2020 was the year when almost all forestry shows postponed to 2021, creating a complicated situation for the shows that were originally planned for 2021. Now we are in 2021, and some shows have already moved to 2022, like the former No 1 Elmia Wood. What will happen to the other ones?
The forestry shows in 2021
The German show KWF Tagung/KWF Expo was planned for July 2020 but postponed to the same time 2021. They are, so far, the only show that has declared that they will go ahead this year. We wrote about that recently here at NordicWoodJournal.com. What about the other shows? Here is a summary:
Ligna 2021
Ligna 2021, in Hannover Germany, was originally planned for May 2021. It was postponed to 27th September to 1st October 2021. It is, however, unclear what will happen to the forestry part of the show. Ligna is mainly a trade fair for sawmill- and woodworking machinery, the largest in the World in this business. The forestry part has been a quite small, but important, outdoor activity of the fair. For suppliers of forestry equipment, the Ligna show is important as it attracts industry visitors, decision makers that decide about investments both for industry and forestry. This exclusive group rarely visit the pure forestry shows like Elmia Wood, KWF Expo or the Interforst.
As KWF was postponed to this year it seems that most forestry exhibitors will choose to participate at KWF only, and not at Ligna. That can however change before September.
The Swedish shows
Elmia Wood and the new show Swedish Forestry Expo were both planned for spring 2021 but postponed to 2022. New dates for Elmia Wood will be 2nd to 4th June and for Swedish Forestry Expo 28thto 30th April 2022.
Forexpo in France
According to their homepage, Forexpo will go ahead on their new dates 16th to 18th June 2021. The location is the old one in Mimizan south of Bordeaux.
KWF in Germany
As mentioned above, the KWF show will go ahead on the new dates 30th June to 3rd July 2021 with some changes due to Covid -19. The congress will take place the week before on the Internet. No large halls will be used this time. Instead, the exhibitors that normally have their stands in the halls will have small stands along the trails. The trails themselves will be made wider, and the distance between the stands will be increased to make it easier for everyone present to keep safe distances.
DEMO International in Canada
The DEMO International was planned for September 2020 but postponed until 16th to 18thSeptember 2021. The venue will be the same, Ottawa/Gatineau.
APF in Great Britain
The APF show at Ragley Estate close to Stratford upon Avon, was originally planned for September 2020. In May 2020 it was announced that the show was postponed until September 2021 and that the show was to stay in the uneven years (2021, 2023, 2025 …).
A survey was made during the winter 20/21 among current and previous APF exhibitors, and also visitors. It clearly showed that there was an overwhelming majority in favor of postponing the show again. So, the decision was taken, and announced on 22nd February 2021, to postpone the show for a further year. The new date is 22nd to 24th September 2022 at the same venue at Ragley Estate.
Will it ever be normal again?
Well, another year with uncertainty is what we can expect. Above are only the major shows mentioned. There are several small and local shows that also have had to change their plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some even went bankruptcy and will most likely never start up again.
The current situation has taught companies how to market themselves in other ways than on the fairs. How will that affect the fair business? Will the forestry fairs/shows be needed in the future? I certainly think so. Not only because I was active within the forestry show business in a previous life, but because I think that the need to meet will still be there. Maybe even more than ever now when we haven´t had any shows in a long time. Customers and suppliers want to meet and forestry people in general wants to meet each other. So, I am quite sure that the shows will go on, but I don´t know exactly how or when.
Photos: Per Jonsson
