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Exhibitions · Switzerland
Fairs in Switzerland
Transport to Swiss fairs with customs, because the country sits outside the EU customs union. ATA carnet for the stand and delivery in the build-up window.
How do we carry to fairs in Switzerland?
To Swiss fairs in Basel, Zurich or Geneva we carry with full customs, because the country is outside the EU customs union: an ATA carnet for temporary export of the stand, an Passar declaration and delivery to the venue in the build-up window. We settle the ATA carnet after the event.
Exhibitions
Main fair venues
These are the most common venues on this lane, not a full list. We carry stands and goods to every fair in this country, including smaller and trade-specific ones.
Trade fair logistics in Switzerland: your stand delivered, built and shipped back
A fair in Basel, Geneva, Zurich or Bern runs on one fixed deadline: build-up. OTSL handles the stand from loading in Poland to a ready-to-open booth on the floor of Messe Basel, Palexpo in Geneva, Messe Zürich or Bernexpo. We deliver the stand structure and exhibits with a booked delivery slot, so the truck reaches the ramp exactly when the organiser accepts it and the build crew starts without downtime. Once the fair closes we come back after dismantling: the emptied stand returns home, and in the meantime we store the empty packaging in our warehouse so it stays off the hall and is ready for repacking the equipment.
Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so exhibits do not simply drive in. We bring them in under temporary admission or an ATA carnet with re-export, and we file the declaration electronically in the Passar system at the BAZG customs office. On top of that come the realities of the Swiss road: the LSVA heavy-vehicle charge calculated by kilometres, weight and emission class, and VAT at 8.1%. We plan these costs and formalities in advance, so there are no surprises at the border and the stand is up on time. We cover the customs detail on our customs clearance page, and we will set the exact date and venue through contact.
Fair transport, step by step
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01
Enquiry and dates
We gather the fair date, the venue, the build-up windows and the unloading slot, plus the list of goods and required documents.
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02
ATA carnet and customs
For non-EU lanes we prepare the ATA carnet for temporary export of the stand and the customs clearance.
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03
Plan around venue rules
We plan the transport around the hall rules: booking-in, entry slots and the build-up window, so nothing waits at the gate.
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04
Collection and transport
We collect the stand and goods and carry them to the venue, with a warehouse buffer if needed.
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05
Delivery to slot and build
We deliver exactly in the build-up window and support the crew in line with the venue rules.
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06
Return and ATA settlement
After the event we collect the stand, arrange the return and settle the ATA carnet.
How far ahead to plan it
For Switzerland start 4-6 weeks ahead: customs and the ATA carnet are mandatory, and venues like Messe Basel have fixed build-up windows.
Knowledge base
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