Freight forwarding, ATA Carnets, install timelines, permits, health and safety, electrical connections and insurance: every operational detail that decides whether your stand opens on time.
Logistics and setup is the unglamorous half of exhibition delivery — and the half that, when it fails, makes everything else irrelevant. A stand that misses its build-up window opens late, loses preview-day visits, and triggers €1,000–3,000 per-day overrun penalties.
This hub covers the ten operational decisions every European exhibitor has to make, from choosing a forwarder to shipping deadlines.
From the truck arriving to the last crate leaving. Pick a day to see what happens and who is responsible.
Non-EU exhibitors shipping demo goods or stand materials usually need one, issued by the origin country's chamber of commerce. Post-Brexit UK–EU and Swiss shipments need them too. Processing takes 5–10 working days.
Typically 3–7 days for tier-one fairs, with the largest allowing 8–12 days. Overruns cost €1,000–3,000 per day per stand.
Almost without exception. Bringing your own is not permitted and venue rate cards apply.
Public liability (€1–3M minimum), all-risk transport insurance door to door, and stand-loss cover for fire, theft and damage on site.
8–12 weeks before opening for single-storey stands; 12–16 weeks for double-deckers with engineer-stamped calculations.
€80–200 per m³ per month for climate-controlled storage, cheaper in Belgium and the Netherlands.
