After some seven articles about this year’s Elmia Wood show, it’s time to close it up. What’s left to write about? It could have been many more articles of course because the show had enough to write about, more than enough. But everybody can’t write about everything so I draw my line here in this article with a mix of what could have been written more about.
What’s left?
Another editor told me that the good thing about a show like Elmia is that it allows you to be surprised. Companies and products you never heard of are just there and give you lots of material to write about.
Large companies are more professional. They make sure that you know already before the show, what will be there to see. That is good of course but it takes away some of the excitement of going to a forestry show.
What more was there?
There were lots of activities, like Stihl Timbersports and Champs of Logging. Good entertainment for the crowds.
There were also political discussions and debates. 2022 happens to be the Swedish parliament’s election year, so the parties took the opportunity to use this arena for their purposes. This did, however, not draw any crowds to the stage, just some journalists and local politicians. No wonder, as this type of fair mainly attracts people who want to see some action.
A loop of innovations
One piece of news was something called the Wood Innovation Loop. On a short trail, inside the main trail, seven points were created to inform about future forestry and what it could look like.
Clear-cut free forestry, thinning, automatic following-up of thinning, reforestation with refined seedlings, hardwood management, forestry close to water, and working methods and safety were the themes presented along the loop.
For Swedish forest owners, I’m sure this was interesting. For other forest owners, it was difficult as all information was in Swedish. However, I did note that the presenters on the loop (some of them anyway) spoke English and took good care also of the foreign visitors.
Oldtimers take over
One special part of the fair was transferred into a playground for old-timers. Not only old people but old machines, straight from the museums.
One could claim that a fair like this should be about new machinery. On the other hand, it could be interesting to see where it all comes from. One might imagine that the younger generations should be interested in the roots of today’s machines. But it seems the most interested are those who were there when it started.
It’s amazing though, to see that those machines, 50 – 60 years old, still work. It makes me wonder what will be left of today’s machines 50 to 60 years from now.
Summary
As mentioned before, Elmia Wood 2022 was a good show. It included news, activities, good crowds, good exhibitors, and good organization. Some people missed the major machine manufacturers that weren’t there. But anyone who bothered to have a look at the exhibitor’s list before the show, couldn’t be surprised by that.
The only point where I personally have some doubts is the extensive program. There were always activities on the stage (more or less) during the three days. The themes were interesting. But I don’t think this is the right type of arena for that kind of program. Why?
Well, the fairground is an approx. 3 km long trail over fields and through the forest. Most visitors are there to see action, machines running, exhibitors showing what their equipment can do, and maybe let you try out a machine. In other words, it’s not the type of fair where you sit down and listen. Especially not at a special time and place as you never know where on the trail you will be when the time comes.
But – the show was good. I look forward to the next one in 2025.
Photos: Per Jonsson
