Perhaps it was to be expected that given the pandemic situation and the knock-on travel restrictions for its many overseas exhibitors and visitors, Ligna organiser Deutsche Messe has been left with no alternative but to cancel its September 2021 event. The rescheduled event will now take place from May 15-19th, 2023.
Deutsche Messe, together with the VDMA Woodworking Machinery, has taken the decision to cancel the world’s leading trade show for woodworking and wood processing plant, machinery and tools – a decision made in view of the continuing high level of infection worldwide in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and what the organiser describes as ‘the slow national and international progress on vaccination’ and thus the continuing existence of travel restrictions.
“Uncertainties in the wake of the pandemic still remain very high worldwide. In close consultation with the VDMA, we have therefore decided to cancel Ligna as a physical event in 2021,” says Dr Jochen Köckler - file image - chairman of the managing board of Deutsche Messe AG.
Online platform launched this autumn
“In order to offer the industry a platform for innovations, knowledge exchange and networking … we will set up a digital networking and content platform that will be launched at the end of September. We are also planning the Rosenheim Ligna.Conference in early summer 2022. For both event formats, we are incorporating the many new insights and positive experiences from the recently hosted Hannover Messe Digital Edition,” explains Dr Bernhard Dirr, MD of VDMA Woodworking Machinery.
“The decision to cancel Ligna in this event cycle was very difficult for all of us. Together with our partner Deutsche Messe and together with the exhibitors, the companies in the woodworking and wood processing industry, we fought to hold Ligna as the world’s most important industry platform this year. Commitment from the market has been exceptionally high right up to the end – even in these uncertain times. This has given us all a lot of tailwind in recent weeks. At Ligna, we have to take into account that entire machine parks are designed, set up and presented in live operation with a long lead time and a great deal of effort. This requires many months of trade show planning. This is the reason, why we have now been forced to make a decision on holding Ligna in the fall in order to give our customers the necessary planning security.
“Another postponement makes no sense in view of the innovation cycles of the companies and in view of the next Ligna, which will take place again in May 2023. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to the cancellation this year,” adds Dirr.
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