Inflatables

Inflatables as an eye-catcher at your event

Inflatables are inflatable structures that make an event visible from a distance: arches, columns, eye-catchers shaped like a product or a mascot, inflatable tents, walls and stage decor. Their strength lies in the ratio between size and logistics. A structure several metres high fits folded into a van and stands up within minutes with an electric blower.

They are used by organisers of sporting and public events, by brands at trade fairs and roadshows, by local authorities during festival weeks and sports days, and by companies on open days. We look with you at what you want to achieve: visibility from far off, a photogenic element, or a functional structure that people actually stand under or inside.

Applications

• Eye-catcher at the entrance to a site or stand area
• Inflatable columns and pillars along a route or walkway
• Bespoke shapes: an enlarged product, logo or mascot
• Inflatable tent, dome or wall as a covered activation area
• Decor and backdrop at a stage or photo point

Versions

There are two technical families. Structures with a permanent blower stay up under slight overpressure, recover after a small leak and are the most widely used solution for larger shapes. Sealed structures are inflated once and work without power, which is handy on a site without electricity, but they are more sensitive to pressure loss over a long day or with large temperature swings.

Materials and technique

The fabrics are PVC-coated cloth with reinforced seams, with a UV-resistant print applied directly to the fabric. At the base there are loops or eyelets for ground pegs, sandbags or weights. The blower runs off a standard socket or a generator. Count on a power supply nearby and never lay cables loose across a walkway: use a cable bridge or a mat.

Setting up, wind and anchoring

An inflatable is a large, light volume and therefore catches the wind. Anchoring is the most important point on this page. On grass and soil you work with ground pegs, on hard surfacing with sufficiently heavy weights or water tanks. Pull the guy lines away at an angle so they take up crosswind, and spread them around the full perimeter.

Every structure has a wind limit above which it has to come down. Agree in advance who takes that decision and who deflates the structure. That takes less than a minute and is always the right call in case of doubt. As organiser you are liable for damage or injury caused by an inflatable that goes over.

Maintenance and storage

Let the fabric dry completely before you fold it, because fabric stored damp develops permanent mould stains within a few weeks. Remove sand and grass, check zips and seams, and store the blower, lines and pegs in the same bag. Report small tears straight away, because they can usually be repaired cleanly.

When an inflatable is not the right choice

For a set-up lasting several weeks at a windy, open location, a fixed structure with fabric is the wiser option. On a site with no anchoring option and no room for weights, an inflatable is hard to put up safely. The classic mistake is anchoring too lightly because there was no wind during the build.

What determines the price?

The price follows from the dimensions and the volume, standard shape or bespoke, the complexity of the shape, the printed area and the number of colours, the fabric quality, the inflation technique chosen, the anchoring set and transport bag supplied, and the run. Delivery, on-site set-up and storage may come on top. Give us the height you want and the surface, and we will put a proposal together.

Developing your eye-catcher

Send us your logo or your idea and tell us where the structure will stand. We will draw up a proposal and make sure the anchoring matches your site. Get in touch for a quotation.