Panels & Furniture Asia January/February 2021

NEWS
LIGNA.21 POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 2021
LIGNA.21 goes into autumn,
postponing its original event date
from May to 27 September to 1
October 2021. Following intensive
reflections and discussions, and in
view of the current developments
in the global incidence of infections
in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic, Deutsche Messe and the
German association VDMA have
jointly decided to postpone LIGNA
by around five months.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic,
increasing restrictions and the
renewed lockdown, there is great
uncertainty in the market. We take
this very seriously,” emphasised Dr
Andreas Gruchow, Deutsche Messe
Managing Board member. “The
decision to postpone LIGNA was a
very difficult one for us, but it is the
only consistent measure to give all
those involved planning security
and the necessary lead time for
preparations. The corresponding
hygiene and protection concept is
in place, and with the staging of our
event now in October, it has also
been proven in practice that events
in pandemic times can be held
safely. At LIGNA, we have to take
into account that entire machine
parks are designed, assembled and
presented in live operation with a
long lead time and at great expense.
This requires trade show planning
that takes many months. This can
only be achieved in conjunction
with a sufficient number of
international decision-makers
on the visitor side. To ensure that
LIGNA, the world’s leading trade
show for the sector, can live up
to this expectation, suppliers and
users alike must be given sufficient
planning security for participation
– and this is significantly higher for
September/October than for May
2021.”
As co-organiser of LIGNA, the VDMA
also sees the postponement of the
event date as the only effective
means of successfully staging the
world’s most important trade show
for the international wood industry
in the interests of all participants.
“The postponement of LIGNA
is absolutely necessary. It is the
world’s most important platform
for our companies and the
customers of the woodworking
and processing industry,” said Dr
Bernhard Dirr, Managing Director
of the VDMA Woodworking
Machinery Association. “The
industry needs this marketplace.
With LIGNA in September 2021, we
want to send out a signal of new
impetus and investment in the
global marketplace.”
“We are already looking forward
to numerous innovations,
particularly in the three
focal themes of LIGNA.21:
Woodworking Transformation,
Prefab Building Processes and
Green Material Processing,”
added Christian Pfeiffer, Global
Director, LIGNA & Woodworking
Shows at Deutsche Messe. “In
September, LIGNA.21 will be held
as a hybrid event for the first
time, underscoring its function
as a leading industry event and
presenting the world’s range of
tools, machinery and equipment
for woodworking and wood
processing.” P
MALAYSIAN TIMBER COUNCIL APPOINTS
MUHTAR BIN SUHAILI AS NEW CEO
Muhtar Suhaili has been appointed
the new Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of the Malaysian Timber
Council (MTC) effective 1
November 2020.
Muhtar, who has a Master’s degree
in Petroleum Technology from
Curtin University of Technology,
Australia, and a Bachelor’s degree
in Mechatronics Engineering from
the International Islamic University
of Malaysia, is currently pursuing
his Doctoral Degree in Business
Administration.
Prior to joining MTC, Muhtar was
the Lead Project Engineer in Shell
Malaysia where he worked for
15 years and with Perodua Auto
Corporation Sdn Bhd prior to
that. He is also the Chairman of
Malaysian Palm Oil Certification
Council. Muhtar has extensive
knowledge in managing mega
projects, business planning,
business improvement initiatives,
manpower planning and human
resource development.
Having work exposure in the
Netherlands and Germany, he
also has experience in managing
engineering design offices.
“I highly believe with his vast
experience and knowledge within
various industries and multinational
organisations, Muhtar will be
instrumental in enhancing MTC’s
efforts in bringing the Malaysian
timber industry to greater heights,”
said MTC Chairman Tuan Haji Mazli
Zakuan Mohd Noor.
A humanitarian at heart, Muhtar
has devoted much of his time
in voluntary social work which
centres on education and
healthcare issues, among others.
He has also presented papers and
spoken at international arenas
on industrial development and
people empowerment, especially
the youth. P
10 Panels & Furniture Asia | January / February 2021