Hannover - “Green” themes, such as sustainability, efficiency and resource conservation, will be the focus of many exhibits at this year’s LIGNA fair, which runs from 6 to 10 May. They will also take center stage at the majority of conferences, special presentations and activities that make up LIGNA’s comprehensive program of supporting events. The program includes many events around the exhibition grounds and on the open-air site that are specifically designed to foster networking and knowledge transfer.

Conferences and forums:

Conference on the innovative potential of the forestry, paper and timber industries in the context of Europe’s bioeconomy: Horizont und Europa 2020 , Deutsche Messe AG – Monday 6 May, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Convention Center, Room 3A

Networking meeting for the bioenergy sector , German Forestry Council – Monday 6 May, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

Energy wood market , 3N Competence Center – Monday 6 May, 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., Convention Center, Rooms15/16

Wood-based construction – Sustainable and innovative – 3N Competence Center – Tuesday 7 May, 9.45 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

“Russia” matchmaking platform , German Forestry Council – Tuesday 7 May, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

Getting it right – Cost estimation in forestry companies , German Forestry Council, German Association of Forestry Companies – Wednesday 8 May, 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon, Pavilion 33, upper level

The public image of our industry , German Association of Forestry Contractors – Wednesday 8 May, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

Energy wood from farms / short-rotation coppicing, Agraligna – Thursday 9 May, 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

Heating with energy wood , Agraligna – Thursday 9 May, 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., Pavilion 33, upper level

Daily tours of “Firewood production line,” Lower Saxony Agricultural Association, open-air site (southern showgrounds), Hermes Square

General Meeting of the Lower Saxony Forest Owners’ Association

Think Light – International Conference on Lightweight Panels, TCM – Technical Conference Management

Renowned experts from international companies discuss the future of lightweight construction in the furniture industry – Tuesday 7 May, 9.30 a.m., Convention Center, Room 3A

Special presentations:

ligna.career – Hall 16

The new LIGNA careers platform provides companies, job seekers and industry professionals with information on key topics, such as recruitment, training, professional development and starting up new businesses. Find out more by visiting the website for careers and vacancies in the forestry, timber and woodworking industries: www.ligna.de/en/career.

Materia Exhibition – Hall 17

Materia B.V., the organizers of this special display, will exhibit about 200 innovative surface finishing materials. Their materials library, which focuses on “bio-based materials,” provides a good opportunity for visitors to gain hands-on experience, as well as an insight into the world of new materials for various trends in surface finishing.

lightweight.network – Hall 17

Experts from the furniture manufacturing and furniture subcontracting industries, the mechanical engineering sector, and the research sector will outline the many benefits of lightweight materials with reference to key exhibits.

VDMA ligna.tv – Hall 16

Check out ligna.tv for product demonstrations, VIP interviews and reports on selected exhibitors as well as news magazines and special features on topical industry issues.

LIGNA Talents

Under the supervision and instruction of professionals, school students can take part in this competition, which involves producing short films and an online trade fair newspaper, as well as designing CNC programs which can be tested on machines at the trade fair. For more information, visit ligna-talents.de (available in German only).

Teaching and Research – Hall 15

International institutes, universities, polytechnics and trade schools present their latest research findings and courses of study.

Carpenter and Joiner Center – Hall 11

The German Association of Carpentry and Joinery addresses contemporary issues and the challenges of the future.

Form & Function – Hall 11

The journeymen’s pieces created by Germany’s regional Form & Function finalists will be showcased, and the national-level winners will be presented with their awards.

Prize for Service to the Joinery and Cabinetmaking Trades – Hall 11

The winner of the Prize for Service to the Joinery and Cabinetmaking Trades will be announced at the award ceremony on Friday 10 May.

Wonders in Wood and Young at Art – Hall 14

The “Wonders in Wood” exhibition at LIGNA features outstanding works by talented young artists and emerging artisans. In 2013, the keynote theme will be “Wood Turning.” The prize-giving ceremony for the associated “Young at Art” competition will be held on Monday 6 May.

 German Timber Construction Award – Hall 15

The official award ceremony for the German Timber Construction Award, plus the presentation of all entries submitted to the competition, takes place on Tuesday 7 May. For further information, visit www.deutscher-holzbaupreis.de (available in German only).

Group stand of Germany’s Proholzfenster wood window industry association – Hall 15

Group stand of international trade associations – Hall 17

Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture: 300 Years of Sustainability – Pavilion 32

In 2013, the German forestry industry will celebrate its 300-year anniversary. Today, more than ever, sustainability is of central importance in the industry. Find out how innovative technologies and the latest research and development projects contribute to sustainability at Pavilion 32.

German Forestry Council LIGNA Entrepreneurial Expertise Center – Pavilion 33

In 2013, the German Forestry Council (KWF) is partnering with the German Association of Forestry Companies (DFUV) and the Lower Saxony School of Forestry (NFBZ) to mount a group display on the subject of “Data flow from forest harvesting to sawmill and woodworking.” The three partners will also organize a presentation on training (“No quality without qualifications”) and the ForstInVoice project aimed at speeding up the invoicing process by using data taken directly from the harvesting stage.

German Forestry Council New Trends Pavilion – Pavilion 34

This year’s display focuses on the latest issues, trends and developments in the wood chips sector, including coverage of key areas of application (material, energy, chemical, biological).

German Forestry Council LIGNA New Trends Showcase under the Expo canopy

Core themes of the Forum include: “Data flow and materials flow,” “Training and qualification,” “Flexible technology with a broad range of applications – the key to success?” and “Battery-powered tools for professionals.”

NRW “Making more out of wood” showcase – Pavilion 35

The partners in the forestry and timber cluster of the German state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) will be showcasing products and services associated with the many innovative new applications of wood.

Firewood production line – Hermes Square on the open-air site in the southern showgrounds

The firewood production line will demonstrate the various technical processes involved in transforming solid wood into a useable fuel. Visitors will be able to watch the latest generation of log splitters and wood chippers transform log sections into burner-ready firewood lengths and wood chips. They will also see the latest plant for sifting and drying wood feed stock. The spectrum of firing systems on show ranges from wood-fired water heaters, firewood boilers, through fully automated firing plants for wood pellets and chips, including pellets and chips in ready-to-transport containerized form. The “Energy from Wood” showcase will be rounded off by chainsaw training courses, displays of equipment for private and commercial firewood users and information on feed stock standards.

STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES 4th international LIGNACup – open-air site, south of Pavilion 32 under the Expo canopy

At this exciting international event, world-class competitors show off their lumberjack skills with the axe and saw. For further information, visit www.stihl-timbersports.de.

10th Lower Saxony Crane Driving Championships – southern end of open-air site

On Thursday 9 May, Lower Saxony’s best crane drivers compete in a range of disciplines.

Source: LIGNA