Trade fair is a powerful and inspiring reunion of woodworking Netherlands

Woodworking Netherlands is counting down to HoutPro+. From 4 to 7 November next, they can once again go to the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch to discover the latest developments in woodworking machines, board material, lacquers, fittings, air treatment and software. After 3 years, interest is high. At the time of writing, more than two hundred participants have already signed up and that number continues to grow. Expectations at organizer Claever Associates are therefore high.

A strong trade show in a stable sector

HoutPro+ is and remains the meeting place for professionals from wood processing, interior construction and related industries. Like Prowood, the trade fair is now part of the Xpo Group portfolio, but the Claever Associates team still remains the driving force behind the organization.

“As organizers, we are obviously delighted to be able to bring the woodworking sector together again. We continue to deliberately choose a triennial event. After all, there are a lot of fairs and events. Companies cannot participate everywhere, because the budgets are not there for that. Moreover, they don't have an innovation to present every time either. Because of the somewhat longer interval, companies very often choose to present their latest developments at HoutPro+ to professionals in the sector,” says Anja Stuerbout of organizer Claever Associates. 

“We opted for an identical layout this time as well, but brought in a not inconsiderable extra touch here and there. For example, we wanted to avoid visitors entering a chilly entrance area with no atmosphere. That is why the entrance to Hall 7 was adapted. In the previous edition there were no stands there, but now visitors will be sucked directly into the action of the fair. Other novelties include two demo squares in Hall 1 as well as an Interior Pavilion and the Parquet Crafts Square, both in Hall 7.”

Parquet Craft Plaza and Interior Pavilion

The Parquet Crafts Square is an initiative, which was successfully rolled out at last year's InCoDa. Contacts with the organization of HoutPro+ had been in place for some time, but now the time was ripe to effectively add this extra dimension to the fair. According to driving force Eric Jongmans, this was a logical step since everyone from the wood sector is present in the Brabanthallen. More than two hundred exhibitors and more than fifteen thousand visitors ... that counts.

“After a pleasant contact with the organizers at the end of 2024, I was convinced that our concept would come into its own perfectly at HoutPro+,” Jongmans emphasizes. “On the plaza, a team of experienced parquet installers will provide demonstrations, share knowledge and enthuse visitors about the stile for 4 days.”

In addition, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the Day of the Parqueters will continue at the fair. But there is even more to do in Hall 7, as there will also be an Interior Pavilion. There, ten exhibitors are joining forces. They have each taken a 20 m² booth to show one or more products. Central, however, is a ‘common plaza’ of about 300 m² where they can demonstrate or organize things and provide catering - a great example
of cross-pollination.

‘Never change a winning team’

HoutPro+ still stands for experience. Visitors can smell and feel wood, enjoy the sound of rotating machines and discover how tools ensure precise processing. In the ‘noisy’ Hall 1, the processing machines will continue to run in this edition, and Hall 6 is also a classic with the supply companies. For visitors, this provides opportunities to make comparisons, for exhibitors it is an ideal platform to invite existing customers and start relationships with new potential customers. And just like at Prowood, there will also be effective sales at this fair, according to the organizers.

“So our motto is ‘Never change a winning team.’ Over the years, the stands have generally become a bit smaller, but exhibitors focus even more on new developments. There is deliberately no fringe program with lectures, because our visitors show no interest in that. Final-year students from the sector are still welcome,” Stuerbout concludes. “New are the two demo areas in Hall 1, which exhibitors can use for free to give demonstrations. While the big players have plenty of space on their stands for that, smaller companies usually don't have any possibilities and we want to solve that in this way. Finally, a small but important adjustment. HoutPro+ is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., one hour less than before. On Thursday, however, there will be the nocturne until 8 p.m. and on Friday the doors will close permanently at 5 p.m. At Claever, we are ready to fly in right now.”