The show must go on

These days of the coronavirus pandemic have not been easy on exhibitions and conferences, with many cancelled or postponed worldwide, such as IWF and Xylexpo.

Still, some are taking place with appropriate health and safety measures and if the recent China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) / Woodworking Machinery Fair (WMF) in Shanghai on September 7-10 was anything to go by they can still be a success and attract many people – depending on where they are held and the level of Covid-19 infections present locally.

China has managed to contain the virus after its stringent methods earlier this year and infection levels are currently very low, though there have been warnings of a possible second wave just as is being experienced in many European countries.

Despite taking place just six weeks after the rescheduled 45th CIFF Guangzhou, this last edition of the event at the Shanghai Hongqiao National Exhibition & Convention Centre attracted 1,000 exhibitors occupying 250,000m2 of exhibition space and attracting 118,409 industry professionals, reaffirming the fair as an important hub for the Asian furniture sector.

Pandemic Protocols

Organisers said it was an “unusual” edition of the fair, due to the strict pandemic prevention protocols adopted and digitisation of some exhibits, thus integrating offline and online activities. “It is a project and commitment that has proved rewarding from all points of view,” said the organisers.

“Thus, the support received from the entire furniture industry and the further improvement of organisational quality made it possible to realise the dream of ‘CIFF Shanghai Connecting the Future’, sending out a positive message that China’s furniture market is recovering and its leading trade fair is immediately returning to normal.”

The co-operation of CIFF with WMF tied up both the upstream and downstream of the furniture manufacturing chain to launch a new era of quality-oriented and intelligent manufacturing.

WMF, which was established in 1986, covered basic wood processing machinery, panel production equipment, surface treatment technology, machine components and automation technology, raw materials, primary processing/sawmill technology and energy from wood equipment.

China Forestry Machinery Association is one of the principal WMF organisers and the event is the only woodworking machinery fair in China supported by the European Federation of Woodworking machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS).

Exhibitors serving the wood-based panels industry at WMF included Andritz, Anthon, Berndorf Band, Dieffenbacher, Electronic Wood Systems, GreCon, Globus, IMAL, Ipco, PAL, Siempelkamp and Steinemann. CIFF attracted a large number of furniture enterprises from across Asia, with the event focusing on the entire furniture industry chain: home, outdoor and leisure furniture, home décor and home textiles, office, hotel, and commercial furniture.

It confirmed itself as a place of dialogue and cultural exchange, contributing to the qualitative development of the furniture industry.

CIFF collaborated with the main associations, media, and institutions in the field of design to organise as many as 50 conferences, forums and 10 themed exhibitions.

Among these, were the EAST Design Show, under the theme ‘Return to Zero’, hosting more than 50 Asian design brands, academies, design studios, and media, shedding light on important topics, including What is architecture, What is interior design and What really is furniture.

The Design Dream Show, organised by CIFF in collaboration with Red Star Macalline and Innovation Design Alliance, collaborated with the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Fashion to integrate lifestyle, fashion, food, and tourism into the home environment in an unusual and captivating way.

Design Focus

Design was also the true star among exhibitors in the Design Hall, divided into the Contemporary Design Hall, the Modern Design Hall, where higher-end products were presented, and the Trendy Design Hall, where the accessible luxury of neo-Chinese styles was concentrated.

The Office Environment Hall and Outdoor Furniture Hall presented the latest solutions for the home office, smart office, and trendy outdoor environments.

The next CIFF Shanghai show will be held on September 3-6, 2021. In the meantime, the 47th CIFF Guangzhou 2021, will be held on March 18-21, focusing on home furniture, home décor and home textiles, outdoor furniture and home textiles, and outdoor and leisure furniture.

From March 28-31 the focus will be on office furniture, hotel furniture, commercial furniture, and furniture for public spaces, as well as furniture machinery, components, and raw materials.