Two parties, two jobs
Anything that hangs above a stand involves two separate jobs. The venue provides the hanging points in the hall ceiling and lifts the load. The exhibitor, usually through its stand contractor, provides the structure that hangs from those points.
What the venue does
At the venues covered below, the official rigging service belongs to the venue or to one company it appoints. That service:
- installs the hanging points in the hall ceiling;
- calculates the points for the load you declare;
- lifts the structure with its own equipment and lowers it after the show;
- is the sole or exclusive provider, so another company may do this work only where the venue allows it.
At Fira Barcelona, for example, Fira is the sole rigging provider, and only Kuehne + Nagel may operate forklifts and lifting machinery.
What the exhibitor and its contractor do
- design the structure: a truss frame for a banner, sign or logo, a lightbox or an LED screen;
- supply drawings of the structure and the weights of every element;
- supply the graphics or LED screens mounted on it;
- assemble the structure on the floor and attach it to the venue's points;
- dismantle the structure after the show.
The right to hang
The organiser can control the right to hang anything above a stand separately from the points. At ICE Barcelona the exhibitor buys this right through its Clarion Gaming account manager, then orders the points in the Fira Store. Ask your organiser early whether a similar step applies.
Deadlines
The venue needs the load data before it installs the points. For ICE Barcelona 2027 the order deadline falls between late November and mid-December 2026, and everything must be flown by 12:00 on Thursday 14 January 2027. At Fira there is no guarantee that late-ordered points are installed before you arrive.
Documents
Each venue sets its own list in the exhibitor manual. At ICE Barcelona it includes an Intention to Rig form and drawings with the load for each suspension point; banners also need the manufacturer's specification, total weight and fixings. Stands without a Drawing Inspection Notice may not build. For a general list, see what a venue needs to approve suspension.
Venue rules at iGaming shows
| Show and venue | Hanging points | Exhibitor's contractor | Key rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICE Barcelona 2027 (18–20 Jan) and iGB Affiliate 2027 (19–20 Jan, Hall 8), Fira Barcelona Gran Via | Fira, sole rigging provider; points ordered in the Fira Store | Builds the structure; right to hang via the Clarion Gaming account manager | Order late Nov to mid-Dec 2026; flown by 12:00 on 14 Jan 2027 |
| SiGMA World, Fiera Roma | Hanging lines only from Fiera Roma | Builds the structure | 140 kg per point; height up to 8 m; request 15 days ahead with a calculation by a specialist |
| iGB L!VE 2027 (14–15 Jul), RAI Amsterdam | Mansveld Expotech, exclusive | A third-party contractor only with RAI's written consent and a plan | Ask RAI early |
| SiGMA Europe 2027 (3–5 May), MFCC Ta' Qali, Malta | Set in the exhibitor manual (not published online) | Check the manual | Request the manual from the organiser |
These are venue rules as published for these shows. Re-check them in the current exhibitor manual before travel.
Checklist for exhibitors
- Decide what hangs above the stand, with rough size and weight.
- Find the hanging rules and deadlines in the exhibitor manual.
- Agree the right to hang with the organiser, if required.
- Order the hanging points from the venue before the deadline.
- Submit the stand plan with your contractor's drawings and weights, and wait for approval.
- Book assembly before the venue's lifting deadline, and dismantling after the show.
Where REX fits
REX Lab assembles aluminium truss structures for stands and attaches them to the venue's hanging points; the venue then lifts them. We send the drawing and truss weights for your submission. See hanging structures for stands, or the ICE Barcelona 2027 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are rigging points at an exhibition?
They are hanging points in the hall ceiling, installed by the venue, from which structures above stands hang. The venue calculates them for the load you declare and lifts the structure.
Do I have to use the venue's official rigging service?
At the venues in this article, yes for the points and the lifting. At RAI, a third-party contractor needs RAI's written consent.
Who orders the hanging points?
The exhibitor or its appointed stand contractor, from the venue. At ICE Barcelona the points are ordered in the Fira Store, after the right to hang is bought through Clarion Gaming.
How much weight can one hanging point take?
It depends on the venue and hall. At Fiera Roma the limit is 140 kg per point. Check the limit for your hall in the exhibitor manual before the structure is designed.