A few weeks ago, the organization machine of Xylexpo was set in motion again; the biennial world exhibition for woodworking technology and furniture supplies will stage its 23rd edition at the FieraMilano-Rho exhibition center from 8 to 12 May 2012.

We are back to work after the 2010 event that, though held in a very difficult period for our industry and the entire global economy, still recorded good results, with a net exhibition area of 42 thousand square meters and 648 exhibitors – 230 from 34 foreign countries – who met 51,480 visitors, with a 50 percent share from abroad.

The promotion campaign

The promotion campaign has already started, with events at Wood Show in Damascus (15-18 February) and Delhiwood in New Delhi (17-20 February), to be followed in the coming months by more stages in Shanghai, Hannover, Kiev, Toronto, Valencia and Moscow. Xylexpo is and will be a key international reference for the whole industry, a mission that requires a communication campaign to deliver a strong message to potential exhibitors and visitors: in 2012, concepts and technology for wood and wood-based materials are meeting in Milan! The image and payoff of the latest edition have been confirmed (“Ideas and technology”), as they sum up the role this exhibition wants to play; this message will be spread to and through all industry media around the world.

Obviously, Xylexpo is also on Facebook and Twitter, a channel to approach a bigger and bigger number of operators, now accustomed to new communication tools.

The layout

The layout defined by the organizers is basically unchanged, with a map that will guide visitors through machinery, tools and technology, as well as raw materials, semifinished products and supplies for the furniture and wood industry, technologies and products for wood building and constructions, up to surface processing and finishing. The integration between products and layout offers significant benefits to visitors, who can find everything they need for their production processes in the same area.

Hall 7 will feature deforestation technology and forestry plants, raw material wood, sawmill equipment and panel production plants (mdf, particleboard, plywood, osb, composites…). The domain of technology for construction wood and carpentry will also be presented in Hall 7: machinery, software, equipment for the manufacturing of structures for street furniture and public buildings.

Secondary panel processing – Xylexpo’s traditional key strength – will be located in Halls 1/3 and 2/4, with all exhibitors specializing in panel processing and finishing technology. There will also be space for surface processing and finishing, furniture components, hardware and semifinished materials, which are ideally located in the same area.