by SearchKings | Aug 7, 2026 | Exhibition, Exhibition Services, Exhibition stand builders, Exhibition Stands
When planning a multi-venue corporate roadshow or a regional promotional tour, selecting the appropriate infrastructure is a critical operational decision. Brands must frequently choose between a bespoke, high-impact custom exhibition and lightweight, modular portable exhibition gear. Balancing aesthetic presence with logistical feasibility is key to a successful show.
Direct Comparison: Showcase vs. Portable
| Feature |
Custom Showcase Exhibition |
Portable Exhibition Hardware |
| Primary Focus |
Deep brand immersion & prestige |
Operational agility & speed |
| Setup Time |
Multi-day professional installation |
Tool-free, rapid self-assembly |
| Logistics |
Dedicated freight & specialised rigging |
Compact transit cases via standard vehicle |
| Best Used For |
High-profile launches, flagship venues |
Multi-city roadshows, high-frequency events |
The Impact of a Custom Showcase Exhibition
A dedicated showcase setup is engineered for maximum visual authority. These custom environments are ideal for high-profile product launches or long-term activations where brand perception is paramount.
By utilising premium materials, integrated audio-visual exhibits, and custom lighting, a custom stand creates an immersive brand experience that temporary setups cannot easily replicate. However, these bespoke exhibits typically require professional installation teams, dedicated freight transport, and longer setup windows at each venue, making them best suited for multi-day exhibits.
The major benefit of a custom stand lies in its capacity for total environment control. When you deploy a custom experiential space, every variable is calculated, to the precise angling of the spotlights. This level of detail is critical for luxury brands, high-tech enterprises, and industrial firms that need to demonstrate complex, high-value solutions to a select audience of key decision-makers.
The Agility of Portable Exhibition Gear
Conversely, for fast-paced tours encompassing multiple cities or event spaces, portable exhibition solutions offer unmatched flexibility. Modern modular systems, such as pop-up banners, tension fabric walls, and lightweight counters, can be packed into compact transit cases and transported in standard vehicles.
These components are designed for rapid assembly with just an Allen key or simple tools, allowing a small team to erect a polished corporate presentation within minutes. For businesses managing tight event schedules across the country, the cost savings in logistics and labour make portable hardware exceptionally efficient.
Furthermore, the engineering of modern portable displays has advanced dramatically. High-definition dye-sublimation printing ensures that fabric graphics remain vibrant and crease-free, even after repeated packing cycles. This means that adopting a mobile strategy no longer requires compromising on visual professionalism, as lightweight systems can now mimic the seamless look of solid architectural walls.
Logistical and Financial Considerations
Choosing between these two methodologies requires a thorough analysis of your operational capabilities and total cost of ownership.
In contrast, portable equipment represents a highly scalable asset. Because the components are standardised, you can easily expand or reduce your footprint based on the specific square footage available at each venue. Storage costs are minimal, and depreciation is low, allowing your marketing team to achieve a highly favourable cost-per-activation ratio over a multi-month schedule.
Aligning Infrastructure with Strategic Goals
Ultimately, your choice depends on exhibition and display objectives. If your priority is deep immersion at premier trade venues, investing in a custom showcase delivers the necessary prestige. For high-frequency, multi-venue agility, a premium portable inventory ensures consistent, professional presentation with minimal operational friction. By evaluating your venue timelines, staff availability, and brand objectives, you can deploy the precise event infrastructure required to make your regional tour a resounding success.
Planning a National Roadshow or Trade Tour? Whether you need the commanding prestige of a custom-built showcase or the rapid deployment of premium, lightweight fabric stands, Scan Display has the ideal operational solution for your budget.
Enquire about our exhibition solutions and let our experts help you with your exhibition.
by Ceri | Feb 28, 2020 | Events, Exhibition, Exhibition Services
The African Aerospace and Defence 2020 Exhibition
Mark September 2020 as the month of importance on your calendar. Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2020, as the most impressive aerospace and defence expo, will be hosted from 16 to 20 September 2020 at the Waterkloof Air Force base in Centurion.
The AAD Expo ranks amongst the country’s top GDP contributors. It is also the only event of its kind that combines an air show with a trade exhibition in Africa. With its status as an income generator for the country, it is revered as a valuable asset for South Africa. The AAD Expo also adds tremendous prestige for the event hosting industry.
Timetable
- Business from 10h30 to 17h00 on 16 September 2020.
- Business from 09h00 to 17h00 from 17 to 18 September 2020.
- General from 09h00 to 17h00 from 19 to 20 September 2020.
Attendance
More than 480 exhibitors are expected at the bi-annual event with an estimation of visitors set at over 32 500.
Address
The AAD 2020 is hosted at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, Gauteng.
Partners
- Department of Defence, South Africa
- City of Tshwane
- Armscor
- AMD – South African Aerospace Maritime & Defence Industries Association
The main sponsors include the likes of Reutech and Milkor.
Exhilarating Air Show
The AAD air show impresses by any standard. It includes mobility track demonstrations, aerobatic displays and air demonstrations. In addition, visitors are treated to an exceptional range of static displays of air force and aviation technologies, including a range of aircraft from the most prominent names in the aerospace industry.
Several facilities are offered to entertain the young minds as well, including a Youth Development Programme that entails plastic model building, target practice, forensic investigation, aviation simulator and introduction to first aid. These activities are hosted at a pavilion, specifically purposed for the youth activities.
Reasons to Visit
Public visitors are impressed with the range of displays, many activities offered, and the exceptional air demonstrations. Trade visitors attend because it is the only event of its kind in Africa that includes an international conference and defence exhibition, covering sectors in defence on land, sea and air.
The latest technologies are on display, providing insight as to the design trends in the industries. In addition, it provides the perfect platform for meeting key players and forging new business relationships. Of course, the event also provides opportunities for reinforcing existing relationships among government departments and defence force sectors across the African continent.
Why Exhibit?
With thousands of trade and public visitors attending, it provides for the ideal platform to showcase your products and brand. The AAD attracts many international investors and key decision-makers in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Participation in the event provides for access to policymakers and opportunities to showcase projects to defence and prime contractors. Global media coverage of the event provides superb brand exposure and the chance to align your firm’s brand with top international brands. The event also includes a jam-packed programme for the international defence delegations.
Exhibition opportunities exist for small- to medium-sized businesses to gain more brand exposure on the local market at the Country Pavilions.
More information is available at the official website for AAD 2020.
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by Ceri | Feb 28, 2020 | Events, Exhibition Services, Exhibition stand builders
Seamless Africa 2020 – Leading Event for Payment Systems
Seamless Africa, with its over 200 exhibitors and 1000 attendees, is hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 7 to 8 April 2020. The event is relevant to the retail finance and insurance industries.
As the leading event on payment and commerce systems in southern Africa, Seamless boasts a conference and tradeshow. With separate agendas for the tradeshow and the conference, it is an exciting and must-attend event for anyone interested or involved in payment systems, retail, and E-commerce.
Seamless Africa 2020 also includes the free shared expo where the leading technology service providers in southern Africa display their newest technologies. Several product demonstrations form part of the event. These demonstrations take about 30 minutes each.
With a networking app in place, attendees can connect with participants at the event. To do so is as easy as downloading the app and scheduling meetings for the event days. In addition, the event includes seminars where experts share their knowledge and insights. It provides the perfect platform to exchange ideas and benefit from credible peer-to-peer teaching and learning.
The event also includes the Seamless E-commerce University that covers all the how-to questions regarding the setting up and managing of an online business. Attendees thus gain valuable knowledge and tools to achieve a competitive edge in the world of online business generation.
The exhibitor component is equally exciting with top players in the industry displaying their innovations alongside start-ups gaining a foothold in the industry.
Organised by Terrapin (Pty) Ltd South Africa, the event addresses the disruptive elements in the payment industry. Revolutionary technologies for payments in the retail industry, banking, lending, and insurance technologies are introduced at the event.
Participants from the bank, insurance, and financial technologies attend and exhibit, catering to the knowledge and networking needs of the senior-level audience. Commerce professionals have opportunities to forge new business partnerships, gain access to the best technologies, and discuss challenging issues.
Who should attend, sponsor or exhibit at Seamless Africa?
Role players, start-ups, manufacturers, representatives, and marketing teams operating in the categories listed below benefit from attendance, sponsoring and exhibiting at the event:
- Payment processors
- Chip manufacturers
- Chip integrators
- NFC
- Banking technology
- Fintech innovation
- ID & security
- Payment platforms
- Payment issuers
- CRM
- Loyalty programmes
- Implementation partners
- Mobile commerce solution providers
- Cash handling
- POS solutions
- Data analytics
The event provides a venue for meeting up, sharing ideas, exhibiting technologies and learning from experts. With its target audience being mainly professionals in the categories mentioned, exhibitors and sponsors have a targeted audience, relevant to their particular industries. As such, they receive superb value for their time and money.
More than 150 speakers from over 25 African countries address delegates at the conference.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- Block-chain
- Open banking
- Payment evolution
- Mobile interoperability
- Transforming banking
- Data-driven innovation
- Cryptocurrencies
- Digital banking
- Alternative technologies
- ID and authentication
- Cybersecurity
- Digital ID
- Financial technology
- Financial integration
- VAS, CX and UX
- Insurance technology
- Regulatory framework for insurtech
- Insurtech customer technology
- Data and analytics relevant to insurtech
- Core banking technology
- Data innovation in banking technology
- Innovation in banking
- Connected banking
Separate agendas are set for insurance technology, bank technology, financial technology and payments. Don’t miss the leading payments conference and expo. Visit, sponsor, and exhibit at the Seamless Africa 2020 event.
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by Ceri | Nov 7, 2019 | Display Booths, Events, Exhibition Services
AfricaCom
2019 in Cape Town: Must-Attend Event on Digital Tech & Telecoms
If digital technology is of
interest to you, then the AfricaCom 2019 conference and exhibition to be hosted
from the 12th to the 14th of November at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa is an event
you don’t want to miss.
Noted by some as one of the top
five events of its kind in Africa, the event brings together communication and
connectivity role players who are critical to the digital revolution on the
African continent.
With 15 000 attendees, a whopping
450 notable speakers, and 500 exhibitors participating in the AfricaCom 2019,
it is easy to understand why it is considered such a significant event. With
broad-spectrum support, the event is where anyone interested in Africa-based
telecommunications and technology can meet.
Whether your firm operates within
the connectivity sphere or is involved in one of the disruptive technologies,
the content of the conference, together with the offerings of exhibitors, is
something to cherish. Everything from digital services to disruptive
technologies, ITC strategies, and connection technology come under the
spotlight at the conference and exhibition.
For participants who are more
focused on technology, the AfricaTech event running with AfricaCom 2019 is the
place to be. It is focused on topics ranging from data centre management to
Fintech, AI, and IoT, to name just a few topics of interest.
Connectivity industry players and
interested parties appreciate the in-depth discussions, workshops,
demonstrations, and keynote deliveries regarding digital video distribution,
wholesale telecommunications, and 5G.
The organisers have also invited
visitors to enjoy a drink with them at the opening of the AfricaCom and
AfricaTech 2019 event at the on-site bar. Of course, this provides ample
opportunities for networking with influencers in the digital and telecommunication
industries. Tech DJs entertain while attendees mingle and exchange business
cards on Tuesday the 12th of November 2019 at the AfricaTech Centre
Stage Bar.
As with many such events, the
place of hosting is just as important. The event is hosted at the CTICC, noted
for superb facilities, a central location, and ample parking spaces. The CTICC
is located at 1 Lower Long Street in the prestigious Foreshore of Cape Town
near top hotels.
With 450 speakers at the event,
it is hardly possible to give recognition to each of them. A few of the
speakers set to address important topics at the conference are:
- Prof. Brian Armstrong – Chair of Digital Business at Wits
Business School.
- Lunga Newman – Industry architect from Old Mutual.
- Mandla Magagula – Blockchain consultant from Rand Merchant Bank.
- Navindran Naidoo – Executive at network design and planning from
the MTN Group.
- Joseph Hundah – CEO of Econet Media.
- Cassandra Enyan – Head of Android Platform Partnerships from
Google.
- Warren Hero – CDO from Webber Wentzel.
- Ben Roberts – CTIO from Liquid Telecom.
- William Mzimba – CEO of Vodacom Business Group.
- Hon. Paula Ingabire – Minister of ICT & Innovation from
Rwanda.
The speaker list is impressive by
any standard. Many more speakers of note also participate in the conference.
For more information on the AfricaCom 2019, visit the CTICC website www.cticc.co.za, and for assistance in creating an exhibition booth that will
make your company stand out, get in touch with our team at Scan Display.
by Ceri | Nov 7, 2019 | Display Booths, Display stands, Events, Exhibition Services
Africa
Oil Week 2019: Where the Future of Africa’s Energy and Gas Is Discussed
TheAfrica Oil Week 2019 is
hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) at 1 Lower Long
Street in the Foreshore of Cape Town. The event is considered the leading
platform for intelligence collection and transactions for role players in the
oil and gas sector on the African continent. The event is hosted from the 4th
to the 8th of November 2019, giving participants several days in
which to form partnerships, seek investments, offer investments, and
participate in meaningful discussions relevant to the industry.
The most prestigious and
respected E&P stakeholders in the sector attend the event. Being on the
list of participating companies already provides exceptional prestige and
opportunities for participants. People from international oil conglomerates,
investment companies, and governments are among the participants, and the key players
with which attendees can rub shoulders.
With top decision-makers on the
attendance list, discussions and workshops on topics of importance are set to
impact the future of the industry. Numerous beneficial partnerships are formed
at this event with its bidding rounds. Energy ministers from various countries
on the continent also attend, giving even more weight to the outcomes of
discussions and partnerships.
The ministers attending the event
include the US Assistance Secretary for Fossil Energy, the Premier of the
Western Cape, and ministers from Uganda, Tunisia, and Equatorial Guinea. The
focus includes an in-depth look at what the future holds for the energy and gas
sectors, and what can be expected from future energies.
The Africa Oil Week has been CPD
certified. This means the event has been certified according to the
requirements of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This describes the
activities by professionals in a particular industry committed to the engagement
and development of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. The event,
therefore, meets the requirements of a proactive development platform for
professionals within the oil and gas industries.
Among the Many Notable Speakers
Providing Exceptional Insight in the Industry Are:
- Adewale Fayemi – MD of Exploration and Production in South
Africa, as a representative of Total.
- Karyna Rodriguez – Petroleum Geoscientist from TGS.
- Ahmet Dik – CEO of Victoria Oil & Gas.
- Ajay Trikam – Director of Energy from the Western Cape
Government.
- Alan Driscole – Principal Geologist from Beagle Geoscience.
- Jasper Pejis – Exploration Vice President for BP.
- Jeremy Asher – CEO of Tower Resources.
- Richard Nelson – Deputy Coordinator of Power Africa.
- Thabane Zulu – Director General of the Department of Energy,
South Africa.
The above list is indicative of
the level of professionalism and influence at the Africa Oil Week. It is by no
means exhaustive as several keynote speakers address peer professionals at the
event. The event includes an impressive VIP and government attendance
programme.
Top brands in the industry
sponsor the event and just as many exhibit, so their brands receive tremendous
international exposure. Among the many exhibitors are names such as Aveon
Offshore, ION, Polarcus, and TGS, to name just a few.
Africa Oil Week is a noteworthy
event that puts industry players in the driving seat regarding the future of
oil, energy, and gas on the African continent. If you missed this year’s event,
make sure to gear up for it next year.
by Ceri | Nov 7, 2019 | Exhibition, Exhibition Services, Exhibition Stands
6 Basic
Design Tips for Trade-Show Success with Exhibition Booths
Since you will invest a lot of
time and money to display your services, brand, and products at trade shows, it
makes sense to ensure that your exhibition booths are attractive, functional,
and unique. We share a few tips below to help you maximise the potential of
your exhibition booths.
- Work with Available Space
If the space is restrictive, you
need to minimise obstructions, especially stands, display cases, and furniture
at the entrance or exit areas of the exhibition booths. You want a natural
flow. As soon as visitors feel restricted in their movement, they will become
irritated and won’t pay attention to the exceptional displays.
- Use Vertical Space to Your Advantage
It is not all that easy to stand
out from the crowd, especially if all the exhibition booths are of superior
design. To this end, enquire if there is a vertical space limit. If not, use
the space above your exhibition stand for tower signs, and hang displays or any
other type of advert that can draw attention to your stand. This is especially
helpful if the trade show is rather crowded. Attendees are likely to see the displays
above the booths and follow them to find your particular stand.
- Work with Fewer Rather Than More Words
Visitors to trade shows have
limited time. They are bombarded with information. Give them something easy to
remember. Think of a slogan that’s catchy and go with it, rather than use long
sentences to convey messages. Grab their attention with the displays by making
them memorable with short action verbs and drive the message home with a catchy
slogan. Place text at the top part of the booth to minimise the risk of it
being obstructed by people passing it.
Far too many exhibition booths
rely on the trade show’s lights for illumination. Be different. Use uplights,
downlights, angle lights, LED light boxes, and even colour lights to highlight
messages. Create the right mood with lights and use angle lights at the
entrance to direct people into the stand.
- Images Sell More Than Words
People are lazy when it comes to
reading, especially if bombarded with thousands of text ads. They scan and they
walk past. If you want them to stop, pay attention, and remember, use images.
Make sure that the images are powerful or memorable. Go big on this with
life-size images to attract attention. The images must be visible, so avoid
placement at the bottom part of the stand.
- Be Creative with Materials
Speak to our consultants about
possible materials to use. You can create different textures – highlight your
involvement in tech products with aluminium materials for counters or use
graphic walls to display nature images if you supply natural products. Smooth
and silky materials work well if you operate within the medical industry, while
a feeling of ruggedness can be attained with roughly textured materials if you
operate a 4×4 dealership.
The above tips are only starting
guidelines. Speak to our design consultants for professional assistance in
making exhibition booths successful.
