China’s leading woodworking technology show – WMF – once again brought together the leading international suppliers of technology and equipment with Asian woodworking companies in Shanghai.
The September 9-12 event at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai · Hongqiao) brought another fresh collaboration this year – the partnership with an additional event – Sylva Wood Expo Shanghai – Asia’s only trade fair dedicated to wood raw and auxiliary materials.
The latter is organised by the China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA), Shanghai Timber Trade Association, and Pablo Publishing & Exhibition Pte Ltd.
The co-siting of WMF, Sylva Wood and the China (Shanghai) International Furniture Fair (CIFF) is designed to be an additional attraction to woodworking manufacturers. The strategic partnership is also intended to help drive innovation, foster collaboration, and propel growth across the global woodworking and furniture industries.
Final attendance figures were not yet available as WBPI was going to press, but over 30,000 people are estimated to have attended this year’s event, with about 400 exhibitors demonstrating technology over 50,000m2 of exhibition space.
WMF 2025 was expected to attract professional buyers and delegations from more than 37 countries and regions, including Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, the UK, France, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Austria, Brazil, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea.
Under the theme “The Smart Balance of Manufacturing”, WMF 2025 centred on the delivery, cost, and aesthetic balance demanded by “light high-end customisation” by presenting comprehensive solutions powered by “smart production, flexible manufacturing, integrated line services, and data-driven insights”.
WMF was organised around five key tracks with clear upgrading paths:
- Panel/full line smart factory
Focusing on CNC cutting, laser/PUR edge banding, inline inspection, automated warehouses and AGVs, labelling, sorting, and packaging line integration with mixed batch and mixed-flow operations. - Solid wood precision manufacturing
Centred on AI material selection, smart panel assembly, 5-axis machining, pianokey sanding, curved spraying, online measurement and tool compensation. - Softforming/contour edge banding
Stable implementation and quality closedloop for complex processes, including straight/curved/45° bevelled/J/C/L-shaped handle-free designs and thickened bevelled edges. - Wood-based panel/plywood
Smart transformation of core processes, including hot pressing, gluing, laying, trimming, and sanding, along with energy consumption monitoring toward greenscale production. - Upholstered furniture
WOOD BASED PANELS INDUSTRY
The main leading international plant suppliers for wood-based panels exhibited at the event, including Dieffenbacher, where it was situated together with its subsidiary Shanghai Wood-Based Panel Machinery Co Ltd (SWPM).
This year, Dieffenbacher presented its new MDF refining system, featuring refiner sizes of up to 60in and a capacity of up to 40t/h – which it promoted as a milestone in panel production.
In addition, it showcased innovations in continuous LVL production, Super PB production (a popular wood-based panels product in Asia) and Fine Surface OSB.
Sunds Fibertech described WMF as inspiring, with “many valuable meetings with partners and customers, and strong interest in our technologies”.
Its stand focused on environmental systems, the fibre line, pressing and recycling.
The company also announced that Wanhua Group has placed an order for nine PressBoosters Generation 4, with the first three to be delivered in December 2025. The remaining six are scheduled for installation in 2026.
Wanhua Group is China’s second-largest panel board manufacturer, with an annual production capacity of 5 million m3 and 15 production lines.
“This expanded partnership is a direct result of the outstanding performance demonstrated by the first PressBooster installed at Wanhua’s Linyi facility, which has been running successfully since March 2025,” said Steven Zhang, managing director of Sunds Fibertech China.
Sunds said the significant order further strengthened its position as a leader in steam mat pre-heating systems for the panel board industry. The PressBooster Generation 4 was launched at LIGNA 2025.
Meanwhile, leading Italian wood-based panels systems supplier MAL PAL Group described it as an “absolute pleasure” to participate in this year’s WMF, alongside colleagues from PAL, GLOBUS, and IMPAGLO MACHINERY (TIANJN) CO LTD.
“We’ve received so much inspiration directly from our clients, and it’s clear that the best growth comes from collaboration and feedback,” said the Group.
“It has been an amazing week, full of meetings, idea exchanges, and new connections in the world of woodworking and furniture machinery,” added GLOBUS.
Large international plant supplier Siempelkamp had a strong presence at WMF, as did sanding technology specialist Steinemann and Fagus-GreCon.
The latter presented its solutions in preventive fire protection that detects ignition sources before fires start – designed for fewer failures and more safety. Precise measurement technology was also promoted for consistently high quality and less waste.
WMF CONFERENCE CONTENT
WMF 2025 also hosted multiple high-end conferences and exchange events, including the International Woodworking Cooperation Forum, under the theme “Green Manufacturing, Collaborative Development”, focusing on global woodworking machinery trade data, industry trends, and market opportunities.
Representatives from industry associations and enterprises in China, Europe, South-east Asia, and Africa engaged in in-depth discussions on new directions for international co-operation and supply chain synergy. A Buyer’s Connect Business Exchange & Networking event invited delegates from emerging markets such as India, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vietnam to facilitate precise connections and practical co-operation. And WMF Top Picks 2025 – Recommended Exhibits showcased the latest products.
WOODTECH ATELIER: EXPLORING CRAFTSMANSHIP THROUGH FINISHED WORKS
Located in Hall 8.1, the WoodTech Atelier presented a “See the Finished Product, Understand the Craft” concept. Seventeen equipment manufacturers collaborated with design, material, and craftsmanship partners to showcase a signature creative piece representing their technological pathway (such as curved components, mirror door panels, seamless edge banding samples, functional art pieces, etc), accompanied by concise “process and concept” explanations and key component samples. This helps visitors clearly see the collaborative loop from design to materials to equipment to processes to inspection.
Visitors could first experience the finished products up close – appreciating their edges, textures, and lustre – before tracing back key processes such as five-axis machining, soft-moulding/special-shaped processing, seamless edge banding (laser/PUR), highgloss/ mirror surface treatment, sanding and spraying, AI vision/path planning, online inspection, and quality control.
They could then proceed to the corresponding technology suppliers’ booths to watch live machine demonstrations and engage with engineers, transforming aesthetic details into actionable production rhythms and parameter solutions.
WMF
First launched in 1986, WMF has grown into one of Asia’s most established platforms for woodworking machinery sourcing, co-organised with the China National Forestry Machinery Association. Since 2018, WMF has been held concurrently with CIFF Shanghai at the NECC (Shanghai Hongqiao), forming a comprehensive hub for smart home manufacturing and materials. In 2024, WMF welcomed 29,203 professional visitors, including 3,715 international attendees, accounting for 12.72% of the total – a remarkable 19.32% increase from the previous year. This significant growth in overseas participation reinforces WMF’s rising influence and appeal on the global stage.
