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Trade Show Models

Museum-quality models that stop foot traffic, explain complex products in seconds, and survive show after show.

Your booth has about five seconds to earn a stranger’s attention. A custom scale model does what screens and brochures can’t — it makes people stop, lean in, and ask questions. KiwiMill has been building models for 60+ years: welded aluminum and brass instead of plastic and glue, engineered to be handled by thousands of visitors and shipped to the next show in one piece. And in all those years, we have never missed a client’s show date.

Redwire ELSA Solar Panel Model

Cisco Power Systems Model

TrilliumSeries Adiabatic Cooler Model

Mobile Cleanroom Model

FXV Closed Circuit Cooling Tower Model

Industrial Heat Pump Model

Stainless Steel Building Model

Twin Kettle Model

Stellarator Fusion Reactor Model

iStream CT Scanner Model

Animated Oil and Gas Field Model

Mining Landscape Model

View the Full Trade Show Portfolio →

“Wanted to thank you very much for the work you did on getting our model back in shape. Speaks volumes not only about your commitment to your business, but more importantly, your commitment to the quality of your work. Thank you, great work and so greatly appreciated!” — iFortress

From your CAD files to the show floor

You don’t need finished drawings to start — photos, CAD, or a napkin sketch all work.

Send your project

Photos, CAD, or drawings plus your show date. We quote from whatever you have.

Design & approve

We work out scale, detail level, cutaways, and any motion or lighting with your team.

We build it

CNC machining, 3D printing, laser cutting, and hand craftsmanship — welded aluminum and brass, not plastic and glue.

Crated & delivered

Every model ships in a Pelican or custom-built case, ready for the booth and every show after it.

Planning a spring show? Most models take 8–14 weeks depending on complexity. Count back from your show date — and if it’s tight, tell us the date first and we’ll tell you what’s possible.

Trade show model questions, answered

The things clients actually ask before their first project.

How much does a custom trade show model cost?

Most KiwiMill projects start around $10,000, and there’s no fixed ceiling — the price is driven by size, level of detail, and features like cutaways, lighting, motion, or interactive controls. A quote is free: send photos or CAD of your product and we’ll give you a real number, not a range.

How long does it take to build one?

Most models take 8–14 weeks depending on complexity, features, and scale. We plan backwards from your show date and build the schedule around it — so the sooner you send your date, the more options you have. In 60+ years, we have never missed a client’s show date.

What makes a KiwiMill model different?

Construction. Where others use plastic and glue, we use welded aluminum, brass, and machined components. That’s the difference between a model that survives one show and one that’s still turning heads at show twenty. It’s also why our models can be handled by visitors all day — hands-on interaction is the whole point of bringing one.

Can you build interactive or animated models?

Yes — moving parts, lighting sequences, cutaway reveals, and computer-controlled interactivity. We recently built a 6-foot interactive power grid for Cisco where the display responds to visitor input in real time, and an animated LNG regasification plant that walks viewers through the process stage by stage.

Will it survive shipping and repeated setups?

That’s what it’s engineered for. Every model ships in a heavy-duty Pelican or custom-built case, and the metal construction is designed for repeated pack-outs, freight handling, and thousands of visitor touches. Set it up, tear it down, ship it to the next city — that’s its job.

Can you show the inside of our product — cutaways and internals?

It’s a specialty. Cutaways, see-through sections, and internal detailing are often the reason companies commission a model in the first place: they let you show the engineering that’s invisible in the real product on a crowded show floor.

What size should a trade show model be?

Many trade show models land around 16 inches in the largest dimension — big enough to command attention, small enough to ship affordably and fit the booth. But size follows your story and your space: we’ve built everything from tabletop pieces to 6-foot showstoppers.

What do you need from us to get a quote?

Whatever you have: photos, CAD files, engineering drawings, or just a description and dimensions. Send it through the quote form with your show date and we’ll come back with pricing and a timeline.

Do you ship trade show models worldwide?

Yes. Most of our work ships across the United States and Canada, and we regularly deliver internationally. Every model travels in a protective case built for it.

Your show date is the deadline. Let’s beat it.

Send us your product and your show date — we’ll tell you exactly what we can build and when it will be in your booth.

Request a Quote Call (626) 813-9661