What exhibitors had to say about LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007:

BTI Befestigungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Michael Blomeyer, Regional Sales Director, Germany: “We have already exceeded the results of the previous event. Things are really looking up. We have just completed a very successful financial year, and the trend is continuing. LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 is the world fair for wood-based materials. We gain lots of new customers here — most of them from other European nations.”

Osmo Holz und Color GmbH & Co KG, Antonius Tuschen, Managing Director, Germany:

“LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 has allowed us to acquire new professional timber construction clients in the wood-processing segment. We were here four years ago. Compared to then, the attendees this time have a much greater thirst for information. On the other hand, a large number of new materials and products are now available, but expectations are also higher. The mood is excellent, which was already evident among a large number of exhibitors going into the show. This positive sentiment rubbed off on the show.”

German Association of Carpentry and Joinery (BHKH), Dr. Bettina Wehrisch, Managing Director, Germany:

“We were virtually deluged right from the start of LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007. We had lots of groups and school classes which were interested in carpentry and joinery, partly due to the “Careers in Wood” Forum initiated by the Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers’ Association within VDMA. Our guided tours were extremely well-received, and the apprentice projects were surrounded by clusters of interested viewers. The carpenter’s and joiner’s professions have retained their attractiveness.”

Association of German Master Carpenters (BDZ) within the German Construction Association (ZDB), Rainer Kabelitz-Ciré, Managing Director, Germany:

“You can sense a considerably higher number of visitors here compared with LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2005, and a positive mood as well. The large contingent of visitors from abroad is particularly conspicuous. This is the sign of a positive trend in the construction sector, which will have an impact on the wood industry. The machine manufacturers here have also noticed the difference.”

Hans Hundegger Maschinenbau GmbH, Hans Schillmeier, Director of Technology, Germany:

“High quality is in demand again. Even on the first day of the show there were three to four potential buyers per staff member at our stand, including many from Eastern Europe and Russia, but also from France, Italy and North America — in part spontaneously, without any prior appointment. We were positively surprised. The mood in the industry is good. We are now full up with orders through the end of the year. To handle these, we will need to expand our production capacity — which in turn means new jobs. The first day of LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 was already better than two years ago; the mood among exhibitors was more positive, and there were considerably more visitors and potential customers.”

Festool GmbH, Thorgen Jüttner, Regional Sales Director East, Germany:

“LIGNA+ HANNOVER is growing. It plays a major role for us, especially as regards central and northern Germany. We received visits from many young people, including many enrolled in master craftsmen training programs. Our new circular cut-off saw was particularly popular, and is almost sold out for the rest of the year. Our order volume is up 18 to 20 percent compared with last year. The mood is upbeat. High-grade brands are going to prevail. Cheap, no-name products are on their way out. We know this because 96 percent of our customers in the carpentry and wood segment remain loyal to us. Even DIY (do-it-yourself) customers want professional tools — and are willing to spend money to get them.”

Mafell AG, Matthias Krauss, Chairman of the Management Board, Germany:

“LIGNA+ HANNOVER continues to be the leading international trade fair for woodworking. For us it is a hub for making international contact with dealers. The “Handwerk, Holz & Mehr” show is getting better all the time. The mood among visitors is positive. The enthusiasm for branded products is tangible. The idea that ‘cheaper is better’ has run its course, as the end user has already had too many negative experiences with cheap products. Our rate of capacity utilization is good and we have registered tangible growth compared with last year. Our company is one of the last that produces 100% German. For the future I hope everyone keeps their eyes on the future and won’t hide their head in the sand once they hit a snag in the road.”

Bütfering Schleiftechnik GmbH, Franz-Josef Bütfering, Managing Director, Germany:

“LIGNA+ HANNOVER is the main event for our industry and a unique opportunity, since this is where we present our innovations. We work with 20 different sales companies and 60 sales partners. But we also have 110,000 customers, making this a one-of-a-kind opportunity to maintain relations both inside and outside our network.
“LIGNA+ HANNOVER 2007 offers the ideal conditions. The economy is booming in Germany and abroad. The mood is positive. The climate has become more investment-friendly. We had already closed our first deals by the end of the first day.”