The idea of establishing the wemhöner award 2004 for the first time stems from the continuous exchange of thinking and intensive collaboration between the company and the laboratories of the Wood Technology course run by the Production and Business Department of Lippe and Höxter Technical College in Lemgo. The course's specialist laboratories offered their input for the conceptual development of the Competition and its specialist and technical support:

Prof. Dipl.-Holzwirt Reinhard Grell Laboratory for Materials and Production Technology

Prof. Dr. Adrian Riegel Laboratory for Woodworking Machines and Production Technologies

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Martin Stosch Laboratory for Furniture Design, Construction and Development

This laboratory's Wood Technology course incorporates broad engineering sciences and specialist knowledge in wood technology, production and construction engineering, as well as including a high level of modern engineering qualifications such as logistics, computer science, foreign languages and marketing, and the design aspects of product development and design management.

Marta Herford, a centre of furniture, art and architecture, is due to be complete by spring 2004, just in time for the awards ceremony. Designed by the world-famous architect Frank O. Gehry and staged by successful Gent art connoisseur and Dokumenta manager Jan Hoet, Marta Herford will be dedicating its first exhibition to the winning work of the wemhöner award 2004. By hosting this young talent prize, Marta Herford is taking up an unequivocal position in the future of furniture and sending a clear message into the region.