The job of a logistics firm serving exhibition organisers has come a long way from simply transporting load A to point B, by deadline C. Contractors have stepped up their efforts in logistics pre-planning, and are giving greater thought than ever to how best to guide clients through the potential paperwork, material handling and lifting issues they typically face before the show begins.
Agility had a test of heavy-duty adaptability in one recent example. “We had a logistical challenge for a show in Abu Dhabi,” said sales manager of Agility Fairs and Events, Garcia Newell.
“An exhibitor told us we had to move a 4,000kg piece of machinery in a tent, which could only take 300kg. We had to lift the floor and support it to allow the piece to be moved in.”
In addition to the simple mechanics of carrying and lifting, the firm has taken proactive measures to simplify the process for clients. Newell told EW Agility has created specific logistics web portals for shows. “With web portals you have the opportunity to provide exhibitors with the answers to their questions in advance,” he said.
CEVA Showfreight has also made significant investment in IT with a new bespoke back office system, and partnership with Dutch venue Jaarbeurs in Utrecht for a new vehicle initiative that monitors the flow of vehicles in and out of the venue. But the company experienced one of its
more unusual requests at the Farnborough International Air Show, in the south of the UK in July, helping transport a full-scale replica model of a commercial spaceship.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic was billed as the world’s first commercial spacecraft, and this replica (below) was to be visited by not only Branson, but by UK Prime Minister David Cameron during the event. It was the first time the model had been moved, and significant pre-planning was required in order to avoid any potential complications or delays. CEVA made collections from two locations where the model was being constructed; the fuse and wing pylons on from Hampshire and the wing sections from Hertfordshire.
“As this was the first time this model had been moved, lots of pre-planning was required in order to avoid any potential complications or delays,” said CEVA Showfreight operations development manager Mike Priestley.
As Priestly’s colleague, CEVA sales manager Mark Bristoll says, “success is all about understanding the needs of your clients”. And while not all of them are shifting replica spaceships about, it appears a logistics firm’s remit is difficult to define.
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Clear the way
One example of a contractor providing for needs of an organiser in accommodating a key exhibitor was at the ADIPEC energy show held in Dubai in November 2012.
Melville GES worked on a stand for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Due to the sheer size of the stand, two passageways were created, allowing visitor traffic to flow more easily beneath the raised tower. Ten days were set aside for the build, giving Melville GES the opportunity to add an artistic flourish for the stand’s eight metre high front fascia.
Melville GES plans to use the template for future projects.
This was first published in the Issue 1/2013 of EW. Any comments? Email exhibitionworld@mashmedia.net
