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messenewsNo. 1 June 2006 Published by Deutsche Messe AG

Contents:

Cooperating with the customerWoodworking technology,innovations and trendsPage 2Gleaming prospectsNew surface treatment technologiesPage 3Skilled trades meeting place“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” expandedPage 4Supporting programPage 5High-tech forestryBetter results and enhanced environmental protectionPage 6Energy from woodPage 6Your appearanceBenefit from our all-round servicesPage 7Your LIGNA+ TeamPage 8

Check us out on the Internet at:www.ligna.dewww.handwerk-holz-mehr.de

Bright outlook for wood industry

The outlook is excellent for German pro-ducers of woodworking machinery: Awhole year before the start of LIGNA+HANNOVER 2007 (14 to 18 May), orderbooks are already full for all sectors, uti-lization of capacity is running at 92 per-cent and exports, which had alreadyreached a record level of EUR 2.1 billion in2005, are expected to be even higher for2006. In May the German WoodworkingMachinery Manufacturers' Associationwithin VDMA (the German EngineeringFederation) estimated sales growth ofaround six percent in 2006. “We havebeen registering a double-digit increasein orders the last few months – includingdomestic orders from Germany,”declaredthe association’s Managing Director DrBernhard Dirr.

The furniture industry has also experi-enced a positive trend, if at a lower level:“With EUR 17.2 billion in sales in 2005 wehad just under two percent growth year-on-year. For 2006 we are anticipating a

comparable increase,” reports Dirk-UweKlaas, Managing Director of HDH (theGerman woodworking and plastics indus-try association) as well as the Associationof German Furniture Industries (VDM).

This is a positive sign for the nextLIGNA+ HANNOVER, which is emerging asan innovations driver for woodworkingmachines, materials and applications. Themain show topics are energy, timberconstruction and surface technology.Following its successful launch last year,the “Handwerk,Holz & mehr”show (WoodCrafts) is being expanded in 2007 (see thefollowing pages for more information).

Registration deadline:31 July 2006Still haven‘t registered for LIGNA+HANNOVER? Please bear in mind thefinal deadline – 31 July. The earlieryou register, the better we can helpyou plan your appearance.

Flagship show drives innovations – Spotlight on surface technology and energy

Cooperating with the customer

“Machines, Materials & Applications” –this is the motto for the upcomingLIGNA+ HANNOVER show, where over1,700 exhibiting firms from 50 differentnations will present technological inno-vations and the latest trends in wood-working and wood processing. This tradefair will function as a marketplace forinnovations in the fields of forestry andsawmill technology, solid wood working,wood materials production, the skilledtrades and the furniture industry, with aspectrum ranging from the tree to thefinished product. And machine producerswill also be demonstrating new conceptsfor customer retention.

Dr Bernhard Dirr, Managing Directorof the Woodworking MachineryManufacturers’ Association in VDMA,spells out just what this close coope-ration with the customer will involve:“Machine manufacturers will help cus-tomers design their products, develop-ing into service providers of expertise aswell as technology partners to wood-working enterprises.”

Low-cost mass products versuspremium single itemsRainer Hundsdörfer, CEO of MichaelWeinig AG, discerns a similar trend. At aLIGNA+ trade press conference at thebeginning of May at the Fagus-Gropiusplant in Alfeld, he emphasized thatWestern-based producers in sectors likethe furniture industry would only beable to resist the strong competitivepressures arising from mass-producedproducts from Asia and Eastern Europeby offering a range of high-class, indi-vidually produced items. According toHundsdörfer, “this strategy depends onleveraging holistic, flexible productionprocesses and intelligent systems.”He added that the consumer was pre-pared to pay “a sizable bonus” for such a service.

As the German furniture industry’s toprepresentative, Dirk-Uwe Klaas sums upthe new trend succinctly: "My segmentis one – this is the solution for a growingnumber of people in Germany andEurope.” This category, says Klaas,

LIGNA+ HANNOVER showcases technologies, innovations and trends for all woodworking applications

represents the exact opposite of whatthe so-called “smart shopper” – one whois interested only in the cost-performan-ce ratio – is looking for: “The targetgroup that is interested in medium-pri-ced products continues to shrink,” headds.

Foreign markets are keyDespite a slight rise in domesticdemand, Klaas sees the German indus-try’s future in foreign markets: “Thedemand for furniture will go up severaltimes over the next few years. Ordersfrom India, China and Eastern Europewill strongly stimulate demand.” To stayin the running, Klaas says companiesneed to adopt a strategy that is “markedby flexibility, cost reductions, innova-tion, environmental responsibility and –to an increasing extent – good design.”

This challenge is particularly criticalfor small and medium-sized enterprises.Here, LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 willserve as a pacesetter for the entirewoodworking sector.

The LIGNA+ trade press conference at theFagus-Gropius plant in Alfeld generated agreat deal of media interest. The speakersincluded Hans-Joachim Bender (BürkleGmbH), Dirk-Uwe Klaas (Managing Directorof Germany’s central association for thewoodworking and plastics industries as wellas the Association of German FurnitureIndustries), Rainer Hundsdörfer (Weinig AG),Dr Bernhard Dirr (Woodworking MachineryManufacturers’ Association in VDMA) andStephan Ph. Kühne (Deutsche Messe AG).

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In 2007 the newest surface treatmenttechniques and processes will takecenter stage at LIGNA+ HANNOVER.Virtually no other segment of wood-working and wood processing has madesuch visible strides as surface treat-ment. This is true not only for liquid andpowder coating materials or printing onpaper, film and wood, but also for usingfilm, paper and veneers to coat woodand panel products.

Astonishingly natural appearanceSignificant progress in terms of quali-ty, speed, cost reductions and environ-mental compatibility can be seen inthe current substrate materials (fiberboard, chip board, solid wood). Someof the most spectacular new innova-tions include direct printing, laserprinting of decorations and an emis-sions-free thermal smoothing process.These new processes give surfaces aquality that is surprisingly natural, butwhich outdo natural products in termsof their resistance to external influ-ences.

Among the international marketleaders represented at LIGNA+ HAN-NOVER 2007 are Robert Bürkle GmbH,based in Freudenstadt. This company

produces machines and equipment forthe furniture and electronics indus-tries. To better exploit the synergiesinvolved, Managing Director Hans-Joachim Bender explains that his com-pany distills the experiences from bothsectors to develop liquid coatings forwood and plastics as well as glass.“We are currently promoting a seriesof innovative new developments,”reports Bender.

Apart from liquid coating, this isalso taking place in the fields of coat-ing and laminating, indirect intaglioprinting, digital printing, automaticveneering and special machine pro-grams for applying thin films andhigh-gloss films. Many processeswhich were previously reserved exclu-sively for major enterprises have nowbeen developed for high-end joineryshops as well.

Campaign integrates exhibitorsA joint campaign under the workingtitle of "Wooden Surface Solutions” has been launched by Deutsche Messe AGand VDMA to showcase the topic ofsurface technology. Exhibitors areactively involved in developing andimplementing the concept.

Gleaming prospectsNew surface treatment technologies

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LIGNA+ HANNOVER� is the World Fair for the Forestry and

Wood Industries� is a venue that attracts over 1,700

exhibitors from 50 nations, pluscirca 100,000 visitors from acrossthe globe

� is an innovations marketplace, wherethe latest technologies and trendsare presented

� lets you network with top decision-makers from around the world

� is an idea-giver and catalyst for theentire industry

� is an international platform for devel-oping new clusters and networks

� offers synergies in and around thewood industry

� promotes a high rate of knowledgetransfer

� provides exhibitors and visitors withall the support they need to stage asuccessful appearance at the show

� features the Handwerk, Holz &mehr (Wood Crafts) sector, a spe-cialist event with a consistent focuson the needs of the woodworkingskilled trades

Ten advantagesfor you � � � +

Carpenters out inforceCarpenters are planning anotherconspicuous appearance at LIGNA+HANNOVER 2007: Organized by the Hannover-based Association ofCarpenters in Lower Saxony (VNZ),there will be a large pavilion withskilled trades companies and supplierfirms, universities, associations andwood industry organizations. Thisforum for architects and engineers,public and industrial clients and pri-vate property developers represents“a mini-fair within a fair”, explainsVNZ Managing Director WilhelmReihl. The exhibits will again includetimber houses, i.e. projects developedby architecture and constructionengineering majors at the HAWKUniversity of Applied Sciences inHildesheim as well as a “living work-shop” where apprentices in their firstyear of training will “hammer togeth-er” playhouses which will then bedonated to childcare facilities afterthe show.

“Aktionsforum vector” (Vector Forum)Due to the great success of the debut installment of the Vector Forum(“Aktionsforum vector”) at LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2005, the event is being broughtback in May 2007. Produced by the German Woodworking MachineryManufacturers' Association within the VDMA (German Engineering Federation)and the ProWood Foundation, the event offers a platform for demonstrating newinnovations live at the tradeshow. The spectrum ranges from electric tools, mate-rials and fittings to paint and adhesives. Visitors can take in live demonstrationslasting around 15 minutes each, then put their questions to the experts directly.This special presentation of demonstrations will be repeated daily at the show,and is geared primarily to joiners and cabinetmakers.

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The skilled trades’ meeting place“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” expanded

Last year the special sector entitled“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” (Wood Crafts)made its stellar debut at LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2005. Next year visitors canexpect an expanded and refined repeatperformance.

Since equipment and services for thewoodworking trades represents thebiggest exhibitor sector at the show, itwas only fitting that there should be anexhibition sector specially geared totheir needs. This “show within a show”occupies five centrally located halls,with a compact and well-structured lay-out featuring more than 550 companies(including many first-time exhibitors)

presenting their machines and tools,materials and applications. The totaldisplay space will amount to almost30,000 square meters.

The concept behind this special showwas a hit with the woodworking skilledtrades: 22 percent more visitors were reg-istered, and attendance from southernGermany was up by a noticeable margin.The organizers see these statistics asconfirmation of the extent to which“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” has estab-lished itself as a leading trade fair forjoiners, carpenters and prefab construc-tion companies as well as for architects,planners and property developers.

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Careers in Wood

Exceptional designsby joinersStaged regularly by the GermanAssociation of Carpentry and Joinery(BHKH), the Joinery Corner andCabinetmaker’s Show will have anautomatic crowd-pleaser in the formof its “Form & Function” exhibitionfeaturing highly esthetic and func-tional journeyman’s pieces – the win-ning entries in German statewidecompetitions. Located within the“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” sector ofthe tradeshow, the exhibition will alsoserve as the site of a further selectionprocess by expert judges, who willpick the three national winners. Atthe “Grand Finale” on the final day ofthe tradeshow, the judges will awardcash and other prizes to the threenationwide winners.

Teaching andResearch

The “Careers in Wood” forum hasbecome a fixture at LIGNA+ HANNOVER.Organized by the WoodworkingMachinery Manufacturers’ Associationwithin VDMA, this forum providesyoung people with a glimpse at thewide range of educational opportunitiesinvolving careers in the high-tech woodindustry.

High-school and college students willbe treated to a series of talks and guidedtours of the tradeshow, offering theman insight into the industry and theassociated career perspectives.

This array of information offeringsand individual advice will be punctua-ted by a series of fun-filled games andjoin-in activities.

The organizers are hoping to interesteven more high-school students in visit-ing LIGNA+ and considering a “career in wood”. Companies and educationalinstitutes are encouraging them toattend by sponsoring class visits toLIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007.

The “Teaching and Research” displayshowcases the educational and con-tinuing education offerings of voca-tional schools and universities as wellas research institutes reporting ontheir latest projects and studies. Thisspecial display LIGNA+ HANNOVERalready features everybody with aname in the German-speaking coun-tries. The organizers are striving for anenhanced international makeup in2007.For more information and a regis-tration pack, contactproject consultant Elke Hein (phone: +49-511/89-33123,e-mail: elke.hein@messe.de).

Visitors to LIGNA+ 2007 will be treatedto a “miraculous” new event: “Wondersin Wood” is the name of an exhibition ofoutstanding wood arts and crafts.Staged in the international setting ofLIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007, the exhibitionoffers artists from all over the world aplatform on which to present and selltheir items. In contrast to the previous“Artistry in Wood” special display, thisevent is divided up into two separatesections: a pure exhibition featuringnot-for-sale items, and a “marketplace,”where high-quality decorative itemsand consumption articles made of woodwill be offered for sale.

The selection of the approximately 50participants for the “Wonders in Wood”debut event will by decided by an expertjury in the course of the applicationprocess.

Are you interested in presenting yourunique and special items to a broadpublic? If you would like to receive aparticipation pack, contact AngelinaDeutsch from the “Wonders in Wood”project office at +49-51 27/90 24 35,e-mail: angelina.deutsch@t-online.de or at www.wonders-in-wood.de

In May 2007 the topic of “Energy” prom-ises to be even hotter than it was atLIGNA+ HANNOVER 2005. Fossil fuelslike petroleum and natural gas are lim-ited in supply. Wood on the other handcontinually replenishes itself and hasan ultimately neutral effect on CO2 lev-els when burned. The many differentuses for this modern fuel will be show-cased at the Forestry sector of the showbeneath the Expo canopy, wherenumerous companies and institutionswill present their products and services.The deployment of wood as an energysource will be featured at the exhibitionas well as at associated domestic andinternational conferences. Not only

that, but according to Stephan Ph.Kühne, Managing Board Member atDeutsche Messe AG and the person incharge of LIGNA+ HANNOVER,“the top-ics of environment and energy will bean integral part of the overall tradeshow.”

Conferences on energy and forestryThe topic of energy will be in the spot-light at several topflight forestry con-ferences, as follows:The first International BBE/VDMABusiness and Export Forum for WoodEnergy takes place on Tuesday, 15 May2007. The title: “Best-practice casestudies from the wood industry world-

wide.” The initiators of this event arethe German Bioenergy Association(BBE) and the Power Systems Divisionwithin VDMA, supported by DeutscheMesse AG. Along with these case stud-ies, the forum will offer a survey of cur-rent market trends, new technologies,ideas and strategies, but also theobstacles that wood energy needs toovercome

Wood to Heat the FutureThis conference is staged by the LowerSaxony Forestry Service. It provides aglimpse into competing markets andsketches out various solutions ap-proaches.

Better results and enhanced environmental protectionForestry, wood harvesting and further processing are all subject to stringent environmental requirements, includ-ing nature protection and the preservation of biological diversity. At the same time, the advantages of the sus-tainable raw material wood are leading to increased demand, causing a potential conflict. The solution lies inoptimizing wood harvests and making optimum use of our forests. Big-name international firms will be showingtheir sophisticated technologies for this purpose within the Forestry sector at the open-air site as well as in thepavilions located beneath the Expo canopy. For visitors from across the globe, LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 will serveas a showcase for innovations.

Energy from wood A hot topic at the show

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High-tech in forestry

Entrepreneurial Competence CenterThis event is geared to professionalsfrom forestry and forestry service enter-prises. It is organized by the GermanForestry Council (KWF) based in Gross-Umstadt, the German Association ofForestry Contractors (AFL) based inWietze, the Association of GermanForestry Enterprises (DFUV), likewisebased in Wietze, and the Lower SaxonyForestry Service (NFL).

NRW Forestry & Wood ClusterFollowing the successful premiere of thisevent in 2005, the NRW State ForestAdministration will showcase wooddelivery and applications solutions.

Biomass FarmUnder the slogan of the “biomassfarm”, enercity and the Leese-basedRaiffeisen Warengenossenschaft willpresent logistical and marketingoptions.

Wood Fuel LogisticsThis conference covers wood harvest-ing, delivery, processing, refinement,quality standards and price trends inthe German-spealing countries. Theorganizers consist of target GmbH andthe Lower Saxony Renewable RawMaterials Network (3N).

Energy Production LiveAt the Energy from Wood special show, the Lower Saxony AgriculturalAssociation will demonstrate howenvironment-friendly and above alleconomical it can be to burn wood –from treating the fuel to consuming itfor energy. Under the slogan of “Fromtree to fuel,” the organizers willdemonstrate the practical deploymentof machines and equipment.

This special show is rounded off by aseries of specialist forums produced incooperation with Deutscher Landwirt-schaftsverlag publishers (dlv).

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LIGNA+ HANNOVER offers you acomplete set of services to helpmake your appearance at the show asuccess. Our services are designed tolet you relax and concentrate onyour core business. We support youin equipping your stand and inorganizing your appearance at theshow.

Online Business Service(OBS+)The former OBS (Online OrderingSystem) has been expanded andrenamed OBS+ – the Online BusinessService.You can now register for the tradefair online. And OBS+ continues tooffer you all the services you havecome to expect from Deutsche MesseAG – fast, reliable and convenient.Further information is available atwww.service.messe.de

Fair packageIf you don’t have time to organize yourappearance at the show but want tomake sure everything goes off right,then our “fair package” turnkey solu-tions are just the thing. The turnkeypackage includes everything youneed, including floor space, shellscheme and a series of stand services.Detailed information is available atwww.ligna.de/fairpackage

Yourappearance!Benefit from our all-roundservices

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Save money by signing a multi-yearcontract.If you register for the 2007/2009 con-tract period, you will receive a discountoff the standard basic rent for one-yearcontracts.

For indoor space in 2007 you pay only144.00 EUR per square meter (m2) of netdisplay space compared with 170.00 perm2 for one-year contracts. This is thekind of savings that can help reduce yourbudget!

Detailed information is available atwww.ligna.de and in the Conditions forParticipation.

Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Division Director

Andreas Züge, Project ManagerTel. +49-511/89 32 120andreas.zuege@messe.de

Eva-Maria Gansauge, AdministrationTel. +49-511/89 32 121Fax +49-511/89 33 126eva-maria.gansauge@messe.de

Figen Günay, Project ConsultantTel. +49-511/89 32 126Fax +49-511/89 31 263figen.guenay@messe.de

Elke Hein, Project ConsultantTel. +49-511/89 33 123Fax +49-511/89 33 134elke.hein@messe.de

Zoi Ioannidou, Project AssistantTel. +49-511/89 32 127zoi.ioannidou@messe.de

Agnes Marek, Project AssistantTel. +49-511/89 31 113agnes.marek@messe.de

Deutsche Messe AG websites:www.ligna.dewww.handwerk-holz-mehr.de

Deutsche Messe’s local representativesaround the world are also delighted to assistyou.

Who to contact at the Woodworking MachinerManufacturers Association within VDMA, FrankfurtDr.-Ing. Bernhard DirrTel. +49-69/66 03 13 40bernhard.dirr@vdma.org

Dennis BieseltTel. +49-69/66 03 13 77dennis.bieselt@vdma.org

Ingo BetteTel. +49-69/66 03 13 90ingo.bette@vdma.org

Fax: +49-69/66 03 16 21Internet: http://www.wood.vdma.org

LIGNA+ team in AtlantaThe organizers of LIGNA+ HANNOVERare appearing in Atlanta at the IWFshow (23–26 August 2006). You’ll findthe VDMA/ LIGNA+ team at ConnectorConcourse B/C, booth BC5.

Exhibitor workshopsOur exhibitor workshops impart valu-able information and tips on how totake part in the show. Deutsche MesseAG is staging a number of workshopsacross Germany. For more informationcontact Eva-Maria Gansauge, phone+49-511/89-3 21 21,e-Mail: eva-maria.gansauge@messe.de

Published by: Deutsche Messe AGLIGNA Dept.

30521 Hannover, Germany Andreas Züge (in charge)

Photos: Deutsche Messe AGProduction: Schlütersche Verlags-

gesellschaft mbH & Co. KGReproduction of the text is authorized on

condition that the source is indicated;voucher copy requested.

New contract period New appearance forLIGNA+ HANNOVERLIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 is coming outwith a new and more uniform appear-ance. Its advertising impact will beenhanced not only by new visual highlights, but also by the followingfeatures:– Individual communication with

the different target groups– Distinct segmentation according

to areas of activity – Emotional imagery for holistic

communication – Dynamic, modern layout– Continuation of established key

visual for high recognition value

One-stop shopLIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 covers theentire spectrum of wood and forestrytechnology. Here is an overview of themain categories:

> Forestry> Sawmill technology> Solid wood working> Wood materials and veneer

production> Furniture industry> Handwerk, Holz & mehr

(Wood Crafts)> Special presentations

Your LIGNA+ Team in Hannover

T h e Wo r l d o f Wo o d