Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) has a knack for standing out from the crowd with its unique exhibits. Hot on the heels of last year’s fascinating "wood-e-bike", which combined wooden main components with an integrated electric motor, the research and development team from the "town of wood" has continued this theme and produced yet another practical wooden design for HANNOVER MESSE 2017. The TU Berlin stand is hosting the guests from Brandenburg, who are unveiling their prototype machine tool made mainly from wood at the event.

Even in the age of 3D printing, wood is still hard to beat as a material thanks to the relative simplicity of crafting complex geometrical designs. Wooden constructions also score highly in terms of sustainability, outstanding scope for design and creativity, special ambience and the particular sense of wellbeing that is drawn from the look and feel of this natural material. The innovative potential of a wooden machine tool stems partly from the ease with which those system components that are subject to wear - such as gantries, tables, housings and clamping devices - can be reproduced and replaced.