The Materials of Exhibition Stands
There is an art and a science to trade show booth manufacturing.
The materials that go into it need to be sturdy enough to survive transportation, but also survive the years and money that you have put into them. They must also be lightweight enough to be portable and carried from show to show, but also not incur any additional shipping charges due to weight.
Aluminum
Besides being a component in the cans of energy drinks that so many pound during trade shows, the trusses and support frames of your exhibition stands should be made of aluminum. It’s lightweight, sturdy and multi-functional.
Fabrics
Different fabrics perform different functions depending on the environment. Polyester materials like stretch, satins, sheers, or backlit fabrics provide a professional aesthetic that will help you stand apart from your competitors. Most fabrics fold down tightly for storage purposes and any wrinkling that may occur can be removed by just spraying water on it and hanging it, much like clothing.
These days, prints on fabric is done through a dye-sublimation process, where the ink is actually absorbed into the fabric, as opposed to on-top as it would with a vinyl or PVC display. This ensures that the print will last a long time and not dull.
Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the most widely used materials for trade show banners.
It’s very inexpensive and multi-functional. Prints done on vinyl tend to be very crisp and cleaning is a breeze. But vinyl is not without its downsides. It can be very hard to travel with and creases easily, along with weighing on the heavier side of exhibition stand materials.
But perhaps the main detraction from using vinyl is that it is so widely used. It’s hard to stand out when you look like the rest.
Carpet
Much of the focus on exhibition booths can be looking around at what is eye level and above. One often-overlooked material (quite literally) is carpeting your booth.
Carpeting can not only create a visual impact for you, but also can become a magnet for trade show exhibits goers looking to spend just a few seconds resting their weary feet from a long day of walking the show floor. It’s also a great benefit your staff, who will be forced to spend a majority of their day on their feet. Take care of your staff and they will take care of you.
