"Resource Efficiency" Theme Echoes Throughout LIGNA 2009
JULY 2009 www.modernwoodworking.com 10 W hile the U.S. wood products industry is still ham-pered by a sour housing market, the overall out-look from exhibitors and attendees at LIGNA 2009 was surprisingly upbeat. Although attendee numbers were down from the highs recorded at the 2007 fair, the 83,000 visi-tors were stronger than what many exhibitors and show orga-nizers had anticipated given the global business climate. LIGNA Hannover far exceeded the expectations of our exhibitors from 50 di erent countries, said Deutsche Messe Managing Board member Stephan Ph. Kühne at the closing press conference. As the world's foremost trade fair for the forestry and wood industries, LIGNA has once again triggered new momentum and a brighter outlook for the road ahead, despite the troubled economy. e show's exhibitors and visitors o ered proof positive of the indus-try's determination to respond to the challenges it faces with exibility and innovativeness. More than a third of LIGNA's attendance came from abroad, and organizers noted that attendance percentage from Asia and the Americas held steady compared to 2007. Regis-tered attendance for Sweden, Switzerland, Poland and France was up from the previous trade fair. Overall, LIGNA 2009 drew 1,758 exhibitors from 50 countries. Conservation a main theme With the slogan, Making more out of wood Technology for resource e ciency, exhibitors showcased a number of ways their machinery and supplies can help minimize manufacturing costs through savings in material usage and energy consumption. e industry has again demonstrated the importance of investing in state-of-the-art technology, particularly during times of crisis, so that one can be ready to take advantage of the recovery when the time comes, continued Kühne. Investing today means an advantage over the competition. In the forestry and wood industries, as anywhere else, e ciency is the key to long-term viability. e following products are a sample of some of the show-stoppers at this year's LIGNA. Environmentally-friendly, w a t e r - b a s e d gloss coatings showcased its green philosophy with its AL-series biocomponent water-based gloss coatings, designed specifically to provide an alternative solu-tion to existing solvent-based acrylic and polyure-thane systems. Available in both transparent and pigmented versions, these coatings can be applied using a spray gun or a brush and have excellent anti-yellowing properties. Similarly, the company's UVA900-series UV-cured, water-based gloss coatings are also suitable for brushing or spraying and are available in both transparent and pigmented versions. Once applied, UVA900-series coatings can then be dried using high-power UV lamps, thus shortening the drying times (compared to bicomponent water-based coatings). Circle on Reader Service Card or visit ModernWoodworking.com/info. By Je Crissey Resource E ciency theme echoes throughout LIGNA 2009 International trade show o ers optimism for global wood products industry To see a video of the latest technology at LIGNA, check out our digital edition at www.modernwoodworking-digital.com.