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Expo & trade show game hire Melbourne
A trade floor is a hard room. Buyers have already walked past forty stands before they reach yours — a machine gives them a reason to stop, and a reason to stay long enough to talk.
- ✅ Machines wrapped in your campaign artwork, designed and printed in-house
- ✅ Delivered and installed to your bump-in window, packed down after
- ✅ Certificates of insurance and compliance documents for venue management
- ✅ Standard power point and roughly a square metre of floor space per machine
Why a game outperforms a banner on a trade floor
Stand design competes for a glance. A machine competes for a queue. The difference matters because dwell time is what a trade stand is actually buying — a buyer who plays for ninety seconds is a buyer your reps get to talk to, and a live scoreboard turns one player into a small crowd watching.
It also solves the hardest problem on any stand: the opening line. Nobody enjoys being approached cold. “Have a go, see if you can beat the high score” is an invitation rather than a pitch, and it does that work for your team all day.
Lead capture that does not feel like lead capture
The machines double as a reason to exchange details. A leaderboard needs a name. A prize draw needs a contact. A gashapon machine loaded with your product gives every scanned badge something to walk away holding, and a prize wheel turns a sign-up into a moment people film.
Prizes can be your own product or merchandise, so the giveaway markets you twice — once on the stand, and again every time it gets used.
Which machines work best at an expo
Basketball is the strongest crowd-puller — visible from across a hall, and the scoreboard creates competition between visitors. Boxing does the same job with more noise and works where you want one dramatic focal point. Claw machines suit stands where the prize is the message, because you control exactly what is inside. Gashapon and gumball machines have the smallest footprint and are built for sampling. Electronic darts and the 10 second challenge are the quieter options where a hall has noise limits.
Not sure which fits your booth size or objective? Send us the stand dimensions and what you are trying to achieve, and we will tell you honestly what will and will not work.
Built for how exhibitions actually run
Expos run on schedules that do not bend. We install inside your bump-in window, work to venue access rules, and pack down when the hall closes. We supply certificates of currency and compliance documentation for venue management ahead of time, so your stand builder and the venue have what they need.
For branded machines, allow around two weeks from artwork sign-off. Because design and printing happen in-house we can often move faster than that — tell us your live date and we will be straight with you about what is possible.
Conferences, summits and corporate showcases
The same logic applies anywhere a room needs warming up. At conferences the machines work best in the break-out space, where they give delegates something to do between sessions and give sponsors a reason to be remembered. At internal showcases and supplier days they break the formality — a leaderboard between departments does more for a room than another round of introductions.
If your event is less trade floor and more function room, our corporate event hire page covers that side, and brand activations covers retail and public campaigns.
What to send us when you enquire
The fastest quotes come from four things: your stand or booth dimensions, the venue and dates, your bump-in and bump-out windows, and what you want the machine to achieve — crowd, sampling, lead capture or brand theatre. If you want the machine wrapped, send brand guidelines or print-ready artwork at the same time and we can quote the wrap alongside the hire.
If you do not have all of that yet, send what you have. We would rather give you an early steer on what fits than wait for a perfect brief.
A realistic timeline
Six to eight weeks out: confirm the machine and reserve the date — exhibition season clusters, and the popular machines go first. Three to four weeks out: brief the wrap and send artwork or brand guidelines. Two weeks out: artwork sign-off, then print and application. One week out: confirm bump-in times, venue access and any documentation the venue needs. Show day: we install in your window and are back for pack-down.
Tighter than that is often still possible because printing is in-house. Ask rather than assume.
Multi-day stands and touring campaigns
Trade shows are rarely one day, and campaigns are rarely one city. We quote multi-day hire and campaigns that tour the same machine between venues, including prize replenishment between days so the stand does not run dry on day three. Interstate expos in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide are quoted with your dates and venues.
Picking the right machine for your stand
A rough guide to what each machine does in a hall. Exact dimensions, clearance and power are confirmed with your quote once we know the venue and booth.
| Machine | What it does on a stand | Footprint | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball | Visible across the hall, scoreboard drives competition | Largest — needs depth for the shooting lane | Pulling a crowd |
| Boxing / punch | Loud and dramatic, one strong focal point | Tall, needs swing room | Brand theatre |
| Claw machine | You choose exactly what people win | Three sizes — mini fits tight stands | Prize as the message |
| Gashapon | Capsule drop, fast throughput, holds your product | Compact | Sampling & giveaways |
| Spin the wheel | Every spin is a moment, segments printed with your offers | Compact, free-standing | Lead capture |
| Electronic darts | Quieter and skill-based, keeps people on the stand longer | Needs throwing distance | Noise-restricted halls |
| 10 second challenge | One button, instant result, very fast queue | Smallest | High footfall, small stands |
Machines that earn a crowd.
Frequently asked questions.
Can the machine be branded for our campaign?
Yes. We design and print wraps in-house, so the machine carries your campaign artwork rather than ours. Send brand guidelines or print-ready artwork and we will lay out the full wrap for your approval. Allow around two weeks from artwork sign-off, though we can often move faster.
What does the machine need on our stand?
A standard power point and roughly a square metre of floor space per machine. Send through your booth dimensions and the venue and we will confirm exact requirements and access before you book.
Can you work to our bump-in and bump-out times?
Yes. Exhibition schedules are fixed and we plan around them. Tell us your access windows when you enquire and we will build delivery and pack-down around your run sheet.
Do you supply insurance and compliance documents for the venue?
Yes. We provide certificates of currency and compliance documentation for venue and centre management, and can supply them ahead of bump-in where the venue requires it in advance.
Can we use our own product as prizes?
Yes, and it usually works better. We load claw, gashapon and gumball machines with your product, samples or merchandise, and can restock between days on a multi-day stand.
Do you hire for expos outside Melbourne?
Yes. We deliver to exhibitions in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Equipment is transported from our Braybrook base, so interstate dates are quoted with your venue and schedule.
Exhibiting soon?
Send us your stand size, your dates and what you want the machine to do. We will come back the same day with an honest recommendation and a quote.