ATA carnet, goods without duty or VAT
The ATA carnet allows temporary admission of goods without duty or VAT for the duration of the fair, provided they return unchanged. We help obtain it and settle it on return.
AI image
Exhibitions
Exhibition logistics: moving goods to fairs in the UK and Poland
End-to-end handling of trade-fair participation, collection, transport, customs, ATA carnet and the return of goods.
What does OTSL exhibition logistics cover?
OTSL handles trade-fair participation end to end: collecting and transporting goods, managing slots and bookings, coordinating with venue rules, delivery and stand preparation, ATA carnets and post-show logistics. Example: delivery to ExCeL London. In Kielce we have warehouse backup next to the Kielce fairground and run direct deliveries to the venue.
A fair has one date and one unloading window. We plan the transport, the ATA carnet and the slot buffer so the stand is up on time, not almost on time.
AI image
UK
Trade fairs in the United Kingdom
Fairs in the UK (venues such as ExCeL London or NEC Birmingham) mean transport, post-Brexit customs and a possible ATA carnet in one. We plan carriage around venue slots, run the Dunkirk-Dover crossing and organise the return of goods after the event.
AI image
Kielce
Kielce fairground
In Kielce we have warehouse backup next to the fairground: storing goods before and after the event, a buffer when you have a different slot, direct deliveries and collections, bookings and unloading (ramp, crane, forklifts up to 5T at the Kielce base).
International fairs across Europe
We carry stand builds and goods to the biggest fairs in Europe. Strongest to the UK and Switzerland, and in Poland right next door, to Targi Kielce.
CH
Switzerland
Fairs in Basel, Zurich and Geneva. We combine transport with customs, because Switzerland is outside the EU…
Read more
DE
Germany
Transport to German fairs with no customs for EU goods. What counts is the time slot and delivery in the…
Read more
UE
The rest of Europe
Germany (Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Munich, Berlin), France, Italy, Spain and beyond. Delivery…
Read moreMore trade-fair destinations
Ireland
Transport to Irish fairs by direct ferry with no customs, or over the UK land bridge under transit documents. Irish-side formalities through our own agency.
Norway
Transport to Norwegian fairs with import customs (Digitoll) and a ferry crossing, with reserves for tougher conditions.
Netherlands
Transport to Dutch fairs with no customs for EU goods. The booking slot and delivery in the build-up window to RAI Amsterdam, Jaarbeurs or Ahoy Rotterdam are what matter.
Belgium
Transport to Belgian fairs with no customs for EU goods. What counts is the time slot and delivery in the build-up window to Brussels Expo, Flanders Expo or Antwerp Expo.
France
Transport to French fairs with no customs for EU goods. The booking slot and delivery in the build-up window to Paris Villepinte, Porte de Versailles or Lyon Eurexpo are what matter.
Finland
Transport to Finnish fairs with no customs for EU goods, but with a Baltic ferry crossing. Delivery in the build-up window to Messukeskus Helsinki.
This is only part of what we do. Not everything fits on a single page, so if you do not see your case, just tell us and we will find a way.
The stakes are high
Poorly organised exhibition logistics can cost more than the transport itself. If goods do not arrive on time or get stuck at customs, the build crew stands and waits, the stand is not ready for opening, and costs grow by the hour. That is why we think about the whole process, flag where the risks are, and stay ahead of documents and slots. We treat your goods as our own.
Different slot? We have a buffer
If your exhibition slot is some time away, the goods wait in our warehouse and we deliver right on the slot, no risk of the goods arriving too early or too late.
Post-show logistics
After the fair we collect goods from the stand, organise the return transport and settle the ATA carnet, closing the whole process under one responsibility.
Exhibition logistics, 5 steps
-
01
Enquiry
We gather the details: venue, dates, slots, goods and required documents.
-
02
Slot and document plan
We plan carriage around the venue rules; we prepare the ATA carnet and customs.
-
03
Collection and transport
We collect the goods and move them to the venue, with warehouse buffer if needed.
-
04
Delivery and stand
We deliver on the slot and support stand preparation per venue rules.
-
05
Post-show return
We collect from the stand, organise the return and settle the ATA carnet.
Frequently asked questions
Do you arrange transport to fairs in England?
Yes. We combine goods transport with post-Brexit customs and, if needed, an ATA carnet, delivering to venues such as ExCeL London or NEC Birmingham and returning goods after the event.
Do you help with the ATA carnet?
Yes. We help obtain the ATA carnet for temporary admission of goods without duty or VAT, and settle it once the goods return.
Do you have a warehouse next to the Kielce fairground?
Yes. Our Kielce base serves as warehouse backup next to the fairground, storage before and after, bookings, and direct deliveries and collections.
What if my slot is only in a week?
The goods wait in our warehouse and we deliver exactly on your slot, no risk of arriving too early or too late.
Will you handle customs for goods to the UK?
Yes. Post-Brexit customs is part of UK fair handling, we prepare documents and the GMR, and for goods returning unchanged we use an ATA carnet.
Do you deliver directly to the venue (e.g. ExCeL London)?
Yes, we deliver directly to exhibition venues according to their rules, slots and bookings. Example: delivery to ExCeL London.
How far ahead should I book fair transport?
The earlier the better, especially with an ATA carnet and booking-in slots. We usually plan several weeks ahead, but we also take urgent jobs.
What happens after the fair?
We collect the stand and exhibits, close the ATA carnet on return and haul the load back. We can also store it between events.
Knowledge base
Related articles
Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Who unloads your stand at a trade show: you, your forwarder or the official one
At some shows in-hall handling is exclusive to the official show forwarder. That changes the…
Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Missing your build-up slot at a trade show: what actually happens
A missed build-up slot is not an hour of delay, it is the back of the queue. What it really costs…
Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Booking-in for exhibition deliveries: how time slots work at European venues
Without a booking-in the vehicle does not enter the showground, even if it arrives on time. How it…
Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Post-show logistics: dismantling, collection and getting the stand back intact
When a show closes, everyone wants to leave at once. How to plan collection so the stand does not…
Need transport or customs clearance?
Tell us what you need, a forwarder replies, not an autoresponder. Operations available 24/7.