Custom inflatable lead times, project by project

How long does it take to make a custom inflatable?

Across these projects, between 5 days for a giant Nutella jar and 5 weeks for a 7 m arch or an artwork; in one post, the workshop quotes 3 to 4 weeks of manufacturing.

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These lead times do not all measure the same thing: some run from the initial call to installation, others from order to shipping, others count manufacturing only. Each section says which.

The schedule depends first on the brief: with measurements, files and the event date from the start, the 3D needs fewer rounds (how to brief a custom inflatable).

How long does an inflatable player tunnel take?

For the Lion ZSC and Aigle GSHC tunnels, it took 2 weeks to present the 3D proposals, then under 10 days to design, cut and assemble each tunnel.

The lion tunnel has more than 500 fabric pieces and the eagle tunnel more than 400, laser cut, sublimation printed and sewn by hand.

The model and the door measurements are settled during the 3D phase: see custom inflatable player tunnels.

How long does a giant inflatable product replica take?

Between 5 days for a giant Nutella jar and 1 month for the 3.5 m nose on the GSK stand.

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For LE CHAT, Henkel got the design and the 3D proof in 3 days, for a 1.3 m replica placed in 100 supermarkets.

The 100 giant Tsingtao bottles, each 3 m tall, were produced in under 4 weeks, and the Buttonscarves giant bag shown under the Eiffel Tower was designed and made in 10 days.

The 4 m hot-air balloon for Balmain Kids was designed, made and installed in Paris in under 10 days, from the initial call to installation.

Files and accuracy are covered on the page giant inflatable product replica.

How long does a giant inflatable mascot or character take?

Between 10 days of production for a 5 m astronaut and 3 weeks for the three table tennis champions for Yili.

The giant rat for La Mano 1.9 was delivered in Paris for Solidays 20 days after the sketch.

For Busan 2030, the workshop delivered 10 mascots and a 7.5 m giant mascot at very short notice, from design to staffing.

Shapes and movement options are shown on the page custom inflatable mascot.

How long does an inflatable sphere or moon take?

Between 10 days for a CGN inflatable moon and two weeks for the Astra Festival moon.

The 2 m and 4 m moons for WAY agency were delivered in 12 days from order to shipping, with fire-retardant fabric and an LED system.

The 3.50 m chrome sphere for an Angèle music video was made in 2 weeks.

Sizes, projection and rigging are covered in inflatable projection spheres, formats on the page giant inflatable sphere.

How long does an inflatable stage set or installation take?

Between 10 days for the 4 structures for the Manufacture de Sèvres and under a month for the Head In The Clouds stage sets.

At the Beaugrenelle centre, making 30 custom balloons and shapes took 12 days, and installing them 6 hours at night.

For Google, 20 inflatable clouds were designed, approved in 3D, made and installed in Paris in under 15 days.

The stage backdrop for the Jeunesse Dorée tour of Guy2Bezbar was designed, made and delivered in 3 weeks; it goes up in a few minutes and travels from date to date.

For a stage, see also inflatable stage sets for festivals and the page custom inflatable stage design.

How long does an inflatable sculpture or artwork take?

Usually a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks, according to the workshop; the 10 m jellyfish for Claudia Comte took 3 weeks from the initial call to installation in Venice, with a lot of luck.

The breathing artwork by Hala Amer, shown at Northwestern University in Doha, was made in five weeks, from design to manufacturing.

An artwork also needs time for a prototype and tests: see how to commission a custom inflatable sculpture and the page custom inflatable sculpture.

How long do arches, tents and stands take, and how long is set-up?

The 7 m arch for Minuit Festival took 5 weeks from 3D to finished product; on site, the AERO41 tent goes up in under 5 minutes and the Erborian stand in under 10 minutes.

The three giant chickens for L214 were installed in under 1 hour on Place de la Bourse in Paris; at the Grand Rex, installing the 6 m Minion took rope access technicians and a cherry picker.

The 3.7 m cherry for Christian Louboutin had to inflate in 10 seconds on the runway; the mountain arch for Lausanne 2020 was set up 50 times over more than 4 months of touring.

The models are on the pages custom inflatable arch and inflatable event tent; for a hall, see using inflatables indoors.