The Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair (WMF) and FM Magazine partner event The China International Furniture Fair (CIFF Shanghai) concluded on 9th September after welcoming over 30,000 professional buyers.
Occupying an expansive 50,000 square meters, the exhibition featured 370+ exhibitors and brought domestic suppliers and a truly global audience of international visitors together for four days.
Exhibitor and Buyer Engagement: A Resounding Success
HOMAG China, NANXING, KDT, CHAOLUN/BIESSE, SANDAR, HOLD, EXCITECH and MOTIMAC were some of the leading brands showcasing the latest innovations in residential and home office furniture, and manufacturing technology.
Exhibitor Feedback
"For many years, we have taken part in WMF, which Homag Group has deemed a world-class exhibition and dubbed the 'Ligna in China.' The exhibition's timing, location, and services are all highly professional and well-executed.
It has provided us with valuable opportunities to engage with our customers and has played a crucial role in facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation between customers and Homag.
We are excited to continue collaborating with the show to unlock possibilities for the custom furniture industry!" says Pan Jun, Marketing Manager of HOMAG CHINA (China).
"After the resumption of normal travel, WMF 2023 offered us an outstanding platform to showcase our products and communicate with others.
Both local and overseas buyers highly appreciated our offerings.
In just four days, HOLD exhibited numerous innovative technologies, demonstrating our enthusiasm and professionalism to buyers.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the strategic show organization and eagerly anticipate the new opportunities and bright future ahead with WMF," states Liu Jingsheng, General Manager of HOLD Machinery (China).
“The surge in overseas visitors, particularly from Russia and Malaysia, surpassed previous years.
Our five overseas teams were overwhelmed by the number of buyers for large projects.
Many buyers intended to purchase on-site.
Besides, participating in the 'Surface Treatment' Conference organized by the show helped the application of the finishing process and promotes the upgrading and development of furniture manufacturing”, comments Chen Zeli, Marketing Manager of PURETE (China).
Insights from Buyers
"I have been purchasing furniture manufacturing equipment from online platforms before.
This is my first time visiting an offline machinery exhibition, which I find very interesting.
The scale of the exhibition is larger than expected, showcasing a series of machinery in the entire industry chain.
The exhibition also provided knowledge of the latest facilities and technology", says Mr.
Bernd Sorat Beyer, Owner of Hulta Design (Thailand).
"This is our first time visiting WMF, and the show scale is beyond our expectations.
We noticed that Chinese machinery has become more cost-effective and reliable compared to 20 years ago.
The business matching meetings helped us find new suppliers efficiently and saved much time.
We are very happy with the result of the meetings.
I want to thank the organizers again for their tremendous support before and during the exhibition”, comments Vitaly Pranovich, Director of LTS (Belarus).
“We are delighted with this exhibition.
There were many exhibitors which is beyond our expectations.
The entire industrial chain upstream and downstream can be seen, and the exhibition organizers provide considerate services!” says Luo Zigang, Representative of Suofeiya Home Collection Co., Ltd. (China)
International Impact and Collaboration: A Global Platform
WMF 2023 served as an international platform, attracting buyer groups not only from various provinces in China but also from global destinations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Peru, Vietnam, Russia, Belarus, Egypt, and South Korea.
Industry associations and buyer groups worldwide were actively invited to participate.
Comments from Industry
“WMF 2023, being a key international woodworking machinery exhibition in China, has attracted numerous exhibitors, including almost all the leading manufacturers of woodworking machinery from both local and international markets.
The exhibition is known for its large scale and popularity, providing an exceptional purchasing platform for industrial enterprises to acquire equipment,” says Shan Qi Peng, Wuxi Woodworking Association Secretary-General (China).
“We coordinated over 30 companies to attend the exhibition, which offered a wide variety of exhibits and provided excellent guidance and services.
Members provided positive feedback, and numerous companies successfully found the products they were seeking,” comments Wang Hua Ping, Hubei Furniture Association Secretary-General (China).
“WMF23 was a wonderful business journey that brought mutual benefits to all involved parties.
Companies from the Republic of Belarus engaged in fruitful negotiations with various Chinese woodworking equipment manufacturers, resulting in successful outcomes.
We look forward to future opportunities and events to collaborate on,” states Alexander Zommerfeld, Head of the Department of Foreign Economic Affairs and Investments of "Brest" FEZ (Belarus).
“It is our pleasure to visit WMF23 where some of our delegation members committed to the real business along with the exhibitors.
The outcomes of the program have not only met but surpassed our objectives.
We hope that this fruitful collaboration will continue in the future,” adds Hj.
Farosham Naizamohideen, President of the Association of Malaysian Bumiputra Timber And Furniture Entrepreneurs (PEKA) (Malaysia).
“We are impressed by the show’s scale and the support from the organizer.
WMF provided a professional platform for members to source the products and get the latest industry trends.
We look forward to bringing more members to visit the show in 2024,” says Mr.
Mohamed Alaa, Export Services & Information Manager of the Egyptian Furniture Export Council (Egypt).
Technical Exchange and Innovation: Elevating Industry Standards
Several forums held during the fair, including "2023 Innovative Technologies & Materials Driving Sustainability and Healthy Life in the Wood-working Industry," contributed to technical exchange and enhanced service quality.
The "Exhibit Award" Ceremony and various concurrent events provided a platform for buyers to experience innovative exhibitions and access diverse market information.
Looking Ahead to WMF 2024
WMF 2023 proved to be a successful platform for exhibitors and buyers, paving the way for expanded networks and new business opportunities.
The next iteration, WMF 2024, is scheduled at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Hongqiao, Shanghai, from 11 to 14th September.
For comprehensive reviews and inquiries, please visit the official website.
