2022 was the year of the comebacks for forestry shows. After two years of waiting due to the Covid -19 pandemic, it all took off again and 2022 became the year of the forestry shows. So, is there anything left for 2023?
Forestry shows in 2023
Yes! No doubt about that! After the summer of forestry shows in 2022, we are back to normal. Most organizers have chosen to go back to, or stay in, their traditional schedules. Like the Swedish Elmia Wood show was postponed from 2021 to 2022 but now will go back to the uneven years and will be back in 2025. Exceptions are the French shows Forexpo and Euroforest that from 2021 on will take place in uneven years after many years in the even years.
What does Europe offer its forestry people in 2023?
It starts already in March with the German Forst Live in Offenburg in southern Germany from the 31st of March to the 2nd of April. The next show is Maamess in Tartu, Estonia from the 20th to the 22nd of April.
Then we go back to Germany but to the northern part. Namely to Hannover and the wood and woodworking show Ligna from the 15th to 19th of May. The Ligna is most famous as the Worldwide largest fair for woodworking machinery. But it also has a small outdoor area for forestry equipment. Even though the show is huge the forestry part is quite small. However, my experience as an exhibitor at the Ligna is that the international visitors there are not aware of the “pure” forestry shows like Elmia Wood, KWF Tagung, APF, or similar. They are at the Ligna to see the whole production chain from the forest to the lumber, which they can’t see at the other shows.
On the 1st – 3rd of June, we head for a horse racing track in Stockholm, Sweden to see the brand-new Swedish Forestry Expo. The premiere of this show was planned for the first week of June 2021, but it was postponed to 2022 and then again to 2023. Let’s hope they make it this time.
The Swedish Forestry Expo is interesting as the organizers of the show are a handful of exhibitors under the umbrella of the Swedish Trade Association for Suppliers of Mobile Machines, ML. Their main international forestry show was the Elmia Wood show, but for different reasons, they decided to make a show of their own – the Swedish Forestry Expo – and not participate in Elmia Wood.
Back to the forest
In Sweden, we don’t have to wait long for the next show. Two weeks after the Forestry Expo we head back to the forest and SkogsNolia on the 15th – 17th of June. This north Swedish show takes place in Umeå where Komatsu Forest has its main (new) factory. That is probably why Komatsu Forest has always cared a lot about the Nolia show. The question is how it will be this time, just two weeks after their own show. Anyway, SkogsNolia is a “real” forestry show, taking place in the forest instead of in a “parking lot”.
22nd – 24th of June the next “real” forestry show takes place in southeastern France, not far from Lyon – in the forest. Euroforest is one of the two French shows that decided to switch from even to uneven years. The last venue, in 2018, attracted 41.000 visitors and made it one of the largest forestry shows in the World. This may be the main show for the forestry business in 2023.
In September, 7th – 9th to be precise, the forestry show season ends(?) in western Poland, close to Swiebodzin, in the forest where the Eko-Las show takes place.
Start planning
These are the forestry shows I came to think of. I probably missed a few. I visited them all through the years, except for the new one, Swedish Forestry Expo, and must say they are all worth visiting. Of course, it’s a matter of planning your life and making priorities.
Here is a chronological list of the shows mentioned in this article to help your planning:
Forst Live, Germany 31st march – 2nd April
Maamess, Estonia 20th – 22nd of April
Ligna, Germany 15th – 19th of May
Swedish Forestry Expo, Sweden 1st – 3rd of June
SkogsNolia, Sweden 15th – 17th of June
Euroforest, France 22nd – 24th of June
Eko Las, Poland 7th – 9th of September