Temporary Structures (Industry)
For
the ultimate in venue flexibility clients are increasingly opting for
temporary structures to accommodate their events. Once lit, furnished
and themed, today's temporary structures offer the look and feel of
sophisticated permanent buildings but with the advantage of optimum
location and guest fit. Abigail Parkin looks at some of the companies driving the structures sector and elicits their views on the future of the industry.
Field and Lawn ______________
History
The
company was started 23 years ago and now has six branches nationwide in
Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds and
Manchester. (Above pic - Field & Sea:boat party in Scotland)
Clients
Field
& Lawn's work has ranged from covering ice rinks, industrial
warehouses, temporary retail space, canteens to an aircraft hangar this
year. Its client industries are diverse: Government, oil, sports,
hospitality, engineering and preservation.
Product & Sector Trends
Cameron Stewart CEO, Field and Lawn (Marquees) Ltd:
"Big potential in most areas but I see consolidation and specialisation coming.
"The
bottom end of the private market will always be difficult as it will
always be price sensitive and very competitive. These companies don’t
tend to charge enough and find it difficult to pay for renewal of stock
and therefore don’t last. (Above) Industry big fish - and Cameron Stewart
"There is a move by some to get away from the 1980s cowboy image of the industry with proper health and safety practices and professional operations. Standards such as the MUTAMARQ, ISO 9000 and Investors in People (we have them all) have helped businesses improve their levels of quality.
"I think we will end up with a few professional
well-funded national companies with top quality products specialising
in different parts of the business. Some of these companies will be
international businesses with broader ambitions and have kit that
travels the world."
UK Market & International Scope
"Business
can be difficult at times and the lack of cash about at the moment is
having an effect on everyone. But things are holding up well as far as
we are concerned. Our diverse client base means that our eggs are in
different baskets. While hospitality may be tough, oil companies are
pulling the stuff out of the ground at $5 a barrel and selling it for
$120 so they have loads of money!
"We do have a possible opportunity to expand overseas but we expect that to be a project for next year (2009)."
Developments
"Lots
of new kit this year including cassette floors and hard sided
structures, new door systems and improved operational efficiency with
cleaning equipment and on site mechanization. I should say we have got
a fantastic team of people on site and managing the hires. Makes my
life easy and us the best tent company in the UK." Probably!
Mar-Key Group ___________________________________
History
Founded
in 1992, the Mar-Key Group has grown from a modest base in Poole to
become one of the UK’s largest independent stockholders of temporary
and permanent structures. Formerly Mar-Key Marquees the company
relaunched in 2008 as the Mar-Key Group with two arms to the business,
Mar-Key Structures and Mar-Key Industrial. Recently invested £3million
in new stock and equipment. (Above pic- Mar-Key Intercontinental structure)
Clients
Ascot
Racecourse where Mar-Key provided over 11,000sqm of coverage for Royal
Ascot this year. The most unusual project was converting one of its
structures into a Hard Rock Café at the Hard Rock Calling music
festival.
Product & Sector Trends
Ben Scroggie, MD - Mar-Key:
"Units will get smarter and easier to install. We will see one-off unusual structures which will come and go.
"In
the future, top quality players will dominate the market with more
consolidation within companies and different product ranges. However,
you will never get rid of the underpriced, low quality end of the
market which will continue to be the domestic end.
"The big companies will be able to invest which is the only way to offer clients a forward looking, quality product. Mar-Key Group has recently invested £3 million into new stock and equipment. "
UK Market & International Scope
"The
UK market is retreating. There is definitely scope for international
work and this will take investment. On a personal note, I'm
dissatisfied that European companies have walked in to dominate the UK
market while UK companies have failed to attack Europe. Mar-Key is one
of the only major players to be British owned." 
Developments
"In
2008 the company invested around £100 000 in new doors and the
innovation of a new ramping system adjustable to, and lockable with,
the flooring of the structures.
"We've also appointed Andy Goldie as operations manager after 20 years of working for Arena Structures."
(Above) The Peppermint Structure
De Boer Structures (UK) Ltd _________________
History
(Above - De Boer's Pink Galaxy) Established in 1924, De Boer Group has established itself as an international market leader in the rental of temporary accommodation for large events and festivals, storage purposes, airport baggage handling and supermarkets. The company’s offices in Brackley, Northamptonshire, are supported by international headquarters in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, are by operations in Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden and Qatar. De Boer is also represented in the USA. Worldwide the company employs more than 350 people, rising to around 500 during high season.”
Clients
Recent
assignments have ranged from the Euro 2008 football finals in Austria
and Switzerland to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.
De
Boer's largest European assignment saw the provision of around 100,000
square metres of temporary accommodation to this year's Farnborough
International Airshow in Hampshire.
De Boer recently provided
facilities for an air display near Salisbury for charity event Support
our Paras which raised more than £100,000 to support the relatives of
military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The circus-style mammoth Pink Galaxy brightened up the charity, Walk the Walk giving its annual Playtex MoonWalk charity event (see pic above - by OnEdition) a vivid pink hue to match the charity's corporate colours. The 20-metre-high Pink Galaxy, which is equivalent in size to two football pitches, has subsequently been used for the charity’s events in both London and Edinburgh.
The Pink Galaxy also pitched up at this year’s National Eisteddfod of Wales at the festival's main pavilion, housing performances ranging from choirs to brass bands.
Product & Sector Trends 
John Cochrane, Sales Director – Events
De Boer Structures (UK) Ltd:
"One
of the major developments we've witnessed has been the growth of
structures within the commercial sector. De Boer has diversified its
work into areas such as retail, airports, showrooms, warehousing and
business continuity. This has led to assignments for major retailers
and wholesalers, for airports in the UK, Europe and Qatar and for
multinational businesses requiring medium-term office or industrial
units during routine refurbishments of following a major incident such
as fire or flood.
“De Boer’s UK offices benefit from being part of an international
group, so we already work closely with our colleagues across Europe. The international nature of the market
can only continue to grow.”
Kayam ______________________________________________________________
History
The Kayam started back in 1994 with a single 4 pole (40x40M) structure.
The
turning point was the year 2000 when Kayam provided the structures for
Radiohead's "Tent Tour". Kayam now runs seven crews and employs around
60 in the summer.
Clients
Provides structures to most of the major European festivals and most of Kayam's work
comes from the music industry, although recently its branched out into more
corporate
and religious events. Across the pond Kayam has provided its two-pole
Valhalla structure for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Bryant Park in
New York.
The company reports increasing enquires from
branding and advertising agencies who want bespoke structures for
specific campaigns.
Product & Sector Trends
Toby Rose - Kayam:
"We work closely with an Italian tensile engineer and with new technologies in
the design of tensile structures emerging we can design and build structures
which are unusual and interesting.
"Recently we designed and built a structure for Diageo for their 'Bailissimo'
tour of Italy. This was a marketing exercise to promote Baileys in Italy. The
'Bailissimo Bar' was erected in two Plazas in Rome & Bologna.
"I think we will see more tensile structures either standard hire stock or
bespoke structures appearing for all sorts of events.
"Clients
often prefer to use a temporary structure rather than an existing
building because they can adapt the space to fit their exact
requirements. Radiohead used tents on their tour in 2000 because all
the usual tour venues were tied to advertisers and corporate bodies. By
bringing their own venue with them, there was no need for the adverts
or branding on their 'No Logo' Tour.
"Clients are asking for bigger structures as audience capacities increase. Our 'Valhalla' is 73M wide and holds the Guinness world record. The Valhalla appears annually at Roskilde in Denmark, Oxegen in Ireland and the 10 pole version (103x73M) at Soul Survivor in Shepton Mallett.
"Kayam has always tried to be at the forefront of product innovation.
Back in 1998 we built a 'triangle' for our Kayam range of structures. This
creates a V-shaped auditorium giving excellent visibility to 10,000 people
within 75M from the stage. We now market it as the Concert Tent.
"A
few years ago we were asked by a Spanish client if we could provide a
main stage which would 'fit in' with our Kayams. We can also build a
backstage area as big as is necessary and cover an entire production
village behind the stage in the same structure.
"We have plans to build some new and exciting structures over the next few
years, so watch this space!"