In brief
With around 584,000 sqm of site area and around 392,000 sqm of hall space, Messe Frankfurt is one of the largest exhibition venues in the world; well-known events include ACHEMA, Automechanika, Light+Building and IFFA. EXFAIR is an exhibition stand builder from Villingen-Schwenningen and has worked in stand construction since 1987. For exhibitors at Messe Frankfurt, EXFAIR plans system stands, custom builds and complete full-service appearances, including customs clearance for international exhibitors; its workshop and storage are around 290 km away.
Messe Frankfurt at a glance
The hall space of Messe Frankfurt is spread across eleven exhibition halls. In 2025 the venue hosted 29 trade fairs as well as 177 congresses, events and other activities, more than 200 in total. It is an international meeting place for industries including automotive, consumer goods, chemicals, logistics and financial services. Leading trade shows include ACHEMA (process industry & chemistry), Automechanika (automotive trade), Frankfurt Book Fair, IFFA (meat industry), Light+Building (lighting & building technology), Heimtextil and Ambiente.
The grounds at Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1 are directly accessible by S-Bahn (S3/S4/S5/S6), U-Bahn (U4, Messe station), regional train and the A5 and A66 motorways.
What to consider for a stand at Messe Frankfurt
- Stand construction approval: Single-storey stands up to 4.00 m in height and under 100 sqm generally need no approval. Larger or taller stands, two-storey structures and special constructions require approval; documents must be submitted at least 6 weeks before build-up starts.
- Technical Guidelines: The current edition of Messe Frankfurt's Technical Guidelines is authoritative. EXFAIR handles drawings, submission and coordination with the venue.
- Lead time: System stands at least 8 weeks before the fair opens, ideally 10–12 weeks; custom builds at least 16 weeks, ideally 20–24 weeks. Book ACHEMA and Automechanika early.
- Storage: EXFAIR stores the stand in Villingen-Schwenningen, around 290 km away, and transports it to Frankfurt on schedule. This suits several trade fair appearances per year.
Last updated: October 2026. Prices and lead times are guide values; the written quote is binding.
EXFAIR plans and builds exhibition stands for Messe Frankfurt – for exhibitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the rest of Europe.
Services from a single source
EXFAIR designs individual exhibition stands for all halls at Messe Frankfurt. Services include:
- system stands with fabric or print covering
- LED lightwall concepts
- truss systems and ceiling suspensions
- custom builds with individual architecture
- project management including assembly, dismantling, storage and customs clearance for international exhibitors
How a trade fair project with EXFAIR works – from concept and assembly to storage – is explained on our page Exhibition stand construction in Germany.
References at Messe Frankfurt
At Messe Frankfurt, EXFAIR has built exhibition stands for the following exhibitors, among others:
More stands, including those at other venues, can be found in the overview of all projects.
For exhibitors from abroad
Companies from Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and other countries commission EXFAIR as a local German stand builder for their appearance at Messe Frankfurt. EXFAIR handles planning, assembly and dismantling on schedule and takes care of customs clearance, so coordination does not have to be managed from abroad.
Arriving from abroad: From Frankfurt Airport (FRA) take S8/S9 to the main station and change to S3–S6 to Messe station – about 21 minutes in total.
For companies from these countries we have dedicated guides covering entry, customs, power, tax and timeline:
- Exhibitors from Belgium – typical fairs here: ACHEMA
- Exhibitors from the United Kingdom – typical fairs here: ACHEMA
- Exhibitors from India – typical fairs here: ACHEMA
- Exhibitors from Canada – typical fairs here: ACHEMA
- Exhibitors from the USA – typical fairs here: ACHEMA, IFFA
A neutral overview for exhibitors at Messe Frankfurt, with a trade fair calendar, the leading fairs in detail and a comparison of fixed-price and custom stand construction, is available at Trade Show Booth in Frankfurt.