Many of the big biennial exhibitions which showcase woodworking technology innovations have had an enforced break due to Covid, but they are firmly back in the spotlight again now.
Ligna, of course, is the biggest international woodworking technology exhibition (held in Hannover), but Xylexpo in Milan has also been a leading light for many years, attracting companies from all timber industry backgrounds which have investment budgets and are looking to see how they can improve and update their manufacturing operations.
It seems incredible that due to Covid this will be the first Xylexpo for four years.
Xylexpo is organised by Acimall (the Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tools’ Manufacturers Association) and this year it takes place at the Rho Fairgrounds, Milan on October 12-15. It is just a short plane journey from most western European countries and will feature technology providers covering sawmilling, downstream processing, panel products manufacture, joinery production and furniture making.
To give an impression of size, the last edition in 2018 covered four exhibition halls and attracted 17,781 visitors – more than 5,000 of which were international visitors.
Increasing themes over recent years include digitalisation of the workplace, automation and flexible production. More timber product manufacturers are increasingly wanting to be super-efficient in their manufacturing operations, reduce waste and have more information about their production operations.
This year’s show represents a first of sorts in that Xylexpo will be running at the same time and same venue as two other events – BI-MU and Viscom Italia.
BI-MU is an international biennial exhibition of machine tools, robotics and automation systems, additive manufacturing and digital technologies. Viscom Italia is billed as Europe’s leading visual communications fair.
The intention of this coming together is that there will be a wider pool of interest for timber product manufacturers coming to Xylexpo, particularly as robotics, automation and the digital environment are massive focus points currently.
BI-MU and Xylexpo have been working on this partnership for the past two years and they said their decision to co-ordinate together was an opportunity to give a bigger overall focus on innovation and increase visitor numbers.
“A more and more crowded exhibition calendar, now complicated by the rescheduling of many events due to the pandemic, the new technologies and the stronger and stronger international competition require a deep and accurate revision of the exhibition concept, which cannot be “only” a place where demand and supply meet,” said Luigi De Vito, president of Acimall.
“The collaboration between Xylexpo and BI-MU will develop into an innovative platform that will be focused on “high-end technology” and the many, profitable interactions that such technology can generate, offering an involving and successful experiential event to operators, exhibitors, institutions and all stakeholders”.
“We are living in a period of great transformation where it is necessary to be a bit more daring and strive to make new choices,” said Dario Corbetta, director of Xylexpo.
“The up-coming exhibition highlights the will of the entire wood and derivative technology protagonists to experience a new way to come together, seizing all the opportunities of a new age where production processes are becoming increasingly transversal and the search for solutions can be extended into neighbouring worlds. This also applies to digital printing, currently an ever increasing new trend in furniture and surface finishings.”
Mr Corbetta described Xylexpo as a “faithful mirror of the market”.
“It is going to be a rich edition and a big comeback in the exhibition calendar after four years, due to the global Covid emergency.
“We believe that the event will provide a comprehensive display of the best industry technology, addressing an audience that will finally be able to meet in Milan in person.”
He said based on daily feedback from the exhibitors, the next edition will be a real ‘new start’; with strong enthusiasm that seems unaffected by the troubles that the world is still facing. Six months before the official opening, the show announced that halls 22 and 24 had nearly sold out.
In the halls, exhibitors will present an end-to- end showcase where industry operators can experience all the technology for the value chain: from primary operation to solid wood processing, from panel machines to finishing, from tools to equipment.
Exhibitors include: IMAL PAL Group, Hans Hundegger, Greda, Holz-Her, Primultini, SCM Group, Striebig, Weinig, Altendorf, Masterwood, Barberan, Biele, Giardina Group, IMA Schelling Group and Siempelkamp.
Visitors to the Rho fairgrounds will have access to a rich agenda of additional events, in-depth debates on technical, technological and economic issues through presentations, seminars and conferences. Special attention will be dedicated to the big topics of digital and sustainability, two key concepts for the future development of the industry and the global economy.
And, of course, if prospective visitors needed any more convincing of the value of travelling to Xylexpo, there is the alluring background of Milan as surely one of the best locations for holding such events!
For more details about this year’s event, visit
www.xylexpo.com
