# Humanoid robot at an HVAC and plumbing trade fair (ISH Frankfurt, Instalacje Poznań): what it can do on the stand, rules and who provides it

URL: https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-hvac-plumbing-trade-fair-ish-frankfurt-who-provides
Language: en
Publisher: MERA Robotics (https://merarobotics.com)
Updated: 2026-10-14

> On an HVAC and plumbing trade fair stand such as ISH in Frankfurt or Instalacje in Poznań, a humanoid robot greets installers and planners, talks about the exhibitor's products (heat pumps, boilers, ventilation, bathroom equipment), invites visitors to presentations and poses for photos. At ISH the demo has to follow Messe Frankfurt's presentation rules, and the robot must disclose that it is AI. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) provides Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators and conversation in more than 30 languages for such fairs.

A humanoid robot on an HVAC and plumbing trade fair stand stops installers and planners in the aisle, talks about the exhibitor's offer and directs visitors to the sales team or to a product presentation. At ISH in Frankfurt or at Instalacje in Poznań, exhibitors show heat pumps, boilers, ventilation, fittings and bathroom equipment, and most visitors are professionals who want to find a specific solution fast. The robot does not replace a technical adviser, but it helps bring people onto the stand and answers simple questions in several languages. It has to be registered as a presentation, placed away from the stand boundary and labelled as AI.

## When is ISH 2027 and what rules apply?

ISH, the trade fair for sanitation, heating, air conditioning and ventilation, takes place in Frankfurt am Main from [15 to 19 March 2027](https://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/planning-preparation/visitors.html). From 15 to 18 March it is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to trade visitors only; on 19 March it is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and additionally to the public. The organiser also states that cash sales and sample hand-outs are not permitted at ISH.

For the robot this has two practical consequences. For the first four days its conversation partners are installers, planners, wholesalers and investors, so it should know the offer at a level that interests a professional. On the last day private visitors come too, and the questions get simpler: which heat pump for a house, what a modern bathroom looks like.

In Poland the industry meets at events such as the Instalacje trade fair in Poznań. The rules for demos there are set by the organiser, Grupa MTP, so ask for the technical regulations before the fair and register the robot as a presentation.

## What can a humanoid robot do on an HVAC stand?

A humanoid robot at an HVAC and plumbing fair works well in several roles:

- **Greeting and stopping traffic.** The robot talks to passers-by and asks what they are looking for: heating, ventilation or bathrooms.
- **Directing visitors to the right expert.** On a large stand with several product zones it shows where the adviser for each product group is.
- **Announcing presentations.** It invites visitors to the launch of a new heat pump, a building control system or a bathroom collection.
- **Talking in several languages.** At ISH it greets international visitors in their language before a salesperson steps in.
- **Recognising products by camera.** It can recognise a product on display and talk about it.
- **Photos and video.** Short clips with visitors and reels for the exhibitor's social media.

In practice, MERA Robotics prepares the robot for a specific stand in its MERA OS system: the robot gets an event profile with knowledge about the exhibitor and its products, a brand name and character, and an operator controls its movement and gestures from a phone app.

## Which Messe Frankfurt rules apply to a robot demo?

Messe Frankfurt describes the rules for stand presentations in its [presentation factsheet](https://iffa.messefrankfurt.com/content/dam/messefrankfurt-redaktion/corporate/documents/de/services/technische-richtlinien/factsheet-praesentationen.pdf). These are the points that matter most for a robot, together with ISH's own rules:

| Rule | What it means for the robot |
|---|---|
| Volume up to 70 dB(A) at the stand boundary | the robot's speaker is set so it does not disturb neighbours |
| Audience presentations not directly at the stand boundary | the robot performs inside the stand, not at the edge by the aisle |
| At least 2 m viewing area towards the aisle, on your own stand space | the stand layout must leave room for an audience |
| No sample hand-outs or cash sales at ISH | the robot invites and informs, it does not hand out products |

Exhibitors may only use the space they have rented, also during a presentation. If the robot is going to walk, mark out a zone for it inside the stand and plan where the operator stands.

## What about the AI Act and safety?

**AI Act.** The regulation [generally applies from 2 August 2026](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/113/). [Article 50](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/50/) requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to inform them that they are dealing with AI. On a stand, a sentence at the start of the conversation and a sign next to the robot are enough.

**Safety.** HVAC stands feature heavy equipment, bathroom displays with ceramics and glass, and sometimes installations with water. The robot moves in a zone without cables on the floor and away from glass shower enclosures. An operator stays next to it the whole time it works.

## How to prepare a robot for ISH or Instalacje?

1. **Knowledge of the offer.** Product list with key parameters, new launches, presentation times, names of experts in each zone.
2. **Two levels of conversation.** One for professionals on trade days and a simpler one for private visitors on the public day.
3. **Languages.** At ISH prepare German, English and the languages of the exhibitor's key markets; in Poznań Polish and English are usually enough.
4. **Power.** Unitree lists a 9000 mAh battery and about 2 hours of operation for the G1. A five-day fair needs a battery swap plan.
5. **Registering the demo.** A description of the robot presentation sent to the organiser together with the stand design.

We describe similar rules in our articles on [construction trade fairs](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-construction-trade-fair-bau-budma-bauma-who-provides) and [energy trade fairs](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-energy-trade-fair-intersolar-e-world-who-provides). We explain how to describe the service in our guide to the [request for quote and rental contract](https://merarobotics.com/blog/request-for-quote-and-rental-contract-humanoid-robot-event-what-to-include).

## Which robot to choose for an HVAC stand?

For a typical stand the Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) fits well: it stands between appliances and bathroom displays. The full-size Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) is easier to see from a distance in a large hall and works well on the exhibitor's stage. An overview of models for rent and for sale is in our [robot catalogue](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robots-for-rent-and-sale).

## How to choose a partner for a robot at an HVAC trade fair?

Assess a partner for a humanoid robot on a stand against criteria you can check before signing:

1. **Own operators on site** for every day of the fair.
2. **Own conversation software** that can be loaded with knowledge about the exhibitor's products.
3. **Supported languages**, including German at the Frankfurt fair.
4. **Robot models in the fleet** and a battery plan for several days.
5. **Trade fair experience** in Poland and abroad.
6. **Knowledge of the organiser's rules** and help with registering the demo.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw rents Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 robots with its own operators for trade fairs and checks every robot before the event. Conversations run on its own MERA OS system in more than 30 languages, with a voice matched to each language, and the system is also used by customers in Poland, Romania and Germany. The company works in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. MERA's robot Edward Warchocki has appeared at the Evertiq Expo trade fair in Kraków, among others, and a video featuring him was covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News. Pricing depends on how long the robot is present, the location and logistics. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com or the form on merarobotics.com.

## FAQ

### When is ISH 2027?

ISH 2027 takes place in Frankfurt am Main from 15 to 19 March 2027. From 15 to 18 March the fair is open to trade visitors only, and on 19 March also to the public.

### How loud can a robot be on a Messe Frankfurt stand?

Messe Frankfurt's presentation rules say the volume must not exceed 70 dB(A) at the stand boundary. Presentations for an audience, especially with a microphone, must not be planned directly at the stand boundary and need a viewing area of at least 2 m on the stand towards the aisle.

### Can the robot hand out samples at ISH?

No. Cash sales and sample hand-outs are not permitted at ISH. The robot can invite visitors to a presentation, talk about the product and direct them to the sales team instead.

### Does a robot at a trade fair have to say it is AI?

Yes. Article 50 of the AI Act requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to be designed so that people know they are dealing with AI. The regulation generally applies from 2 August 2026.

### Who can provide a humanoid robot for an ISH or Instalacje stand?

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators for trade fairs, and conversations run on its MERA OS system in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English. The company works in Poland and abroad, and MERA OS is also used by customers in Germany. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.

## Sources

- [ISH 2027: information for visitors (Messe Frankfurt)](https://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/planning-preparation/visitors.html)
- [Messe Frankfurt: Factsheet Präsentationen](https://iffa.messefrankfurt.com/content/dam/messefrankfurt-redaktion/corporate/documents/de/services/technische-richtlinien/factsheet-praesentationen.pdf)
- [Article 50: Transparency Obligations for Providers and Deployers of Certain AI Systems](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/50/)
- [Article 113: Entry into Force and Application (EU AI Act)](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/113/)
- [Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot](https://www.unitree.com/g1)

## Contact

MERA Robotics — contact@merarobotics.com, https://merarobotics.com