In May, a large chunk of the world's woodworking community found themselves in Hannover, Germany. Two of that throng were two editors from the Woodworking Network.

The May 15-19 event was Ligna 2023, the world's largest wood products trade show. For five days, more than 80,000 woodworkers traversed the 1,300-plus exhibits, ranging from Industry 4.0 technology to entry-level machines. 

Stretched across more than 1.2 million net square feet, with equipment for the primary and second wood industry in multiple buildings, the Woodworking Network staff in attendance took note of some of the new, and innovative products on display.

In Part 1 of Woodworking Network's coverage of Ligna, senior editor Karen Koenig explored a wide range of product types from all over the world. 

In Part 2, online editor Larry Adams continued that expansive effort with a look at just a fraction of the products on display. These products ranged from state-of-the-art CNC equipment, massive work cells with sophisticated material handling equipment, finishing and drying systems of all kinds, tooling, shredders, pallet crushers, and more.

Here are just a few.

Homag displayed myriad machines, robotics, integrated cell concepts and complete system solutions. One of the most popular work cells on display was the Storeteq F-100 single-axis feeder that in conjunction with the Sawteq S-200 created a complete woodworking shop cell. Using vacuum suction units, the gantry fetched the next panel from the stacking position adjacent to or behind the saw, turned the material as needed, and then places it in the saw, all on a just-in-time basis.

The show also marked the world premiere of Homag’s SawTeq B-300 and B-400 panel saws with increased intelligence and digital, self-learning functions. Along with the intelliGuide Classic operator assistance system, a new feature within the saw control that monitors optimal machine use and provides continuous support through appropriate information. 

Cefla Finishing showcased five fully functioning lines at the show. For instance, the upgraded, highly popular, iBotic Cartesian spraying robot was equipped with two arms and the TimeSkip feature that avoids downtime when changing lacquer. Using interpolated axes, two arms spray independently of each other, which means users can immobilize one arm and change color without interrupting production and without any risk of cross contamination.

Also showcased was the Exydry-Z unit that processed flat and raised panels to obtain the soft-touch, scratch-resistant, and fingerprint-proof deep matt finish.
 

One of several machines on display at the 3,000m² Felder Group booth was the profit H 150 that can be extended to full automation with different loading and unloading solutions.

The 5-axis CNC machine can be used for sheet-based nesting or configured with a smart zone vacuum management system for five-axis solid wood machining. The unit featured a labeling system on the front end and an automatic loading stacking system that can offload panels to different processes.

Vecoplan showcased wood shredders and pallet crushers including the launch of the redesigned VTH 450 biomass chipper and the digital services of its Vecoplan Smart Center. The VTH 450’s new design features closed side walls and an internal drive unit, which limits the escape of dirt.

A show first was the pre-shredder VPC – the Vecoplan Pallet Crusher. When combined with the VHZ wood shredder, the unit can be used to shred wooden pallets and boxes in one continuous process.

Leitz showcased several product launches including the CentroPlan cutterhead for furniture and moulding production. The idea behind this is tooling is to recycle used VariPlan knives and re-install them in this tool system as disposable reversible knives.

Also on display was a boring drill with a TC-replaceable head. Leitz says the quick and easy exchange of the replaceable head reduces set-up and adjustment times and the replaceable heads can be reground.

Leitz will also show a router bit that has been specially developed for the thin-side machining of HPL materials.

Weima showed a revamped WL4 single-shaft shredder at LIGNA. The new base frame of the machine now has a significantly more robust design and vibrations have been reduced to a minimum, the company says.

The company pointed to the maintenance-free V-belt that as an innovation. To increase energy efficiency, Weima has also improved the hydraulic unit, which is protected inside the machine, and optimized the PLC control unit. 

Featured at Martin was the ConnectControl concept for saws and spindle moulders. Using a 7-" touchscreen, accurate axis adjustments can be made based on direct dimensional specifications or calculation functions, with quick access to all the machine’s functions. Machine operation can be enhanced with the ConnectPad, which attaches magnetically to the control panel, or with an Apple iPad Pro.

ConnectApp allows for additional functions such as tool and order management or section planning. Data is exchanged between the user and machine through the cloud-based ConnectDrive.

The Makor Evolution D is a high-speed cartesian spraying robot for flat surfaces that is suitable to paint both wooden and other material panels and profiles. Version D has two spraying arms for non-stop painting: one arm works while the second changes the color.

It features a 3D reading system with blue laser that allows the acquisition of geometries to be processed as well as colored pieces. A software algorithm ensures high performance and
execution speed.

The Fladder CC is a compact deburring machine with a small footprint of about 1.5m². The machine is built with a lower and upper cylindrical section, between which a 1,035mm circular vacuum table rotates allowing workpieces to be fed manually or automatically.

It is equipped with a concentric rotating module with a conical spindle for mounting of a 250 mm Lock-It spindle. The workpieces are processed within the area between 1035 and 785 mm, covering an 250mm working area.

One of the most viewed exhibits at the Superfici booth was robotic finishing system that mocked finishing a variety of hanging parts in multiple shapes including 3-D work pieces, windows, and doors. Other Superfici solutions on display included the new compact xl spray system that features a more efficient paint recovery system and improved air circulation.

Also on display was an UV LED polymerisation system with several UV monochromatic sources of different wavelengths to achieve a controlled multi-chromatic emission in a wider spectrum compared to the pure Uv led radiation. 

Freud's display included CNC router bits with Black I.C.E. coating, which helps cool cutting edges by shielding the solid carbide cutting edge by creating a slick, lubricant-like coating. Combined with Freud’s TiCo (titanium cobalt) hi-density carbide and Black I.C.E coating, the bits offer a sharper edge with precise cuts with less wear, resulting in 2X tool life, the company said. 

Festool showcased one of the events' crowd-gathering products with its battery-powered exoskeleton to help workers get jobs done without the energy drain from strenuous overhead or repetitive jobs.

The new ExoActive is an active exoskeleton powered by an 18-volt battery. According to Festool, the ExoActive exoskeleton literally gives tradesmen and women a “helping hand.”

According to Festool, the required power can be regulated in seconds to target needed support and is lightweight and comfortable to wear, and can also be adjusted to fit almost any body size individually. 

The 18V battery used on the exoskeleton also was used on the company's line of battery-powered tools. The company says that although only 18V are available instead of 220V, the battery can power it’s drill screwdrivers, impact drill screwdrivers, hammer drills, jigsaws, cordless hand-held circular saws, cordless plunge saws and work lights are can do the job.

The Biele Group displayed its newest all-in-one EVO technology system for high speed feeding, transferring and stacking. The company said that the   new generation of EVO’s becomes a very flexible tool, used for feeding, stacking and conveying all in one, with high speeds (500 FPM) and accurate stacking and conveying capabilities, providing more than 40 cycles per minute.

Products released for the woodworking industry, included lay-up and press lines, finishing lines, packing lines, high-speed handling solutions, digital solution and vision systems. Also, a multi-opening, twin hot press for doors, veneered faced panels, engineered flooring, and more. Also on display was a Compact Trimming Station for thin veneer, for thin and thick laminates, for foil, and other materials.

The iX 2023 CAD software from imos is now available for new installations in the German language version, and from October 2023 on, all customers worldwide will be able to install the iX 2023 in the language they are used to, the company says. 

This applies to new and existing installations. iX customers who have a valid maintenance contract can download the iX 2023 software free of charge from the iX Support Center. Exact dates of availability will be announced at a later date. 

Hymmen’s “Future-shaping technologies for your surfaces and wood products” was the hook that brought visitors to their booth. Booth visitors received surface samples that Hymmen presented from its patented Digital Lacquer Embossing technology (DLEplus).

JoeScan offers a 3D laser scanner that uses LIDAR, Light Detection and Ranging. It is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. At Ligna, the company demoed its GS 50 WX scanner that is used for applications and sawmills everything from logs scanning to board edger scanning and trimmer scanning. 

The system projects a line laser onto the board and that line laser is then viewed from two different cameras and those cameras can make a precise measurement of where that line is on the board. The company says it has scanners above and below to measure the precise thickness and as the board moves under the scanners it takes measurements.