Goin’ Back To LIGNA

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-In-Chief, Panel World

The Ligna biennial show in Hannover, Germany, May 26-30, marks the 50th year since the first Ligna was held in 1975. Representing Panel World, I’ve gone to every one since 1989. But let’s don’t go that far back; let’s look at some of the highlights of Lignas in more recent years:

2011: Wood bioenergy came to the forefront, as the world considered the future of industrial wood pellets as a fuel source for electricity and district heating. In fact a specific hall was devoted to wood bioenergy technologies, and several traditional wood-based panel companies had a second exhibit there. Oh yes, another subject of the 2011 event was the “minor” issue of the U.S. coming out of the Great Recession brought on by the subprime mortgage crisis.

2013: The U.S. had come out of the recession by now and several North America companies—GP, LP, Tolko, etc.— were turning on the production faucets at OSB plants. As a sign of the improving economy, American companies sent numerous representatives to this Ligna in search of the latest technologies. The first Russian OSB plant in the Petrozavodsk capital of the Republic of Karelia had produced its first board in April.

2015: Siempelkamp celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of its ContiRoll continuous press in 1985. Hexion Inc. exhibited under its new name, transitioning from Momentive Specialty Chemicals. Raute emphasized new technologies in veneer composing, panel repair and revealed several LVL (laminated veneer lumber) machinery orders.

2017: Wood-based panel production technology exhibits moved into Hall 27 from Hall 26 for this Ligna. But of more importance was the subject of crosslaminated timber as a possibility for the U.S. Russ Vaagen of Vaagen Brothers Lumber stopped by Ligna and the Panel World booth after visiting a nearby CLT plant. Russ would ultimately build a CLT plant of his own in Spokane, Wash. USNR displayed a new Ventek green end scanner, which was significant because USNR had purchased Ventek the previous year. Meinan showed a video of its new automatic peeling line at Swanson Group’s new plywood plant in Oregon. The show proved especially useful for the promotion of the new Panel Alliance team, consisting of Imal, Pal and Globus among others.

2019: Press belt manufacturer IPCO (the former Sandvik) revealed its new identity. Biele again showed one of the most attractive booths, while discussing its technologies at its Innovation Corner. It was another good show for EWS North America, though Keith Mays of EWS commented, “It was clear that wood panel manufacturers are concerned about the potential impact of trade disputes on the economy in the U.S.” Sound familiar?

2021: No Ligna, thanks to the COVID pandemic.

2023: Dieffenbacher celebrated 150 years and announced the formation of an Energy division. Wood fiber insulation was the topic of much discussion, especially at the Grenzebach booth. SMARTECH appeared on the scene to give Ligna its first taste of Artificial Intelligence.

2025: It’s about to happen as you read this, and given the election of a new U.S. president, and his aggressive approach to trade diplomacy, the theme may well be—borrowing a line from the movie Jurassic Park and actor Samuel L. Jackson as he prepared to reboot the system—“Hold on to your butts!”