Tuesday, August 12, 2025
The last few years have been tough for wood and furniture makers. Mills and factories have faced high log prices, higher energy and wage bills, softer orders, and freight hiccups. Organisers of DREMA say this reality is exactly what the 2025 show wants to address, with practical answers you can take back to your floor. The fair runs from 9 to 12 September 2025 at MTP Poznan Expo.
Why does DREMA matter now?
Poland is still a major force in furniture supply, even as costs climb and competition from Asia and nearby EU neighbors gets fiercer. Government trade data shows Poland ranked among the world’s top exporters in 2024, which keeps pressure on factories to raise efficiency and protect margins. The show’s focus on automation, better material use, and energy-aware production fits that need.
Innovations in automation
Automation and robotisation sit at the heart of DREMA 2025. Exhibitors plan live lines and cells that target common bottlenecks, from rough milling and scanning to nesting, edging, sanding, finishing, packaging, and data flow. The idea is simple: cut unit costs, lift yield, and stabilize quality without bloating headcount or overtime. Expect workcells with collaborative robots, smarter handling, and tighter links between machines and MES. Industry coverage highlights this focus on cost control, not hype. Scale and credibility also matter. DREMA is the only event in Poland recommended by EUMABOIS, the European federation for woodworking machinery makers, and it sits on the federation’s global exhibitions list for the 2025 cycle. That endorsement helps draw serious buyers and suppliers to Poznan, which is why so many product launches land here.
If you want a quick gauge of impact, look at last year’s edition. The 2024 show hosted about 400 companies and brands from 17 countries, expanded its floor to 20,500 square meters, and drew more than 11,000 trade visitors from 32 countries. Machines in motion and first-showings were a big draw, and the layout was up 23 percent from the prior year. That momentum is feeding into 2025. The program in 2025 is built to help shops plan for a choppy market. KOOPDREW, the Wood Industry Congress, brings mill owners, state forest reps, and analysts to talk risks, wood supply, and exports. The Polish Furniture Congress, led by OIGPM, will map scenarios for demand and pricing, plus skills and compliance. There is also an ongoing series aimed at women leaders in the furniture sector, which has grown into a strong peer forum.
The technologists forum
Technologists get their own space. The Technologists Forum started in 2024 and returns with straight-to-the-point talks on robot cells, data capture, safety, and step-by-step rollouts. It is geared to people who set feeds and speeds, balance lines, and justify capex with real numbers. Expect case studies on pallet, window, cabinet, panel, and upholstery lines, and time to swap notes on what works on shift two.
Hands-on learning is a DREMA trademark, and the Live Furniture Factory puts that into action. Polish machinery builds real children’s furniture during the show, with the output donated to charities. It is a simple concept that lets you watch layout, task planning, and HSE in a live setting, then quiz the engineers who tuned the line.
There are repeat zones that regulars know well, each with a tight focus. The Furniture Trend Zone shows new decor, fabrics, and fittings. The Parquet Zone, run with the Polish Parquet Flooring Association, offers demos and clinics. There is a skills yard for coating and finishing set up with Industrial Painting magazine. DREMA Tools, in cooperation with ITA Tools, runs live sharpening and tool care. The Clean Air Zone highlights extraction and biomass heating options. And yes, the crowd favorites return, including the Conjured from Wood exhibit and the Polish Nail Hammering Championships.
Who should attend in 2025?
Plant managers are looking to steady output and cut rework. Production and maintenance teams who own uptime and want safer, simpler setups. Owners chasing payback on line upgrades. Designers and buyers who need a better handle on material choices and finishes. And anyone selling into Central and Eastern Europe, since this is the region’s key woodworking machinery meeting. The fair’s overview calls it the largest event of its kind in Poland, with a heavy share of machines running on the floor.
If you go, set a clear plan. List your top three pain points, for example, dust capture on a new ripping line, a flexible cell for small batch cabinets, or faster color changes in finishing. Book time with vendors who can run your sample stock. Hit the forums that match your next investment, then walk the Live Factory to see how crews manage changeovers, layouts, and safety. Finally, leave time for KOOPDREW or the Furniture Congress to hear what may shift in wood supply, tariffs, or demand in 2026.
Bottom line
DREMA 2025 is set up to help the industry do more with less. Costs are up, orders are uneven, and export markets keep shifting, but better cells, smarter software, and tighter process control can protect margins. Poznan is where you can test those ideas in one place, in one week.
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Tags: Central and Eastern Europe woodworking, Clean Air Zone, CNC woodworking machines, DREMA 2025, KOOPDREW, Live Furniture Factory, MTP Poznan Expo, Parquet Zone, Poland furniture industry, Polish Furniture Congress, Poznan wood fair, robotics in woodworking, sustainable production wood, Technologists Forum, woodworking automation
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