Visitor numbers declined by 22% at this year’s Ligna World Fair for the Forestry and Wood Industries, organiser Deutsche Messe said at a press conference today.
About 83,000 visitors attended the May 18-22 event in Hannover, which is the world’s biggest woodworking machinery and equipment exhibition.
But despite the much predicted drop in visitor numbers, positive sentiment was not in short supply at the event, with TTJ Ligna team Mike Jeffree and Stephen Powney speaking to many satisfied exhibitors.
“More projects and more promising deals were initiated than had been expected,” said joint organiser the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association. “In certain sectors, there were firm indications of good post-show business ahead.”
Ligna featured 1,758 exhibitors from 50 nations, presenting their products and services over 130,152m² only slightly down from the “boom year” of 2007.
Deutsche Messe Managing Board member Stephan Ph. Kühne said Ligna far exceeded expectations.
“Given the factors affecting the industry, a total of over 83,000 visitors is highly respectable,” he said.
A full story will appear in the next edition of TTJ, while the comprehensive Ligna special feature will be published in the July 25 issue.
