MASATS @ AUSTRALASIA BUS & COACH EXPO 2026

A Custom Exhibition Stand Designed Around Live Product Demonstrations

Client: Masats
Event: Australasia Bus & Coach Expo 2026
Venue: Sydney Showground
Stand Size: 6m × 6m Island Stand (36sqm)

Project Overview

Australasia Bus & Coach Expo marked the beginning of Grand Stand Events’ partnership with Masats, a global manufacturer of passenger access systems for buses and coaches.

Unlike many exhibitors, Masats wasn’t showcasing a finished vehicle. Their products needed to be experienced in operation and their stand had to demonstrate two full-size passenger door systems, create space for customer meetings, support live demonstrations throughout the exhibition and reflect the premium engineering standards the Masats brand is known for.

As a four-sided island stand, the design also needed to attract visitors from every direction while remaining open, functional and easy to navigate.

Project Highlights

• 36sqm island exhibition stand
• Four open-sided exhibition design
• Two full-size operational passenger door demonstrations
• Custom timber feature ceiling
• Circular suspended overhead banner
• Integrated touchscreen display
• Custom hospitality area
• Concealed storeroom
• Architectural lighting throughout

The Challenge

Masats’ products are designed to move so simply displaying the door systems wasn’t enough. Visitors needed to see them operating, understand how they worked and experience the engineering first-hand.

That introduced a series of technical requirements. Both demonstration doors required compressed air, power and clear operating zones, while the stand also needed meeting space, hospitality, storage and digital product information.

Everything had to fit comfortably within a 36sqm island site without restricting visitor movement or compromising safety.

The Design

The demonstration doors naturally became the hero of the stand.

Positioned on opposite corners, they created two highly visible product demonstration zones that immediately attracted attention from passing visitors. Between them, a warm timber structure formed the centre of the stand, providing a welcoming space for meetings while concealing a practical storeroom behind.

Timber ceiling battens introduced depth and architectural interest without enclosing the space, while integrated planting softened the overall design and contrasted with the industrial nature of the products.

A circular suspended banner ensured the Masats brand remained visible across the exhibition hall, helping visitors locate the stand from every direction.

The overall design balanced engineering with hospitality, creating a space that felt approachable while allowing the products to remain the centre of attention.

Bringing the Stand to Life

Although relatively compact, the build incorporated a significant amount of custom fabrication.

The stand featured a raised Eco Floor system with polished concrete and white marble finishes, a custom timber batten ceiling, integrated timber feature walls, a hospitality counter, concealed storeroom, circular suspended banner, architectural lighting and a wall-mounted touchscreen display. Dedicated electrical, compressed air and data services were also integrated to support continuous operation of both passenger door demonstrations throughout the exhibition.

Every service was carefully coordinated behind the scenes so visitors experienced a clean, uncluttered exhibition environment.

The Visitor Experience

The stand encouraged visitors to engage with the products from the moment they arrived.

Working door demonstrations created a natural point of interest, drawing visitors onto the stand where the Masats team could explain the technology and answer technical questions. The open island layout allowed people to circulate freely, while the central hospitality area provided a comfortable setting for longer customer conversations.

Digital presentations, live demonstrations and face-to-face discussions worked together to create an experience that was informative without feeling overly technical.

The Result

The completed stand gave Masats a strong introduction to the Australian market at one of the industry’s leading trade events.

By combining live product demonstrations with premium architectural finishes and welcoming hospitality, the stand successfully showcased the company’s engineering capabilities while creating meaningful opportunities to connect with operators, manufacturers and industry partners.

The project demonstrated how thoughtful exhibition design can transform complex technical products into engaging visitor experiences.