Expert Speaks
In a recent interview with Panel and Design News, Nathan Garnett, Event Director / Business Development Director of Professional Woodworking Expo, shared how the excitement is growing, as Professional Woodworking Expo returns in a bold new format designed to deliver more than a traditional trade show.
Read on to know why the 2026 edition of Professional Woodworking Expo is a dedicated tradeshow for woodworking and joinery professionals and it is the most important meeting place for the European woodworking industry.
Professional Woodworking Expo – the place to be.
PDN Desk: Professional Woodworking Expo returns to Birmingham in 2026 with a new format. What inspired this evolution, and what are the key objectives behind the changes?
Nathan Garnett: Professional Woodworking Expo 2026 marks an exciting new chapter for the event. The evolution has been driven by the changing needs of the woodworking and joinery manufacturing sector, as well as the growing demand for more connected, cross-industry collaboration. The biggest change is our co-location with InstallerSHOW and the Painting & Decorating Show, creating a much broader built-environment platform. Today’s projects increasingly require collaboration between multiple trades and disciplines, so it made sense to create an event that reflects how business is conducted in the real world.
Our objectives are simple: to increase opportunities for exhibitors, attract a larger and more diverse audience of decision-makers, and provide visitors with greater value through access to innovation, education, networking, and business development opportunities, all under one roof. The result is a more dynamic, commercially focused event while maintaining PWE’s position as the UK’s dedicated trade exhibition for woodworking and joinery professionals.
PDN Desk: What are the major highlights and innovations visitors can expect to see at PWE 2026?
Nathan Garnett: PWE 2026 will showcase the full spectrum of innovation across woodworking and joinery manufacturing. Visitors can expect to see the latest machinery, tooling, software, materials, coatings, finishes, and production technologies from leading suppliers across the industry.
A key attraction will be the live demonstration areas, where visitors can see advanced “new to the UK” machinery, timber window manufacturing, and practical carpentry applications in action. These hands-on experiences allow attendees to evaluate equipment performance and speak directly with experts. We have leading brands exhibiting including Leadermac, Martin, IMA Schilling, Nederman, Mirka, Wagner, Freud, Leitz, and Talbotts to name a few.
The event will also feature a comprehensive seminar programme covering business growth, manufacturing efficiency, workforce development, digital transformation, and emerging industry trends. Combined with extensive networking opportunities, PWE 2026 offers a complete platform for learning, discovery, and business growth.
PDN Desk: The woodworking industry is rapidly embracing automation, digitalisation, and sustainability. How will these trends be reflected on the show floor?
Nathan Garnett: These themes will be central to PWE 2026. Automation continues to transform manufacturing productivity, and visitors will be able to explore the latest CNC technologies, automated production systems, robotics, and workflow optimisation solutions designed to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Digitalisation is equally important. We expect strong representation from software providers offering solutions for design, production planning, machine integration, data management, and smart manufacturing, helping businesses move towards more connected and intelligent production environments.
Sustainability is increasingly influencing purchasing and investment decisions across the industry. Exhibitors will showcase environmentally responsible materials, coatings, finishes, waste-reduction technologies, energy-efficient machinery, and solutions that support lower-carbon manufacturing. Plus, we have our very own full scale timber house (HAUS), showing how we can build swiftly, economically and sustainably using timber as the core material. These innovations are helping businesses meet customer expectations while improving operational performance.
PDN Desk: PWE 2026 is co-located with InstallerSHOW and the Painting & Decorating Show. How does this partnership create additional value for exhibitors and visitors?
Nathan Garnett: The co-location creates a powerful multi-trade destination that significantly expands the reach and value of the event. For exhibitors, it means access not only to woodworking professionals but also to a much wider audience of installers, contractors, specifiers, architects, developers, and decision-makers working across the built environment. This creates new commercial opportunities and introduces suppliers to potential customers they may not typically reach through a standalone event. For visitors, the benefits are equally compelling. One badge provides access to multiple events, allowing attendees to discover innovations across woodworking, installation, construction, interiors, kitchens and bathrooms, electrical systems, and finishing trades. This broader perspective encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the discovery of complementary products and solutions.
PDN Desk: What opportunities will the event provide for woodworking manufacturers, machinery suppliers, and technology providers looking to grow their businesses?
Nathan Garnett: PWE 2026 is designed to be a business-growth platform. Exhibitors will have direct access to thousands of woodworking professionals with purchasing responsibility and active investment plans. The event provides an ideal environment for launching new products, demonstrating equipment, generating qualified leads, strengthening customer relationships, and building brand visibility.
The addition of the wider InstallerSHOW audience further increases commercial potential by exposing exhibitors to new markets and adjacent sectors, with leading brands like Wren, Howdens and Egger all exhibiting at the show. Whether a company is focused on machinery, tooling, software, materials, coatings, or manufacturing services, the event offers a unique opportunity to engage with buyers, influencers, and partners in a highly targeted environment.
PDN Desk: Why should woodworking professionals, joinery manufacturers, and industry decision-makers make PWE 2026 a priority event on their calendar?
Nathan Garnett: Because it is the UK’s dedicated event focused entirely on woodworking and joinery manufacturing, with 800 exhibitors, while also offering access to one of the largest multi-trade gatherings in the built environment sector.
The industry is facing rapid change from skills shortages and sustainability requirements to advances in automation and digital manufacturing. PWE provides a unique opportunity to see the latest technologies in action, hear from industry experts, compare solutions side by side, and connect with peers facing similar challenges.
Whether attendees are looking to invest in machinery, improve production efficiency, identify new suppliers, stay ahead of market trends, or develop strategic partnerships, PWE 2026 offers practical value that can directly impact business performance and future growth.
PDN Desk: Looking ahead, how do you see Professional Woodworking Expo contributing to the future growth and innovation of the UK woodworking industry?
Nathan Garnett: We see Professional Woodworking Expo playing a vital role as the industry’s meeting place for innovation, investment, and collaboration. As the sector continues to evolve, businesses need opportunities to access new technologies, develop skills, share knowledge, and build stronger supply-chain relationships. PWE provides the platform where those conversations and connections happen.
By bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, educators, trade bodies, and end users, the event helps accelerate the adoption of innovation and supports the long-term competitiveness of UK woodworking and joinery manufacturing. Our ambition is for PWE to become not only the UK’s leading woodworking exhibition, but also a catalyst for industry progress, helping businesses embrace change, unlock new opportunities, and shape a stronger, more sustainable future for the sector.
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