A-booth at the Beurs

A-BOOTH AT THE BEURS

For many years, A-Booth has been a trusted partner of the Beurs van Berlage, known for creating high-quality stands that respect both the character of our national monument and the future of our planet. In this interview, Mathys Taekema, Commercial Manager at A-Booth, shares how creativity, close collaboration and circular design come together in the heart of Amsterdam. He reflects on sustainable choices, smart logistics and why long-term partnerships make all the difference.

1. A-Booth has been a long-standing partner of the Beurs van Berlage. What makes this collaboration special for you, both creatively and in terms of sustainability?

The collaboration feels special to us. We get to design and build in a monumental building with a strong Amsterdam identity. That requires creativity and respect for the location. We always look for solutions that fit the character of the Beurs. At the same time, we choose materials that can be reused. This way, we keep the impact low and the quality high.

2. You design and build impressive stands in a characteristic national monument. How do you adapt your working methods to such a unique location, for example in terms of logistical challenges?

The Beurs is located in the middle of the city. That makes logistics challenging. That is why we prepare as much as possible in our workshop. We carefully plan the times when materials can be brought in. To drive into the city, we use a special, smaller lorry that drives straight through after unloading because there are no parking facilities. We use lightweight systems that are easy to load and unload. This ensures that the construction process runs quickly and smoothly.

3. How is the contact with the Beurs-team arranged? What makes this collaboration so smooth in terms of preparation and execution? For example, do you have a designated contact person?

We work with fixed contact persons for each event. This ensures short lines of communication. Everyone knows each other well by now. This allows us to respond quickly and clearly coordinate what is needed. During set-up and dismantling, we are in constant contact with each other. This provides peace of mind during implementation.

4. A-Booth is strongly committed to sustainability. Can you tell us how this is reflected in construction processes, for example, the use of reusable materials and circular working practices?

We build almost everything with our own modular system. We use frames, counters and wall elements over and over again. We produce prints that are 100% recycled. Anything that cannot be reused is collected separately. This allows us to keep residual waste to a minimum.

5. You are FSC and PEFC certified. What does that mean in concrete terms for customers who have a stand built at the Beurs van Berlage?

It means that the wood we use comes from responsibly managed forests. This allows customers to demonstrate that their stand complies with recognised sustainability standards. This is in line with their own corporate social responsibility goals. We are also affiliated with the Better Stands programme, which encourages reuse at events and prevents temporary structures from being thrown away after a single exhibition. This allows customers to demonstrate that they are making conscious choices and contributing to less waste and a lower carbon footprint.

6. Can you highlight a recent project at the Beurs van Berlage that you consider to be a true example of sustainable and creative stand design?

We recently had the opportunity to organise a wonderful event for Embraer, using almost everything from our existing range. A number of smart additions gave the entire event a fresh look. This gave the customer a strong presentation on the floor. And we were able to reuse almost all the materials at the next trade fair. That is an ideal result for us.

7. You indicate that various measures, such as waste separation and your own transport service, are part of your sustainable approach. What impact have these measures had so far?

We need fewer trips to the location, which reduces CO2 emissions. Separating waste means there is less residual waste. Because we do our own transport, we can control the planning and choose the most efficient routes. In addition to waste separation and our own transport service, we do much more in sustainability. All the details can be found on our website.

If everyone takes these small steps, we can together make a big difference.

8. What innovations or sustainable steps are planned for the coming years?

We are further expanding our circular materials. We are developing new solutions for modularity and longer life cycles for the materials we use. We also want to give customers more insight into the positive sustainable effects of their choices per project. This is also something that is increasingly being asked of us by the customers we work for.

9. What are you noticing in terms of customer demand? Is sustainability becoming increasingly important in the choices they make for trade fairs or conferences?

Demand is growing rapidly. More and more customers want to use their stands more often. They pay attention to materials and waste reduction. The great thing is that sustainable choices often also save costs and increase design freedom.

Carpet is also something that is increasingly being omitted from the aisles. Carpet is still used in the stands, but I could see that changing in the future. Developments are happening fast and organisations and visitors are quickly adapting.

10. What advice would you give to exhibitors who want to make their participation in the Beurs van Berlage as sustainable as possible?

Start early and choose to build the event in a modular system that lasts longer and still offers sufficient creativity. Rent materials where possible. Limit unnecessary components. If everyone takes these small steps, we can together make a big difference.