For wood science students in Hamburg, LIGNA has always been the trade fair. Proximity played a role, but more importantly, it was the most comprehensive of all exhibitions, perfectly reflecting the broad scope of our studies – from timber harvesting and primary processing in mobile or stationary sawmills to every stage of further processing, from wood bending machines to complete furniture manufacturing.

I attended my first LIGNA in Hannover in May 1995, during my third semester of wood science studies in Hamburg. Both of us had already gained some life experience – LIGNA was 20 years old, and I was in my mid-20s: a trained carpenter, a former civil service worker who had spent 20 months in a urology ward handling more than just bottles of yellow liquid, an explorer of multiple continents. Yet, despite all that, LIGNA completely overwhelmed me with its sheer size and diversity. The whole world gathered in Hannover, with what felt like 90% of the industry’s expertise concentrated on a packed exhibition ground. Just navigating through the crowds was a challenge, let alone taking everything in – not to mention the near-constant noise.

A sanctuary of sorts was Hall 2, the vast wood-based materials and veneer hall at the edge of the fairgrounds. Almost an oasis of calm and, for me, an epicenter of innovation. At the time, the wood-based materials industry and its challenges were a major focus of our studies in Hamburg. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Arno Frühwald, the Chair of Wood Technology at the University of Hamburg and the Institute for Wood Physics and Mechanical Technology of Wood at the former BFH (now the Thünen Institute) thrived. Many of the exceptionally skilled and eager students from that era now hold key positions in the wood-based materials industry worldwide. Moreover, if you were a student who was serious about your career, LIGNA was a must. Observe, network, be amazed, learn – unforgettable.

That is why I still feel a thrill when I step onto the Hannover exhibition grounds – even now, in my personal anniversary year, marking 30 years of attending LIGNA in its 50th year in May 2025. In 2001, I attended LIGNA for the first time not as a student, but as a junior editor at Holz-Zentralblatt. Four days of non-stop trade fair coverage. I was not there for the full duration – from Monday to Friday, May 21–25, 2001 – because of a unique scheduling overlap between Hannover and Cologne, between LIGNA and Interzum. To provide international visitors with an efficient transition between these two leading global fairs, Interzum (the furniture supply exhibition) and LIGNA (the machinery showcase) overlapped for two days. I started in Cologne on Friday, May 18, covering the entire weekend before heading to Hannover on Tuesday, May 22.

For a young, ambitious journalist, this meant eight consecutive days of trade fairs. I barely had enough shirts, let alone ties (which were mandatory back then) or neatly pressed trousers. Eight days of pure adrenaline, hundreds of conversations, countless handshakes, and even more information. To this day, I sometimes instinctively check my left jacket pocket (business cards were on the right) to make sure my notepad is still there. If I had lost it, the newspaper pages might have remained as blank as my mind after those exhausting eight days of the trade fair triathlon – talking, drinking, and writing. My right shoulder was bruised from carrying a bag filled with brochures, CDs, and even floppy disks, mile after mile. However, what were aching shoulders and sore feet compared to the energy of the crowd, the wealth of ideas, and the shared passion for advancing technology and materials?

To me, trade fairs remain the place to be – where people meet, exchange ideas, laugh, sweat, spread (and debunk) rumours, and marvel at innovations together. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Deutsche Messe, as well as to all exhibitors and visitors, for countless unforgettable moments. And I apologize to Holz-Zentralblatt readers whenever an article seemed to go on forever – once again, I had been swept away by the sheer excitement of the fair.

So, on behalf of the entire Weinbrenner Publishing Group, I say congratulations! Here is to many more years of hammering, buzzing, and humming – after all, 50 years is still young!