Work under way on De Boer’s greatest airshow build

Construction work is under way as De Boer Structures tackles its largest-ever project in Europe – the creation of the venue for the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow. 

Biggest temporary structure
This year’s contract involves the erection of the biggest temporary venue in the Hampshire-based aeronautical gathering’s history. 

Huge building project
In total, De Boer has embarked on the construction of 92,000 square metres of floorspace, but – based on the experiences of previous airshows – with the prospect of additional orders being placed in the run-up to the event. 

Innovative solutions
For the 2008 airshow, taking place between July 14 and 20, De Boer will create four huge exhibition halls, the largest of which will measure more than 19,000 square metres, plus the special ‘Centennial Pavilion’. The company will also provide the biennial event with more than a kilometre of hospitality chalets, together with other accommodation including media centre, business suites, marketing facilities and public dining areas. 

Brand 'new' glass-sided Panorama structures 
Among the many ‘firsts’ for 2008, De Boer is to provide a brace of its innovative, glass-sided Panorama structures – for clients Boeing and Bombardier – and will erect a stunning new double-decker venue for Italian industrial group Finmeccanica. 

Bespoke structures
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 will stand on four-metre-high legs, to allow easy access to other exhibition areas. 

Biggest-ever airshow contract
De Boer Sales Manager Tom Osborne said: “This year’s assignment will not only be the biggest-ever airshow challenge for De Boer but will be the largest-ever contract tackled by the group anywhere in Europe.” 

Largest-ever construction project 
He added: “Over the coming weeks De Boer will be transporting more than 200 articulated lorry loads of equipment to the airfield. We will then have until late June to complete the build, allowing time for an estimated 6,000 contractors to fit out our structures in time for the show’s launch.” 

Airshow grows from strength to strength
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-standing supplier
De Boer, which this year will provide accommodation weighing more than 3,600 tonnes, has been a long-time supplier to Farnborough International Airshow and has already been signed up for the 2010 and 2012 events.