Short answer: on site, you usually get one to two and a half days to build a stand at OFEC Casablanca. In 2026, Textech Morocco allowed one build day, SIEMA Food Expo two and EVS Morocco two and a half. The whole project, from first brief to opening day, takes about three to four months, because the stand has to be designed, approved and fully prefabricated before it reaches the hall.
This guide explains how long it takes to build a stand at OFEC, step by step, and why the short build window decides everything else. It draws on the organisers’ 2026 exhibitor manuals and on our own builds at the fairground.
How long you get to build a stand at OFEC: 2026 examples
- Textech Morocco 2026: one build day, 2 November, from 00:00 to 23:00 for special-design stands. The show opened on 3 November.
- SIEMA Food Expo 2026: two days for space-only contractors, 20 and 21 September, from 08:00 to 21:00.
- EVS Morocco 2026: two and a half days, 24 and 25 October from 08:00 to 20:00, then the morning of 26 October.
Each organiser sets its own window, so always check your exhibitor manual first. However, the pattern is clear: plan for one or two days, not a week. Dismantling is often even shorter, sometimes a single evening after the show closes.
The full timeline to build a stand at OFEC
- First, three to four months before the show: brief and first concept, based on your space number and the organiser’s floor plan.
- Then, ten to twelve weeks before: design approval, then technical drawings.
- Six to eight weeks before: drawings and 3D views go to the organiser for approval. Anything over 3.0 m high, a double deck or a platform above 600 mm needs prior approval with a risk assessment and structural calculations.
- About four weeks before: fabrication in the workshop, once the design is approved: joinery, metalwork, spray painting, printing and test assembly.
- Build days: delivery in build order and assembly on site, within the organiser’s window.
- After closing: dismantling and removal, often the same evening.
Why the build window is so short, and what it means for your stand
OFEC’s main hall is a 20,000 m² column-free space that changes show almost every month. Therefore, organisers keep build-up tight. In addition, the venue rules in the 2026 manuals limit what can happen on site:
- No wood-cutting machines inside the fairground; only assembly, fitting, adjustment and light finishing.
- No spray paints, oil-based paints or thinners in the halls.
- Hot work only outside the halls, and only with a permit.
- Floor loads above 1,000 kg per square metre need approval and spreader plates.
- You must declare every worker and vehicle in advance, and you cannot store empty crates in the halls.
As a result, you cannot legally build a stand at OFEC by cutting, painting or welding on site. The only reliable method is a fully prefabricated stand that arrives finished, numbered and ready to assemble.
How we build a stand at OFEC in one or two days
We build from our own workshop in Casablanca, a short drive from the fairground. First, we make, paint and test-assemble every wall, counter and graphic there. For example, in 2026 we built 67 stands across 792 m² in two days at SIEMA Food Expo, and three stands in a single build day at EVS Morocco.
On a large pavilion, the graphics alone can exceed three hundred printed pieces, each tied to one booth number. So we print and label everything in the workshop. This keeps the build day for assembly, lighting and final checks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a stand at OFEC Casablanca?
On site, usually one to two and a half days. In 2026, Textech Morocco gave one build day, SIEMA Food Expo two and EVS Morocco two and a half. The full project takes about three to four months from brief to opening.
Can a custom stand be built in one day at OFEC?
Yes, if it is fully prefabricated. We built three stands in one build day at EVS Morocco 2026, because every component arrived finished, numbered and ready to assemble.
When should I start planning a stand for OFEC?
Three to four months before the show. Drawings go to the organiser six to eight weeks ahead, and fabrication takes about four weeks once the design is approved.
Can I paint or cut wood in the hall at OFEC?
No. The 2026 manuals ban wood-cutting machines, spray paint, oil-based paint and thinners inside the halls. Only assembly, fitting and light finishing are allowed.
How long is dismantling at OFEC?
Often very short, sometimes a single evening after the show closes. A prefabricated stand comes apart in the same order it went up.
Do tall stands need approval at OFEC?
Yes. Structures over 3.0 m high, double decks and platforms above 600 mm need prior approval with a risk assessment, a method statement and structural calculations.
Build windows and rules come from the organisers’ 2026 exhibitor manuals and contractor forms. Every show sets its own times, so confirm them in your manual.
Planning a stand at OFEC?
See our full OFEC Casablanca stand builder guide, the Morocco trade show calendar 2027 and our stand builder Casablanca workshop page. Exhibiting from abroad? Read the ATA carnet and customs guide. In French: combien de temps pour monter un stand à l’OFEC. Or send us your show and stand number.