1. What makes LIGNA so special for you?

In its fifty-year history, LIGNA has proven to be a leading international event for the woodworking industry and an event capable of attracting several thousand visitors from the entire supply chain. As a result, LIGNA has also become a valuable opportunity for manufacturers of technologies and services for the woodworking industry, as it gives us the chance to meet customers and partners from all over the world, build and cultivate relationships and business opportunities and, of course, showcase our most advanced solutions for the sector.

2. What have you been most pleased about at a LIGNA?

The greatest satisfaction, over the years, has been being able to use this great showcase to present the results of the continuous SCM’s R&D investments. Over time, the fair has become more and more technological, as well as a careful overview on future woodworking trends, new market preferences, new applications and materials. The greatest pride has been to be our customers’ side in these new challenges, with an ever more innovative proposal of technologies, software and services.

3. What is the funniest/best/surprising thing you have experienced at LIGNA?

Certainly LIGNA has also been a valuable team building opportunity. I remember that in the very first editions we used to travel by car from Italy: those journeys seemed never-ending, but they were also a great time of sharing! Then, once arrived, we met all our colleagues on the stand, even those from the most distant branches. A real thrill!

4. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome at LIGNA?

As the methods of communication and presentation at trade fairs evolved, we in the Sales team also had to reinvent ourselves. Ever since SCM started setting up an Arena on the stand to present large plants, complete processes supplied to customers or other innovations that we could not physically bring to the fair, we in the sales network also started writing a script and taking a microphone in our hands! It was no longer about presenting machines, but about creating a storytelling that was also engaging for our visitors.

5. When is a LIGNA a successful LIGNA for you?

An edition is successful not only when you see that customers are interested in learning more about our new solutions, but also when they themselves give you new insights or suggestions for R&D. Every innovation also starts with listening to the actual customer’s needs, whether it is a machine or a service.