Events in Active Production Facilities: How to Set Up Without Stopping Operations

A client visit, company anniversary, internal presentation or stakeholder meeting can find its most authentic setting within the production facility itself, offering a direct way to showcase the company.

The challenge is clear: the space was not designed as an event venue and, in many cases, production continues even while the event is being set up.

The setup of an event in an active production facility must therefore integrate into the existing environment without transforming it more than necessary. The aim is not to conceal the industrial nature of the location, but to identify the areas that can actually be used and introduce temporary solutions that make them suitable for welcoming guests.

Setting Up an Active Production Facility: Less Is More

In a production facility, adding furniture without a clear purpose can create more problems than benefits.

Aisles, technical access points and operational areas must continue to perform their normal functions. For this reason, it is often more effective to concentrate the setup in a few key areas: a welcome zone, a space for a short presentation, an area for guests and any necessary service areas.

Furniture for corporate events in production facilities should be selected with this temporary nature in mind. Freestanding elements that can be easily positioned make it possible to add functionality without permanently altering the company’s spaces.

This can also be an effective choice from a visual perspective: keeping the materials, volumes and distinctive features of the facility visible makes the event feel more authentic and consistent with its setting.

Pipe & Drape and Screens: Creating Temporary Divisions

In a production environment, it may be necessary to temporarily screen off a technical area, create a backstage space or simply provide a visual distinction between operational areas and those dedicated to guests.

The Pipe & Drape system available in the Smacrent catalogue consists of adjustable uprights, crossbars and drapes, making it possible to create temporary partitions without modifying the structure of the space. The Black Pipe & Drape Curtain, made from Class B flame-retardant polyester, measures 330 × 300 cm and is designed for use with the dedicated modular structure.

It is important to distinguish its purpose: a visual partition does not replace any barriers or safety equipment required within the production facility. However, it can be useful for visually organising the environment, screening areas that are not part of the event or creating more intimate temporary spaces.

In the same category, Smacrent also offers room dividers, including the three-panel Wooden Room Divider with black fabric-covered panels, a more compact alternative when a large-scale partition is not required.

Presentations and Briefings Without Turning the Facility into a Conference Room

An event within a production facility may include a welcome speech from management, a briefing before a tour or a short presentation of a company project.

Here too, there is no need to recreate an entire conference room. It may be enough to define a clearly recognisable area and introduce only the elements that are strictly necessary for the occasion.

One specific product particularly suited to this scenario is Smacrent’s Transparent Plexiglass Lectern. Standing 110 cm high and featuring clean, minimalist lines, it is recommended in the catalogue for conferences, showrooms and professional environments.

Within an industrial setting, it maintains a discreet visual presence while creating a clearly defined point for speeches and presentations without overwhelming the surrounding environment.

It is a good example of the principle that should guide this type of event: introduce a function, rather than adding furniture simply to fill the space.

Logistics and Timing: The Setup Must Adapt to the Facility

When the company continues operating, the delivery, handling and collection of rental equipment must also fit within the available operational windows.

This is precisely what distinguishes a production facility from a traditional venue: the event does not necessarily take absolute priority over the use of the space. The setup must coexist with an operation that already has its own schedules, access requirements and procedures.

For this reason, the rental supply should be planned from the outset with dimensions, quantities and handling requirements in mind, prioritising only what is genuinely necessary for the event format.

The Smacrent catalogue includes furniture, accessories and temporary event systems, including Pipe & Drape, room dividers, lecterns and many other functional elements.

In an active production facility, the quality of the setup can also be measured by what it manages not to disrupt: less interference with business operations, greater clarity for guests and a space that can quickly return to its original function once the event is over.

Do you need furniture and accessories for an event inside a production facility? Browse the Smacrent catalogue to find temporary solutions compatible with the available spaces and the company’s operational requirements.