The international Ligna wood products and technology exhibition has acknowledged that both visitor and exhibitor numbers will be down this year.

But the organisers of the giant biennial show say that the contraction will be largely down to lower turnout from German companies. They maintain that attendance from abroad will be at about the same level as the last Ligna in 2001, emphasising the international significance of the event.

Addressing a special press briefing in London, the head of public relations for show organiser Deutsche Messe Dr Eberhard Roloff said that exhibitor numbers at this year’s event in Hannover May 26-30 was likely to be around 1,700 – 233 lower than 2001. Attendance was forecast at 133,000 as against 145,083.

“Obviously the show is taking place against the background of a difficult economic situation worldwide – and, of course, there is the added uncertainty of the current political situation in the Middle East,” he said. “But we are encouraged that the overseas interest is being sustained. The downturn in exhibitors is mainly the result of the German economic situation – we will have 190 fewer German companies than 2001. Basically some of those companies do not exist any more.”

&#8220The show is taking place against the background of a difficult economic situation worldwide, but we are encouraged that the overseas interest is being sustained ”

Head of public relations Deutsche Messe Dr Eberhard Roloff

He added that the international profile of the event is actually growing, with both exhibitors and visitors coming from a wider spread of countries. “Taiwan is now in the top 10 countries in terms of exhibitor numbers – and China is now nearly there,” said Dr Roloff. Underlining this trend, he said that Deutsche Messe’s Shanghai arm is considering launching a satellite Ligna show there.

Thanks to the opening of a new hall (27) in the Hannover fair complex, this year’s Ligna will be less spread out and, said Dr Roloff, easier for visitors to negotiate. It will also include special presentations on international trade associations, “careers in wood” and “energy from wood” which will look at the use of timber co-products as fuel.

Online visitor registration is available at www.ligna.de