Trade fair glossary
From plot to island stand, from DYS to ATA Carnet, from shell scheme to rigging: short, accurate definitions of the terms found in fair contracts, technical regulations and Turkish support regulations.
Terms are grouped by topic; each term is detailed in the relevant section of the guide. Use the exhibitor guide page to return to the start.
01
Plot and stand
- Plot. The area rented from the organiser, numbered on the floor plan; defined by square metres and number of open sides.
- Row stand. A plot with one side open to the aisle, neighbours on both sides and behind.
- Corner stand. A plot with two sides open to the aisle, where two aisles meet.
- Peninsula. Three sides open, only the back adjoining a neighbour.
- Island stand. All four sides open to the aisle; usually a large plot where tall structures are allowed.
- Shell scheme. The organiser's standard package of walls, fascia, carpet and lighting, offered with the plot rental or for an extra fee.
- Space only (raw space). Only the floor is rented and the exhibitor has its own builder make the stand.
- System stand. A stand built from aluminium profiles (such as maxima) and panels that can be dismantled and rebuilt without damage; Tüyap's "modular system" definition covers these.
- Custom timber build. A stand produced for the plot in the workshop with a timber frame and painted or veneered surfaces.
- Double decker. A stand with an upper deck; needs a steel structure and engineer approval.
- Open side ratio. The share of an aisle-facing side that is not closed wall; at least 40 percent at Tüyap.
- Fascia. The band along the top edge of the stand carrying the company name; standard on shell schemes.
02
Organiser and participation
- Organiser. The company that runs the fair, sells plots and writes the regulations; in Türkiye a TOBB licence is required.
- Venue. The owner of the halls (Tüyap, CNR Expo, Messe Düsseldorf); sets the infrastructure rules.
- Exhibitor manual. The organiser's document holding the technical regulations, schedule, order forms and rules.
- National pavilion. Group participation in the Türkiye pavilion run by an organiser appointed by the Ministry of Trade.
- Individual participation. Exhibiting under a direct contract with the fair's main organiser; for support the fair must be on the individual participation list.
- Prestigious fair. A fair that reached at least 500 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors in one of its last three editions, admitted to the Ministry list and supported with the higher ceiling.
- Sectoral fair / general fair. A fair focused on one sector versus one covering many; the support ceilings differ.
- Early bird. A reduced plot rate and plot-choice priority for applications made before a set date.
- Observer. An official sent to the fair by the Ministry or the İBGS who compiles the exhibitor list and report.
- UFI-approved statistics. Exhibitor and visitor numbers independently audited under the rules of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Still have a question?
Whatever stage you are at, we can point you in the right direction in ten minutes by phone or WhatsApp. You do not have to ask for a quote; answering a first-time exhibitor's question is part of our job too.
03
Support and documents
- Decision No. 5973. The Presidential Decision on Export Supports of 17 August 2022; fair supports are in articles 7 and 8.
- Circular. The Circular on Fair Supports; sets the implementation rules of the Decision, the document lists (Annexes 1 and 2) and the deadlines.
- DYS. The Support Management System; the online system where Ministry of Trade support applications are filed.
- İBGS. The General Secretariat of an Exporters' Association; the body that reviews individual participation applications.
- Support base. The TL amount per square metre the Ministry sets for each fair abroad as the basis of the support calculation.
- Ceiling. The maximum support payable per fair; updated by the Ministry at the start of each year.
- Capacity report. A report from the chamber of industry or commerce documenting production activity; the core document of a support file.
- Marketing company. A non-producing company that exhibits and receives support through a marketing contract with a producer.
- Stand expense statement. The stand builder's stamped and signed letter listing items and amounts; an attachment to the invoice.
- TİM. The Turkish Exporters Assembly; the umbrella body of the exporters' associations.
- KOSGEB. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation; runs a separate fair support programme for SMEs.
04
Freight and customs
- ATA Carnet. An international customs document issued by TOBB through the chambers, allowing duty-free temporary import of fair goods in member countries; valid for one year.
- ATAK. TOBB's online system where ATA Carnet applications are filed with an electronic signature.
- Temporary export. The regime under which goods leave the country temporarily with a customs declaration to be shown at a fair and are brought back.
- Definitive export. Export of goods that will not return; goods sold at the fair fall into this regime.
- Pro forma invoice. An invoice showing the value of goods without a commercial sale; used in customs and carnet procedures.
- Official forwarder. The logistics company authorised by the venue or organiser for on-site handling, forklifts and empties storage.
- Empties. The packaging, crates and pallets of products and stand material; may not be kept on the stand during the fair.
- Freight specification. The delivery, storage and document rules the organiser publishes for the forwarder and exhibitors in a national pavilion.
- Identity check. Customs verification on return that goods under temporary export are the same goods.
05
Build-up and technical
- Build window. The days and hours the organiser opens for stand construction; the dismantling window is its counterpart after closing.
- Ramp slot. The time slot in which vehicles are admitted to the loading ramp on build day; plate registration required.
- Stand approval. The organiser's review of the project against the regulations and its permission to build.
- SİM. The Turkish licensed civil engineer certificate; at Tüyap stands above 4 metres and double-deck stands are approved by an engineer holding it.
- Rigging. Lighting, graphics or structure hung from the hall ceiling; done only through the venue's contracted supplier with a structural calculation.
- B1. The "hardly flammable" class under German standard DIN 4102; German fairs require certificates for carpet, fabric and timber. The Turkish counterpart is the flame-retardant (FR) textile requirement.
- MYK certificate. The Turkish Vocational Qualifications Authority certificate; in the hall only electricians holding it may connect the power.
- Residual current device. The mandatory protective device in the stand's distribution board.
- Safety portal. The venue's occupational health and safety registration system where build and dismantling workers' legal documents are uploaded.
- Floor load. The weight per square metre the hall floor can carry; decides heavy machinery placement.
- Zero waste. The rule that no waste material may be left in the hall at build-up and dismantling.
- Handover record. The document signed by exhibitor and stand builder recording that the stand was delivered to drawing and in working order.
06
Frequently asked questions
- Are maxima and system stand the same thing?
Maxima is the name of the most widely used aluminium profile family in system stands; system stand is the general category and maxima a structural system within it. Details on the maxima stand page.
- Which spelling is correct in Turkish, stand or stant?
The Turkish Language Association dictionary gives "stant"; the industry and organiser documents commonly use "stand". This site uses the industry spelling "stand"; search engines bring both spellings to the same page.
- Is there a difference between a fair and an exhibition?
In Turkish regulation a fair is a commercial event held with a TOBB permit; exhibition is a broader concept. The ATA Carnet rules refer to both together as "fair and exhibition goods".
Sources
- Circular on fair supports (definitions, art. 3) — Turkish Ministry of Trade
- ATA Carnet — TOBB
- Tüyap stand technical rules and definitions — Tüyap / ITO
- UFI: exhibition industry definitions and statistics — UFI
If your fair date is set, the countdown has started
The stand calendar starts the day the plot contract is signed. Send the fair name, date and plot size; within two business days we come back with a concept visual and an itemised quote. Asking for a quote commits you to nothing.
