Holz-Handwerk is one of the most important meeting points for the woodworking and timber construction industries in the German-speaking market and takes place every two years in Nuremberg. After the pandemic-related cancellation four years ago, expectations were high - and in 2026 the show once again proved why face-to-face exchange matters: strong visitor traffic, a great atmosphere across the halls, and a consistently busy Barbaric booth.
For Barbaric, Holz-Handwerk 2026 was the ideal stage to showcase our broad expertise in material handling - exemplary and application-oriented. Instead of trying to display “everything,” we followed a clear trade show concept that creates space for what truly counts: communication. We continued the approach we’ve used at recent exhibitions - fewer products on the booth, but more room for conversations in an open, comfortable environment. Because experience shows that the best projects don’t start with a brochure - they start with a conversation. And that is exactly what a trade show booth should enable: time and space to talk through real applications.
In the automation area, our focus was on solutions for automatic parts handling, panel handling, and solid wood handling. We showcased selected exhibits and workpieces at the booth, while large screens displayed real customer applications. This combination worked extremely well: visitors could understand the principles and process logic through tangible examples, and at the same time gain a clear impression - through real-world video footage - of how these solutions perform in day-to-day production. This is where the most valuable discussions begin: What is your starting point? Where is the bottleneck? Which machine needs to be fed? Where do you need buffering, sorting, or return flows - and how can the overall material flow become more stable and economical? Many visitors left with practical inspiration for their own handling tasks - and often with a new perspective on which automation steps can be implemented with reasonable effort.
Alongside automation, manual handling was also in high demand - especially solutions for vacuum handling of wood and glass as well as battery-powered devices for mobile use. Visitors were able to experience our most common products up close, try them out, and test them directly. When it comes to manual lifting tasks, feel, ergonomics, and intuitive operation are crucial - and that’s best demonstrated live. Many conversations centered on safe, material-friendly handling, ergonomic workplaces, and how individual handling steps can be made noticeably more efficient.
Most importantly - across all areas - were the genuine conversations with customers and visitors. They clearly highlight which automation and handling challenges are truly relevant in the market right now: Where is time being lost? Where is labor scarce? Where are safety and ergonomics particularly critical? And where does it make sense to standardize or automate processes? These conversations are not only valuable for our visitors - they are equally valuable for us. They help us further develop solutions, set the right priorities, and stay closely aligned with real applications. In short: our customers took away a lot from the show - and so did we. We return with fresh insights and renewed momentum to keep delivering optimal solutions for a wide range of requirements.
We would like to sincerely thank all visitors for their time, interest, and the open conversations at Holz-Handwerk 2026. We look forward to taking the next steps together - from the first idea to a solution that truly moves in everyday operations.
