In Germany, Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik e.V. (KWF), the organisers of the 18th KWF-Tagung forestry demo fair originally slated to take place in Schwarzenborn in July, have decided to postpone the 18th KWF-Tagung until June 30 - July 3, 2021, instead. "The health of exhibitors, visitors, partners, and employees takes top priority for the KWF”, explained Robert Morigl, Chairman of KWF.
In a statement, Robert Morigl cited the continuing increase of COVID-19 in Germany and Europe. The board decided to take this step in an extraordinary board meeting on March 23, 2020. In coordination with spokesmen of the company advisory committee, the 18th KWF-Tagung was postponed to the period from June 30 through to July 3, 2021.
The forest site venue remains already well-prepared in Schwarzenborn. Tickets and booked exhibition stands remain valid.
We were on an excellent path with preparations for a pioneering KWF-Tagung. We have long hoped that the COVID-19 pandemic would be under control at this point and that with our event we are able to offer the forest industry a fresh start, said Professor Dr Ute Seeling, Managing Director of KWF.
However, according to the current evaluation of the situation with rapidly increasing numbers of infected people and the drastically tightened restrictions imposed by the politicians in authority, the date in early July is most likely too early.
The spokesmen of the KWF advisory committee, Dr Jürgen Munz and Stefan Meier, as well as their deputies Britta Schlett and Ralf Dreeke, certainly would have preferred the KWF-Tagung 2020 to take place as planned.
However, the last few days have made it very clear that this will not be possible. It would have been extremely difficult to create and equip the exhibition stands in the outstanding form that is common at a KWF-Tagung. But the entire forest industry, including us, definitely needs the KWF-Tagung as an unique platform for innovations, for communication of knowledge and for the exchange of experience. Therefore we, collectively with the KWF, decided to postpone the KWF-Tagung by one year. As company representatives, we fully support this decision, they said.
Site and programme ready for 2021
The world’s greatest forestry technology event was originally scheduled to take place from July 1-4, 2020. Now the 18th KWF-Tagung will open its doors a year later. By deciding this, the KWF is following the urgent recommendations of the German Federal Government and its ministries as well as the state ministries and the district of Schwalm-Eder.
We take our responsibility as organizer very seriously and, by postponing the event, we are making our contribution to preventing the spread of COVID-19 infections. This is an absolute priority. It is very important for us to announce the new date for the 18th KWF-Tagung today in order to secure planning certainty for the entire forest and timber cluster. Our customers and partners can be reassured that we will act considerate and responsible for any circumstance – therefore also in difficult situations. said Robert Morigl.
Postponing an event of the type, size and importance of a KWF-Tagung comes with extensive organizational consequences. In the past years and months, an enormous effort has been put into the planning of the event site, preparing stand spaces and the infrastructure, as well as for logistics.
Further, a comprehensive specialist and supporting programme have been organized. Several hundred actors from the entire forestry industry as well as the region realized these preparations jointly with the 18th KWF-Tagung team.
I would like to thank everyone who has so actively supported and accompanied the KWF for the 18th KWF-Tagung to the present day. Concurrently, I ask you to keep faith with KWF and continue your commitment in 2021 – after the Corona crisis – ” Dr Seeling said appealing to KWF friends, partners, and sponsors.
