LET'S SHAPE THE FUTURE OF FURNITURE PRODUCTION
Open House 2026 | Three successful days filled with exchange, innovation, and personal conversations are behind us. Together with around 300 visitors, we had the opportunity to provide exciting insights into current technologies, solutions, and machine concepts in Lübbecke.
A special highlight was our newly redesigned Technology Center with numerous live running machines and hands on demonstrations. The high number of visitors, intensive discussions, and strong interest in our solutions made Open House 2026 a thoroughly successful event.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to our partners, who made an important contribution to the event with their presentations, booths, and expertise.
Thank you to all customers, partners, and visitors for the valuable discussions, trust, and exchange. We are already looking forward to the next Open House.
Review
In-House Trade Show: “Working Together for the Future”
Around 300 trade visitors, three intense days, and a clear focus on concrete industrial applications: IMA Schelling’s Open House 2026 in Lübbecke showcased the full range of modern wood and furniture manufacturing technology. The spectrum extended from highly flexible edge processing systems to CNC and drilling technology, and AI-supported quality control. The focus was on automation, digital process intelligence, and scalable production, ranging from standalone solutions to mass production.
From May 6 to 8, 2026, the company’s Westphalian site became a hub for in-depth customer discussions and technical insights. “In this kind of setting, we can make the best possible use of our time with customers,” said IMA Schelling CEO Maximilian Lehner. The Open House 2026 provided an opportunity to discuss applications in detail and experience ongoing operations firsthand.
Technology That Works Holistically
The company presented integrated production solutions covering the entire value chain – from panel cutting and edge processing to CNC, drilling, and milling processes, as well as integrated handling systems. The machines were not presented in isolation, but were showcased as complete process chains in real-world operation and within the technical center. This close connection to practical application reflects IMA Schelling’s company-wide hands-on mentality.
Against the backdrop of growing demands for product variety and efficiency, the HL 1 high-performance panel saw also attracted considerable attention. Developed for the trend toward batch size 1 production, it demonstrates how high performance can be combined with flexible manufacturing requirements and variable layout design. The machine highlights key considerations for modern production concepts and provides insights into functions and configuration options for highly customized manufacturing. Another major highlight was the new thickness-flexible pressure beam for through-feed edge processing machines. Introduced for the first time, this solution significantly expands the possibilities of flexible machine concepts and noticeably changes the structure of modern manufacturing processes.
The CNC portfolio also demonstrated its strengths with complex geometries such as 90° inner corners and handle profiles, as well as the automated integration of furniture connectors. The range additionally included through-feed drilling technology and space-optimized systems with integrated logistics based on high-bay storage systems. This included robotic solutions for workpiece handling and flexible load gripping systems. Vision and inspection systems for identification and quality control completed the overall technological picture.
Software Becomes a Production Factor
A key topic was the increasing convergence of automation, software, and artificial intelligence. Due to labor shortages, rising costs, and increasing efficiency demands, data-driven systems are becoming ever more important. With the further development of the “aimi” machine software platform, IMA Schelling is focusing on integrated digital structures. At the same time, the ERP system landscape is being modernized and expanded with platforms that enable customers to implement their own AI applications. “A completely new approach. Nobody in our industry has done this before,” emphasized CEO Maximilian Lehner.
The AI platform “Vision AI” also celebrated its premiere. Customers can use it to train their own models for industrial image analysis, for example in quality inspection and production monitoring. With this development, the company is consistently expanding its vision portfolio toward individually configurable AI applications.
Rethinking Service
Alongside technology and software, the service division was also presented as a central component of the overall concept. One focus was on concepts for sustainably increasing machine performance in the areas of modernization, digitalization, and repair. In addition, technical training sessions provided practical insights into workshop formats in the technical center, where optimization potential is identified collaboratively and solutions are developed in a structured manner. With the further developed Zimba platform, IMA Schelling introduced a central solution for machine management and support that significantly simplifies and accelerates access to documentation, spare parts, and service processes. The offering was complemented by new service approaches, including predictive maintenance using Viezo sensor technology and the continued expansion of digital services. “We are consistently taking service to the next level,” confirmed IMA Schelling Service Director Martin Krügers, “from new approaches in spare parts pricing to a future-oriented overall concept.”
Personal exchange proved to be a key success factor. Discussions ranged from specific project requirements to strategic questions concerning future production. Economic conditions were also a topic, particularly geopolitical uncertainties and restrained investment decisions. Commenting on the company’s current situation, the CEO stated: “Despite a challenging market environment, we are broadly on track.”
Proximity as a Strategy for the Future
Throughout the event, Maximilian Lehner repeatedly emphasized the importance of location, employees, innovation, and close customer relationships. “We have several new developments underway here, both in the service sector and in new machinery. We have no reason to hide. Our local team is doing an excellent job.”
International leading trade fairs such as Ligna, IWF Atlanta, and Interzum Guangzhou remain central pillars of the company’s market strategy. “However, the Open House in Luebbecke is a format,” Lehner stressed, “that we increasingly want to establish as a complement to traditional trade fairs. Alongside new systems and real applications, our focus is on intensive dialogue with customers. Because the future emerges where technology is not only presented, but further developed together within the process.”