De Boer’s mighty airshow project is such a small-scale challenge!

De Boer’s team at the Farnborough International Airshow is celebrating the group’s largest-ever single construction project in Europe… but having used just one-fifth of its enormous stock of structures! 

Meticulously planned
This week’s opening of the 2008 airshow has followed more than four months of meticulously planned work by De Boer, which has erected nearly 100,000 square metres of temporary accommodation for exhibitors and visitors. 

Four exhibition Halls
But the project – creating four huge exhibition halls, a special ‘Centennial Pavilion’, more than a kilometre of hospitality chalets and a host of other facilities – has barely dented De Boer’s stock. In total, the group holds around half-a-million square metres of temporary structures across its UK and international offices. 

Large floor space
Its entire stock would cover a total floor space equivalent to five Farnborough International Airshows… or five Wembley Stadiums… or six 02 Arenas… or more than 160 Royal Albert Halls! 

Huge logistical challenge
Peter Spruce, Managing Director of De Boer Structures (UK) Ltd, said: “Once again De Boer’s team has done a superb job in creating the venue for the Farnborough International Airshow. This has been a huge logistical challenge that involved transporting more than 3,600 tonnes of equipment to Farnborough Airfield during the run-up to the event.” 

Europe's largest temporary exhibition venue
He added: “Despite the airshow’s size – and the fact that De Boer provides the event with Europe’s largest temporary exhibition venue – we would actually be able to supply to five Farnborough International Airshows taking place at the same time. Our ability to routinely move equipment across Europe means we can work at a host of the continent’s major events simultaneously.” 

Innovative glass-sided structures
This year’s airshow, taking place between July 14 and 20, has seen a number of innovations by De Boer. Among the many ‘firsts’, the group has provided a brace of its innovative, glass-sided Panorama structures – for clients Boeing and Bombardier – and has erected a stunning new double-decker venue for Italian industrial group Finmeccanica. 

Entirely new Alu Hall structure
De Boer has also designed and created an entirely new Alu Hall structure, measuring 160 metres by 10 metres, for use as one of the main exhibition halls. The structure stands on four-metre-high legs, to allow easy access to other exhibition areas. 

Wooden-framed Emperor structure
In total, there are four huge exhibition halls, the largest of which measures more than 19,000 square metres. Other areas provided by the group include hospitality chalets, business suites, marketing facilities and public dining halls. De Boer’s stunning wooden-framed Emperor structure is also back at Farnborough, for use as a media and business centre. 

Huge construction project
De Boer Senior Sales Manager Tom Osborne, who has overseen the huge construction project, said: “Since early March De Boer has transported more than 200 articulated lorry loads of equipment to the airfield. The main construction phase was completed by June, allowing time for thousands of contractors to fit out our structures in time for the show’s launch.” 

60th anniversary of the event
The 2008 airshow marks the 60th anniversary of the event debuting at the famous Hampshire airfield. Organiser Farnborough International Ltd will be looking to further improve on the tremendous success of 2006 when the total number of visitors rose to 270,000 and a total of $42 billion in sales were announced during the seven days of the show. 

Long-term supplier
De Boer has been a long-time supplier to Farnborough International Airshow and has already been signed up for the 2010 and 2012 events.