At LIGNA 2017 (22 to 26 May), joiners, cabinetmakers, carpenters and mobile assemblers and installers can take part in special LIGNA Training Workshops organized by Deutsche Messe and the Sprint Academy – a training institute run by the building remediation and rehabilitation specialists Sprint Sanierung GmbH based in Cologne, Germany. The courses will be held on site at the show and give trade professionals hands-on instruction in the use of wood-industry machines, equipment and tools. The courses will be given in German, only.

"In the information age, knowledge is one of the most important assets that businesses have. The idea of the LIGNA Training Workshops is to get equipment manufacturers and resellers to focus more closely on trades-sector SMEs and sole proprietorships as an important customer segment. And for their part, trade professionals attending LIGNA will be able to learn how to get the most out of their machines and equipment in their everyday work," commented Christian Pfeiffer, the Director in charge of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe. "More and more wood-industry machinery manufacturers are setting up their own training centers and are taking their responsibilities as training providers very seriously," he added.

As the world's leading trade fair for wood-industry machinery, plant and equipment, LIGNA is helping this process along by offering its very first certified training course for practitioners from the joinery, cabinetmaking, carpentry and installation and assembly trades. Visitors taking part in the LIGNA Training Workshops during the show will receive instruction and training directly from the manufacturers of the equipment they use.

The workshops will be held on the LIGNA showgrounds, in the pavilions located to the north of Hall 11. This means interested professionals can get the information they need about machines, tools, materials and production supplies at a quiet location, away from the hustle and bustle of the show.

Each of the LIGNA Training Workshops will run for about two hours and will provide practical instruction on technical, trade-specific topics. The participants will have the opportunity to try out a range of products and methods. Participation is free of charge. The workshop area will also have a lounge which can be used for discussion panels, informal networking and a LIGNA job center.

The training content will be set by the Sprint Academy, and each participant will receive a certificate of participation. Sprint Academy Director Christian Gahle explains: "Correct use of the right equipment and materials ensures greater efficiency and enables top-quality workmanship. These factors are critical to success in the skilled trades, particularly when working to tight deadlines."

The participating training providers include companies from the power tools, machine tools, fixings and software industries.Participation in the workshops is by registration only. Online registration will be available at www.ligna.de from January 2017 on.

available at www.ligna.de from January 2017 on.