Holz

What Holz does

Holz is Switzerland's leading trade fair for the wood processing industry, first held in 1957 and held triennially at Messe Basel under the operation of MCH Group, with co-organizers tecnoswiss and HBT Schweiz contributing industry and technical expertise. The fair occupies Halls 1.0 and 1.1 of Messe Basel, providing approximately 45,000 m² of exhibition space, and the most recent edition (October 14-18, 2025) attracted 32,094 professional visitors and approximately 350 exhibitors. The next edition is scheduled for October 10-14, 2028. The event targets Swiss woodworking trade professionals (Schreiner, Zimmerleute), wood processing industry suppliers (equipment manufacturers, software providers, material suppliers), and academic and research institutions including BFH and ETH Zürich.

The core product is the triennial physical fair, augmented by complementary programmatic elements: the Innovationsforum (a stage program of expert presentations managed by Berner Fachhochschule), the Zukunft Holz exhibition area combining innovation showcases with a networking café, the Innovationspreis Holz award (Gold/Silver/Bronze across categories including materials, automated wood processing, and IT/Digitalisierung), and the Netzwerk Holz year-round community platform with regional Branchentreffs events. Themed tracks cover Schreiner (joinery), Holzbau/Dach/Gebäudehülle (timber construction), IT/Digitalisierung, and Brennpunkt Rohstoff & Nachhaltigkeit (raw materials and sustainability). Marketing operates through the holz.ch website, newsletters, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), and premium media partnerships with SchreinerZeitung, Wir HOLZBAUER, and IDB.

Holz generates revenue through three primary streams: exhibitor booth rental fees (priced by booth size, location, and tier), professional visitor ticket sales, and sponsorship and partnership revenue anchored by Hauptpartner HOMAG (Schweiz) AG with additional tiered association and media partners. Pricing specifics are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is centered on the physical Messe Basel venue with regional year-round engagement through Netzwerk Holz, and self-serve online registration via the website. Holz operates exclusively within Switzerland as the dominant domestic gathering point for the wood processing industry, with no indication of international expansion beyond Swiss-border attendee reach.

Name

Holz

Legal name

Holz (Messe Basel)

Website

https://holz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Holz is Switzerland's oldest and leading trade fair for the wood processing industry, held triennially at Messe Basel since 1957, attracting 32,000+ professionals and 350 exhibitors across 45,000 m². It serves Swiss carpenters, timber builders, equipment suppliers, and research institutions through a triennial exhibition complemented by year-round community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Fair and Exhibition Services

akta.pro primary industry

Manufacturing, Industrial Equipment & Automation Shows Organizers (THAHABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ)

Keywords

• Woodworking trade fair
• Exhibition event services
• Industry networking platform
• Timber construction events
• Wood processing B2B

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Fees: Revenue generated from companies renting exhibition space and participating as exhibitors at the Holz trade fair. Pricing tiers exist based on booth size and location.
2. Ticket Sales: Professional visitor admission fees for the trade fair event.
3. Sponsorship and Partnership: Revenue from strategic partnerships with sponsors including main partners (HOMAG), media partners, and association partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Holz is Switzerland's leading trade fair for the wood processing industry, held triennially at Messe Basel across approximately 45,000 m² of exhibition space, bringing together around 350 exhibitors and more than 32,000 professional visitors. The event combines exhibition halls, the Zukunft Holz innovation area, the Innovationsforum stage program managed by Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), the Innovationspreis Holz innovation award, and the year-round Netzwerk Holz professional networking platform with regional Branchentreffs events across Switzerland.

Product overview

Holz is the leading Swiss trade fair (Fachmesse) for the wood processing industry, held triennially at Messe Basel since 1957. The fair operates as a comprehensive exhibition platform bringing together ~350 exhibitors across ~45,000 m² in Halls 1.0 & 1.1, attracting over 32,000 professional visitors. The core event (Holz) is complemented by dedicated sub-products: the Innovationsforum stage program managed by Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) featuring expert-led talks on industry trends; the Zukunft Holz exhibition area focused on future industry developments and innovation; and the Innovationspreis Holz award recognizing outstanding industry innovations. The fair also showcases third-party products from exhibiting companies spanning IT/Digitalization software (interiorcad, PYTHA, Triviso ERP, ComNormAPI), timber construction materials (best wood CLT BOX elements, Novatop Facade), specialty adhesives (Jowat Green Adhesives), facade systems, hardware solutions (Hawa sliding systems), and building membranes (pro clima SOLITEX), all organized under thematic tracks including Schreiner (joiner/cabinetmaker), Holzbau/Dach/Gebäudehülle (timber construction), IT/Digitalization, and Brennpunkt Rohstoff & Nachhaltigkeit (Raw Materials & Sustainability).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zukunft Holz: Exhibition area featuring innovative products and trends from the wood processing industry, including an innovation forum and networking café.
• Innovationsforum
• Branchentreffs

Products and services

• Holz Trade Fair The leading Swiss trade fair for the wood processing industry, held triennially at Messe Basel. The 2025 edition (October 14-18) attracted 32,094 professional visitors and approximately 350 exhibitors across ~45,000 m² in Halls 1.0 and 1.1. The next edition is scheduled for October 10-14, 2028.
• Zukunft Holz Exhibition Area

Quantifiable outcome

• 32,094 professional visitors attended Holz 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• HOMAG (Schweiz) AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOMAG serves as the Hauptpartner (Main Partner) of Holz. As a leading manufacturer of woodworking machinery and digital solutions, HOMAG provides significant support for the fair's positioning as the premier industry platform.
• tecnoswisscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs one of the Veranstalter (organizers) of Holz, tecnoswiss represents the Swiss technical association contributing to the fair's industry credibility and technical content.
• HBT Schweiz (Holzbearbeitungstechnik)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBT serves as one of the Veranstalter (organizers) of Holz, representing woodworking technology expertise in the fair's organization.
• MCH GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMCH Group operates Messe Basel and provides the physical infrastructure for Holz. They manage the exhibition venue, logistics, and event operations. The fair uses MCH Group's DARE-Framework sustainability approach.
• VSSM (Verband Schweizerischer Schreinermeister und Möbelfabrikanten)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs Verbandspartner (association partner), VSSM represents Swiss joinery and furniture manufacturers, providing industry representation and member access for the fair.
• Holzbau SchweizcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs Verbandspartner (association partner), Holzbau Schweiz represents timber construction professionals, expanding the fair's reach into the structural wood building sector.
• BFH (Berner Fachhochschule)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerner Fachhochschule serves as the strategic partner for education, research and innovation. They direct the Innovationsforum content and coordinate with ETH Zürich for research presentations. The BFH is also the only accredited testing institute in Switzerland for break-in resistant windows and doors.
• HWS (Holzbau Wirtschaft Schweiz)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs Verbands-Networkingpartner, HWS provides networking connections within the timber construction economy sector.
• FFF (Förderung Fenster und Fassaden)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs Verbands-Networkingpartner, FFF supports networking for window and facade specialists at the fair.
• SchreinerZeitungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAs Premium-Medienpartner (premium media partner), SchreinerZeitung provides editorial coverage and extends the fair's marketing reach to the joinery profession.
• Wir HOLZBAUERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAs Premium-Medienpartner (premium media partner), Wir HOLZBAUER is the association magazine for the timber construction industry, providing media coverage for the fair.
• IDB (FRECEM Magazine)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAs Premium-Medienpartner (premium media partner), IDB provides French-language coverage for the fair targeting the Romandie region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LIGNA: LIGNA is the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry, held biennially in Hannover, Germany. It is the most direct global comparable to Holz given overlapping exhibitor categories (machinery, tooling, software, materials) and B2B visitor base.
• Drema: Drema is an annual international trade fair for woodworking machinery, tools, and components held in Poznań, Poland. It serves furniture makers, joiners, and industrial wood processors across Central/Eastern Europe with a comparable mix of machinery, materials, and software exhibitors.
• Xylexpo: Xylexpo is a biennial exhibition for woodworking machinery and technology held in Milan, Italy. It focuses on industrial woodworking equipment and tooling, overlapping materially with the machinery and automation theme at Holz (Maschinelle, automatisierte Holzbearbeitung).
• HOLZ-HANDWERK: HOLZ-HANDWERK is a biennial woodworking and wood processing trade fair held in Nuremberg, Germany. It targets joiners, carpenters, and the wood crafting trade - the same Schreiner/Zimmerleute segments that Holz serves in Switzerland - making it the closest European peer.
• WoodTec (Dřevoobráběcí technika): WoodTec is a biennial trade fair for woodworking machinery, tools, and materials held in Brno, Czech Republic. It directly overlaps with Holz's machinery and IT/Digitalisierung exhibition zones and serves a similar joinery and furniture production audience.
• BIFE-SIM: BIFE-SIM is an annual trade fair for furniture, woodworking, and related industries held in Bucharest, Romania. It serves a similar supplier-exhibitor base (machinery, fittings, materials, software) for joiners and furniture manufacturers in Southeastern Europe.

Regional players

• IWF Atlanta: The International Woodworking Fair (IWF) is a biennial woodworking machinery and supply trade show held in Atlanta, USA. It targets North American cabinet, furniture, and architectural woodworkers with comparable product categories to Holz but operates in a distinct geography.

Broad incumbents

• BAU Munich: BAU is the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems held biennially in Munich, Germany. It covers timber construction, facades, and building systems among many other trades, giving it partial overlap with Holz's Holzbau/Dach/Gebäudehülle exhibitor base.

Emerging players

• Salone del Mobile.Milano: Salone del Mobile is the world's leading furniture and design trade fair held annually in Milan. While its primary focus is furniture and interior design rather than industrial wood processing, it intersects with Holz's Schreiner/joinery segment and downstream furniture manufacturing exhibitors.

Others

• Messe Luzern / Swiss exhibitions portfolio: Other regional Swiss and DACH trade fair organizers (Messe Luzern, MCH Group's other fairs such as Baselworld legacy events, Swissbau) are adjacent ecosystem players in the same Swiss exhibition industry, sharing venue dynamics, sponsor pools, and audience overlap with Holz's professional visitor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HolzMesseBasel
• Facebookfacebook.com/holz.messe.basel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/80528387
• Instagraminstagram.com/holzmessebasel
• Xx.com/holz_messebasel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Holz