For a one-off or untested trade fair or event appearance, a staffed rental is often the most straightforward option, provided that demonstrations, operator hours and venue conditions are agreed in the contract. If you have recurring events, buying or leasing may be more suitable, as long as you have trained staff and a plan for transport, set-up, maintenance and insurance. Whether buying makes financial sense can only be assessed by comparing like-for-like offers covering the same period and level of service.
If you’re planning a demonstration for a limited time but don’t want to organise the operator, set-up and return transport yourself, consider a staffed rental. TONEART describes these types of events as including an operator and technical staff.
For planned visitor interactions or spoken sequences, discuss the functions you actually need with the support team. TONEART and EF Robotics describe staffed event services; the scope and exact arrangements need to be agreed for each event.
If you’re planning several events, you can compare recurring rentals with buying or leasing. EF Robotics describes options to buy or lease; if you buy your own robot, you’ll also need to plan how it will be operated and managed on an ongoing basis.
Suitable if: you’re planning a one-off appearance or testing an event concept, and don’t want to develop the technical expertise to operate the robot in-house.
Consider: the services included and costs will depend on the specific offer; make sure operator hours and responsibilities are clearly agreed.
Suitable if: you want a planned spoken sequence or branded presentation to be part of the demonstration and need an operator on site.
Consider: branding and conversational features depend on the offer and configuration. Claims about visitor engagement are not proof of a particular effect.
Suitable if: you’re planning several specific appearances and have trained staff, as well as a plan for transport, operation and maintenance.
Consider: you’ll need to plan for your own operating arrangements and any documentation applicable to the specific product.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Support on the event day | Agree operator hours, responsibilities, set-up and dismantling, transport, and what happens if something goes wrong. | If I can’t organise the operation myself, I need clear responsibilities on site. Around 33% of consumers put support on the event day first. |
| Visitor interaction that can be demonstrated | Agree the model and version, specific sequences, operation, spoken content and a rehearsal. | For a planned interaction, I want to know which movements and conversations will actually be demonstrated. Around 25% of consumers focus mainly on visitor interaction. |
| Venue and visitor flow | Agree the movement area, escape routes, set-up times, power supply and, if necessary, network access with the venue. | If the appearance is in a busy or confined area, the arrangements need to suit the specific venue. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the venue and a safe flow of visitors. |
| Costs for multiple appearances | Compare offers for the same dates and tasks, including support, set-up, transport, maintenance and insurance. | If I’m planning several events, I want to compare recurring rentals with buying or leasing on a like-for-like basis. Around 17% of consumers prioritise the total cost of multiple appearances. |
Manufacturers describe different versions, while rental providers offer staffed programmes. Neither guarantees that a particular action can be performed in the same way under the conditions at your venue.
Agree the specific sequences and how the robot will be operated. If possible, arrange a rehearsal at the venue or in comparable conditions.
If the agreed operator hours or preparation services don’t fit your schedule, you may need to arrange additional planning or support.
Rental offers may include different services. The price of the robot alone doesn’t reflect the work involved in operating it at your event.
Compare offers covering the same period and tasks, and list each included service separately.
Depending on the offer, you may need to budget separately for support, transport, set-up, maintenance and, where applicable, branding and insurance.
Technical guidelines and venue conditions may restrict your planned set-up. Messe Düsseldorf notes that individual events may be subject to exceptions to its general guidelines.
Before signing a contract, agree the stand layout, visitor routes and escape routes with the venue and provider.
Manufacturer of the G1 and R1 humanoid ranges; Unitree models are also featured in German offers for staffed event appearances.
Manufacturer of the MagicBot Z1; MagicLab lists exhibitions as one possible use case.
German rental provider for staffed event and trade fair projects, including appearances featuring humanoid Unitree models.
German provider of staffed robot events and procurement advice.
The products below are for businesses looking to buy humanoid robots for recurring corporate events. Before choosing a model, check its specific functions, the support it requires and the conditions at your venue.
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This model may be worth considering for recurring appearances if its development platform suits your planned programme and operating arrangements.
Specifications stated in the product title: 117 TOPS and 22 DoF.
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Could be considered for a planned speech or interaction demonstration; agree the exact sequences and how the robot will be operated in advance.
Specifications stated in the product title: monocular camera, 20 DoF, integrated AI language model and Smart Interaction.
The product description advises against operating the robot near stairs, edges or uneven surfaces.
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For a recurring demonstration with planned speech interaction, agree the sequences, operation and movement area in advance.
Specifications stated in the product title: dual cameras, 26 DoF, AI language model and Smart Interaction.
The product description requires a safe distance from the robot’s swing area and mentions an emergency stop or kill switch for unexpected movements.
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Before planning a demonstration, check whether the available version and its functions suit your event.
The product title indicates that SDK/API is not available. The product description excludes children under 14 and calls for extra caution around them.
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Support for Secondary Development may be relevant if your event programme has a specific need for it.
For movement across a large area, the product description recommends a clear space of at least 6 m × 6 m. It also advises keeping a safe distance from the moving robot and taking extra care around its joints.
It depends on the specific offer and the sequences you agree. TONEART explicitly rents its models with an operator and technical staff; manufacturer information about sensors or AI doesn’t prove that a robot can be demonstrated without supervision. Ask how each action you want to include will be operated and who will be responsible.
Before booking, ask for the technical specifications of the specific system and agree connections, set-up times, the movement area and escape routes with the venue. Messe Düsseldorf notes that event-specific exceptions to its technical guidelines may apply, so check the requirements for your particular event.
Whether buying makes financial sense depends on your planned appearances and the services included each time. Compare offers for the same event days and tasks, including the operator, transport, set-up, maintenance and insurance. If you buy or lease, also agree who will take care of these tasks.
No. Check which EU product regulations apply to the specific product you’re buying and what conformity documentation is required. Separately, confirm the venue’s conditions. According to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the current Machinery Directive continues to apply to the placing of machinery on the market until 19 January 2027; the new EU Machinery Regulation applies from 20 January 2027.
If footage containing personal data is processed, data protection law must be taken into account. The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information notes that images showing people generally involve personal data. Check the specific camera and recording set-up, and agree responsibilities and visitor information before the event.