we are doing exactly that – offering a dedicated space and connecting young companies with key decision-makers in the industry,” said Ger Gerdes, senior project manager at the VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association.

“Startups bring dynamism and innovative strength, making a crucial contribution to the continued advancement of woodworking technology. Through the VDMA Startup-Machine, we are committed to further strengthening and actively expanding the exchange between young start-ups and established industrial companies,” added Juliane Salten, project manager of the VDMA Startup-Machine.

The VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association and the VDMA Startup-Machine support startups, VDMA member companies, and partner initiatives in showcasing their innovations for the woodworking industry. VDMA is a co-organizer of LIGNA. More information on the show is available at ligna.de.