direct from: www.etnow.comRegularsContentsthis monthJobs and CareersWeb DirectoryFeaturesIssue: 311Lucid Technologies commemorates World War One Remembrance daypage 19January 2019The festive season and the countdown to Christmas is well underway and Triple E has gone underwater to provide a magical window display.The package from Video Design comprises a team of seven to install and operate a four-sided central scoreboard display of ROE CB5 LED.Arlette Gruss Circus in the RoboSpot Lightpage: 16page: 17page: 2page: 31pages: 28 to 31When the Arlette Gruss Circus changed its old Big Top for a new one, it also embraced a new Robe RoboSpot system, which has impressed all! LIGHTING | SOUND | VIDEORIGGING | STAGING | DRAPESw: hawthorn.bizt: 01664 821 111e: hire@hawthorn.bizSENNHEISER SR 2050 IEM High Quality IEM System Robust 19’’ rack twin transmitter Up to 6 x 32 tunable channels for wireless monitoring Ideal for use with our AC3200Mk2 combiners and A5000CP Antennae Pilot tone transmission for interference-free operationAVAILABLE TO HIREMajor Updates Announced for Meyer Sound MAPP XT and Compass Software ProgramsMeyer Sound has announced significant upgrades of its MAPP XT system design tool and Compass control software, including greater integration between the two platforms along with new, streamlined workflows and inclusion of data sets for new products. The new release of MAPP XT (1.2.2) now offers users the ability to perform copy and paste operations within the sound field, a feature that speeds up the design process. Other important additions include design data sets for the new USW-210P subwoofer and Acheron loudspeakers with woven screens. More on page 8Video Design Ignites Nitro Circuspage: 25Triple E engineers an underwater Xmas delightcontents this monthJanuary 2019page no.Featurespage : 5page : 6page : 11page : 9News This MonthPages 4-1113 ABTT Hold a Christmas Party The Association of British Theatre Technicians held their annual Christmas party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London on Friday 7th December. Etnow took some snaps.16 Triple E engineers an underwater Christmas delight The festive season and the countdown to Christmas is well underway and Triple E has gone underwater to provide a magical window display in the centre of the West End.17 Video Design Ignites Nitro Circus Extreme sports excite the daredevil in us all; Nitro Circus Live, a touring spectacular, featuring world class athletes in FMX, BMX, skate and scooter visited arenas in Europe throughout. As camera director William ‘Billy’ Robinson explains: “Video Design supplies our complete video package…” 18 On the Road with 5 Seconds of Summer Adlib was back on the road with pop rockers 5 Seconds of Summer, fresh from winning the 2018 ARIA Award for ‘Best Australian Live Act’, supplying a CODA sound system, monitors and a top Adlib crew to work alongside the band’s engineers Phil Gornell (FOH) and Pavan Grewall (monitors).19 Lucid Technologies commemorates World War One Remembrance day Lucid Technologies recently produced two spectacular displays of stunning illuminations which embellished the exterior of Bradfield’s St Nicolas’s Church, Sheffield, with large-scale animated 3D imagery relating to World War One. The displays were part of the wider ‘Poppy Memorial Trail’ event organised by Pink Dot Inc, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Remembrance Day.20 JTSE 2018 at de l’Evénement Paris, Porte de la Chapelle Once again, this highly successful and busy exposition took place across three spaces, with the main salon the larger Dock Pullman and two special areas for lighting and audio taking place in Dock Eiffel and Dock Haussmann respectively. 25 Arlette Gruss Circus in the RoboSpot Light The Arlette Gruss Circus is well known for its love of technology and reinvention, constantly keeping its shows fresh and new, so, this year, when the company changed its old Big Top for a new one, it also embraced a new Robe RoboSpot system, which has impressed everyone!26 EM Acoustics Enhances Square Chapel Arts Centre Halifax The Square Chapel Arts Centre, located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, recently underwent an 8.8 million-dollar renovation that included new EM Acoustics sound reinforcement systems for the 220-seat multi-purpose auditorium and new, versatile cinema/studio theatre space. 27 DiGiCo S31 gives Norway’s folk scene everything it needs In the autumn of 2010 Riksscenen, Norway’s national venue for folk and traditional music and dance opened a new, purpose-built venue in Oslo’s trendy Grünerløkka and invested in two DiGiCo SD8s. Now they’ve added and SR1. T I +44 (0)1926 484609 E I rental@cpl.tech W I www.cpl.techI Barco UDX 4K-32 ProjectorI RENTALRegister forKeep up to date by signing upat www.etnow.com/etexpressWeekly News Headlinesfrom the editordirect from: www.etnow.comEntertainment Technology is published 12 times a year in conjunction with the leading industry portal www.etnow.comEditor: John OffordTechnical Editor: Jackie StainesPublished by: Entertainment Technology Press LtdThe Studio, High Green Great ShelfordCambridge CB22 5EGTelephone: +44 (0)1223 550805Fax: +44 (0)1223 550806Website: www.etnow.comemail: editor@etnow.com© Entertainment Technology Press Ltd.Subscription Rates:Annual Subscription for 12 issues (UK): £27.50Annual Subscription (overseas): £50.00Subject to acceptance, subscription is free to UK based industry professionals.Subscribe online at: www.etnow.com/etmag/Opinions expressed in Entertainment Technology are not necessarily those of the publishers. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the publishers.etnow.com (entertainment technology news on web) is the industry portal site with news from around the world added daily under various sector headings coupled to an extensive archive. The site also features a books section where titles from Entertainment Technology Press can be ordered online via our secure Sage Pay credit card services.Issue: 311ABTT Christmas Party 2018: HonoursThe Association of British Theatre Technicians awards Fellowships to those who are considered to have rendered signal service to the technical aspects of the art of theatre. At the ABTT Christmas Party at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Friday 7th December, Will Bowen and David Staples were both appointed as an ABTT Fellow. Jack Tilbury, Director of Plann the specialist provider of services to cultural capital building projects, spoke to commend Will Bowen in his appointment as a Fellow. Jack remarked how pleased and honoured he was to introduce Will having sat in countless design and production meetings grappling with an insoluble problem only to offer the lifeline “I know a guy we can call!” Looking back at Will’s CV it is obvious that Jack was not the only person to have done this: amongst Will’s credits are Phantom of the Opera; Aspects of Love; Oliver!; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wizard Oz and His Dark Materials.Richard Pilbrow, ABTT Fellow, one of the world’s leading theatre design consultants, a lighting designer and an author, commended David Staples in his appointment as a Fellow. Richard commenced his remarks by commending all those gathered for delivering such overwhelmingly fabulous theatre in the UK. Richard met David when at university he applied for a job which was some 44 years ago. As a teenager, David had read Richard’s books. Theatre Projects, Richard’s company, had landed a job for the Shah of Iran to build 26, three-auditorium arts centres across the country – all at once. Needless to say it never happened but Theatre Projects opened an office in Iran. David went out to manage it.Honorary Memberships are bestowed upon those who have rendered signal service to the Association itself. Also at the ABTT Christmas Party, Rikki Newman was appointed an Honorary Member.Ted Moore, Director of Rental Services for TAIT a world leader in delivering live event solutions, commended Rikki Newman to the appreciative company in his appointment as an Honorary Member. Rikki has had a long career in theatre, Ted suggested to know exactly how long would need carbon dating. He started his career in Australia. He served in the Australian Army, he has worked in the Sydney Opera House and he has worked in Australian TV. Rikki has been a very critical “friend” to the introduction of automation in to theatre but he is certainly the Master Carpenter’s Master Carpenter.The acknowledgement and congratulations to all three recipients could not have been more warmly and genuinely given by the large gathering of ABTT Members, friends and guests at an enjoyable annual event.The 2018 ABTT award winners, Will Bowen, David Staples and Ricky Newman are joined by ABTT CEO Robin Townley and chair Louise Jeffreys.Prolyte Trussing, LiteDeck & StageDex from the premier UK stockist…January 2019news4Rupert Neve Designs Appoints Tim Hurrell as European Sales ManagerAs Rupert Neve’s Designs’ portfolio of recording products continues to expand into Live Sound and hi-fimarkets, the company is pleased to announce the enhancement of European business support through the appointment of Tim Hurrell and his company Sound Communications Ltd to act as European sales manager for Rupert Neve Designs.From Josh Thomas, general manager and co-founder of Rupert Neve Designs: “We are immensely lucky and proud to bring on Tim Hurrell as our European sales manager. As the company continues to grow, we needed to find someone to support us further in the European markets, and Tim’s extensive experience makes him the ideal partner.”Tim Hurrell comments: “The Rupert Neve name is synonymous with professional audio products, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to help Josh and the team grow their presence in Europe. Having spent my career in the pro audio industry as a reseller, running Avid’s pro audio business and co-founding a professional audio-specific marketplace, I look forward to working with Rupert Neve Designs’ great network of European resellers and customers as we expand the business.”Chauvet Professional Introduces Batten-Style Strike SaberFollowing an unforgettable summer where it was featured on high-profile tours by the likes of Dierks Bentley, Counting Crows and Nine Inch Nails, Chauvet Professional’s popular Strike series is expanding to include its first-ever batten-style fixture. The new Strike Saber packs the intense punch associated with the series’ pod fixtures, but in a linear configuration that features ten 17W warm white/amber LED cells.“The response that our Strike series has received from leading designers around the world has been overwhelming,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Designers told us they wanted more ways to incorporate the Strike series’ intense output into their rigs, so we designed a batten unit to complement our pod fixtures.”A versatile fixture, the new Strike Saber excels as a powerful blinder, strobe, footlight or tuneable white wash. Pixel mappable, it can also be used to create captivating chase effects, making it strikingly effective as a set piece.Adding to the attractiveness and immersive qualities of the Strike Saber is its emulated amber shift, which warms the colour temperature of the light as it dims to create a very realistic incandescent look. The newest member of the Strike family also includes 16-bit dimming for smooth fades.Measuring 39.3 x 3.08 x 6.18 inches (1000 x 78.4 x 157 mm), the Strike Saber also features a user-friendly OLED display, Adjustable Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), Remote Device Management (RDM), and an included floor plate for easy ground level mounting.“We really have been awed by all the incredible looks that talented designers have created with our Strike fixtures in the past,” said Chauvet. “With the Strike Saber being a batten-style fixture, designers will be able to use it in a wider variety of configurations. We’re very eager to see what they come up with down the road.”GLP extends its portfolio with the takeover of EhrgeizBy taking over Ehrgeiz on 1 January 2019, GLP is resolutely continuing on its strong growth path and portfolio expansion, particularly in the outdoor sector, with innovative and high-quality solutions.Steven Braun, managing director of Ehrgeiz, stated: "Since both companies are located in the same place and are active in the same market, there have always been points of contact. Ehrgeiz has been successfully developing and marketing products in an increasingly competitive market in recent years. This fact has not escaped GLP and there have been discussions as to how we can combine the strengths of both companies. I am delighted to be joining the GLP family, along with the Ehrgeiz team, and continue to develop great and innovative products.”Udo Künzler, CEO of GLP, responded: "I am proud to welcome Steven and his Ehrgeiz team, and we look forward to working together. Ehrgeiz has developed a broad expertise in recent years and knows how to develop innovative products, and this is particularly evident in their outdoor products. The merger will expand GLP's portfolio in areas where we see great potential and will make us even stronger in the coming years. Taking on Ehrgeiz is a win-win and will drive us further in our global growth strategy.”At the beginning of 2019, Ehrgeiz, including its employees, will be integrated into GLP and Ehrgeiz will remain as a brand within the GLP operation. The service and support for existing orders and customers will still be guaranteed after the takeover.www.glp.de4Issue: 311news5Adlib Has MovedAdlib has moved to a brand-new Liverpool headquarters in Knowsley, ideally located just off Junction 4 of the M57. This offers 83,600 square feet of fabulous space including a large pre-production area, a training suite, a comprehensive showroom, dedicated service facilities and a huge contemporary open plan office.Anyone visiting Adlib at its Fleming Road, Speke, site over the last couple of years will have noticed that it has been absolutely bulging at the seams for some time! After a long search, Andy Dockerty and the team are pleased to announce the move, which will take Adlib into a new era with more advanced levels of operation, service and efficiency.John Hughes, Adlib’s director, commented: “Following an extensive four-year search, we are delighted to announce the relocation to our new home. We’re sad to be leaving the old site in Speke in some ways, as it’s a place where we’ve nurtured and grown the foundations of the business.The new premises, however, allow us to expand and develop in other, and new, areas. This move is a true reflection of the passion, foresight and hard work that everyone has put in over these recent years, and we’re pleased to be able to offer an absolutely first-class facility not only to our staff, but also for our customers and suppliers.We look forward to giving everyone a traditional very warm Adlib welcome!”ETC and GDS announce new partnership detailsETC, Inc. and Global Design Solutions Ltd. (GDS) have announced a development of their successful partnership. Since 2015, ETC has been manufacturing and selling GDS-designed products in North and South America. Under a new agreement this relationship is expanded. ETC has acquired the ArcSystem, BluesSystem and CueSystem product lines from GDS.There is no immediate change for customers of the two companies: ETC makes and sells the products in North America and GDS remains as the maker and seller of these products in the rest of the world. In August 2019 ETC will take over manufacture and distribution of these product lines worldwide.“Following this new agreement together, we will see GDS move forward into a new, exciting stage of expansion. We are, as a company, more focused than ever before to bring new problem-solving products to our customers. We look forward to working with ETC in the future combining our technical expertise for the benefit of the industry,” comments GDS managing director, Richard Cuthbert.David Lincecum, ETC vice president of marketing adds: “ETC plans to expand our work in architectural lighting throughout the world, and bringing these GDS products under the ETC banner is the leading edge of that strategy. We look forward to assisting customers around the world in their migration to architectural LED lighting. GDS have designed great products and we are pleased to take them over in 2019.”For the near-future, GDS customers can continue to develop projects and procure ArcSystem, BluesSystem and CueSystem products via existing GDS sales channels and Matt Lloyd continues to be involved with the sales and promotion of these products. As the transition date nears, GDS and ETC will work with customers to migrate orders and quotations to ETC. Customers can be assured that all investments in these products are well placed and sound for the future. ETC and GDS will continue to develop and service these products for customers around the world.www.etccomnnect.comJanuary 2019news6POLAR appoints Andrew PlunkettPOLAR, established supplier of key industry brands to the installation, MI and professional audio markets, has announced the appointment of Andrew Plunkett to the post of business development manager for public address/voice alarm. A highly experienced industry professional, Andrew joins POLAR after 15 years at TG Baker where he gained wide-ranging and significant experience in the design and distribution of public address, voice reinforcement and voice evacuation equipment.An experienced project manager, Andrew has worked across diverse markets including industrial, leisure, education and most recently, on large-scale stadium installations and joins POLAR to develop this area of its business. As well as liaising with new and existing customers, Andrew’s system design expertise will help introduce the commercial ranges in POLAR’s portfolio to organisations whose core business is not necessarily focused on audio installation alone.Stuart Leader, director of POLAR Integrated Solutions welcomes Andrew’s appointment: “It’s clear that Andrew’s know-how in this field mark him out as an excellent asset to POLAR. We continue to grow our business and expand a formidable range of expertise across our team, enabling us to provide the very highest levels of support to our customers. Andrew possesses a thorough understanding of the industry and brings vast experience of designing systems for every scale and complexity of application. He’s an outstanding professional and we’re delighted to have him as part of our team.”Andrew Plunkett adds: “I have always admired POLAR as an organisation. It has a superbly supported stable of quality commercial audio brands and I’m looking forward to introducing these to new markets, as well as helping POLAR’s existing partners to confidently execute projects that draw on my area of expertise. It’s so encouraging to have such a rich core product-palette from which to support a full range of commercial audio solutions, from small-scale public address and background music, to large scale distributed systems. I’m particularly excited about introducing customers to the POLAR range of products, including the powerful Vocia platform from BIAMP, which delivers high-end, networked public address and voice alarm solutions with really integrator-friendly implementation.”Peter Codron Appointed UK Sales Manager at Martin AudioAn important cog in the restructuring of Martin Audio’s sales team, following its successful MBO this summer, has been the appointment of highly experienced audio professional, Peter Codron as new UK sales manager.Codron brings 30 years of audio industry knowledge and experience with professional A/V production companies, recording studios, live music events, theatrical productions, exhibitions and conferences. During this time he has worked in pro audio sales, audio system design, audio editing and engineering and IT networking.Particularly strong on sales, Peter Codron steered rental company Entec Sound & Light towards a stronger sales base during his nine years with the company, before taking over the sales manager’s role at SSE Audio Group in 2014, based at their Park Royal facility.“While I was happy at SSE, after 14 years of working in sales at dealer level I wanted a fresh challenge,” he said. “When [Martin Audio MD] Dom Harter approached me before this year’s Open Days the opportunity was too good to miss. The way the role was outlined to me was exactly what I wanted to do.”Speaking of his immediate role he says: “Martin Audio has developed a large and exciting portfolio, and so my priority will be to work with the UK dealer network to maximise our growth opportunity, while making sure that the brand is being represented in a positive way. At the same time my background in rental is very strong and that’s an area I can also tap into.“I have come in at an exciting time, with my eyes wide open, and am certainly looking at this as a long term challenge.”Peter will report to the recently promoted Brad Watson, international sales director. Brad commented: “We are delighted that Peter has joined us. His experience will be invaluable as we plan and execute our next wave of growth. His attention to detail, his belief in a brand ethos and his enthusiastic nature makes him a perfect fit for the Martin Audio family.”Stage Electrics Announce January Theatre and Broadcast ShowcaseFollowing on from their success last year, Stage Electrics are hosting another equipment Showcase. Taking place on 30th January 2019, at the Iconic SS Great Britain, Bristol, this event will bring the newest theatre and broadcast equipment to one place. Featuring some of the biggest names in theatre and broadcast, such as Sennheiser, Prolyte, ChamSys, Chauvet, ETC, High End Systems and DiGiCo. There will be 19 manufactures in attendance, demonstrating their extensive range of lighting, audio, video and staging equipment.With free entry this event will run from 2pm until 7pm and drinks and nibbles will be served from 5:30pm onwards, why not pop down after work? Get in touch with Stage Electrics to register, free parking will be available to all those who register before 17th January.www.stage-electrics.co.uk/showcasePenn Elcom Rack Products on D-ToolsA selected range of Penn Elcom’s premium, most popular and innovative 19-inch racking products are now available for choice by engineers, designers and project managers using the market leading D-Tools software architecture, which has been specifically developed for systems integration.This software is a favourite for companies and individuals working in all areas of the professional AV and IT installation sectors, including entertainment from restaurants and bars, to clubs and live music venues, theme parks to theatres, television and recording studios to data centres, all of which are utilising a diverse range of server enclosures.These options are available both through the on-premises System Integrator (SI) and the new D-Tools Cloud platforms.Penn Elcom is a leading global manufacturer of 19-inch racking and flightcase hardware, with extensive stock holdings worldwide and a reputation for innovation and practicality. A large distribution network allows quick delivery and competitive pricing.They have been instrumental in developing features like pre-tapped rack rails for straightforward fuss-free installation, integrated cable management and adjustable tops and bottoms all making set up simple and flexible, enabling racks that can easily be customised as needed.Included are the flagship rack enclosure series: R4000 / R5000 which have a fully modular top section that can accommodate any rack panel or 19” device as well as full height cable management bars and removable entry panels in the top and bottom. Tapped M6 or 10/32 rails are moveable both front and rear, as are steel or shatterproof polycarbonate doors. Side panels are secured via quick release slam locks with pre-etched knockouts for optional key locks. Each also comes with special dual castor and foot array, which is swappable for heavier duty models.full story: www.etnow.com/newswww.pennelcomonline.comJanuary 2019news8A High End team for ETCETC Ltd and ETC GmbH have announced three new employees in their continued effort to grow a dedicated team to evolve the High End Systems brand. Tania Lesage has been appointed as High End Systems brand manager, Markus Farncombe-Fischer as regional sales manager with Konstantinos Vonofakidis as field project co-ordinator.In his new position, Konstantinos will be responsible for High End Systems projects in the southern European, African, Middle Eastern and Indian territories. He will manage sales arrangements for key accounts in these regions and work in co-operation with distributors and dealers.Konstantinos joins ETC following a role as international sales manager for the High End Systems brand at AED group. He worked there for three and a half years and during this time managed sales and concentrated on developing the dealer network in Southern Europe, Russia, Turkey and Africa.After completing his studies in electrical engineering, Konstantinos began his career as a service engineer working on the High End Systems account for ten years. Following this, he was responsible for large scale lighting projects including the Bahrain National Theatre, Onassis Cultural Centre, and National Theatre of Greece.Tania joins ETC as a brand manager for High End Systems. She previously worked for AED Group on the High End Systems account and brings years of experience working with High End to the newly created position at ETC. Her role will involve working closely with product managers to oversee successful product releases and market introductions in the EMEA sales territories. As the key contact for providing marketing support to end users and dealers, Tania will cover several key regions including Russia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.Tania began working on the High End Systems account whilst living in China and working as an account manager at Barco. Following this, she moved back to Europe and took up the role as business manager for the Nordics and western European countries on High End Systems. Based in Belgium, she will be working closely with ETC’s Holzkirchen and London offices.As regional sales manager for High End Systems, Markus’s role looks after the sales territories of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, eastern Europe, Russia and CIS countries.Markus joined ETC GmbH in 2008 after having worked as a freelance console expert for the company. He has a background in lighting design and programming and technical production management.ETC welcomes Konstantinos, Tania and Markus to the team. Their wealth of expertise and knowledge to the High End Systems brand, makes them valuable additions to the company as its range of products and services grows. The newly complete team are sure to deliver great results in their EMEA sales regions and will continue driving the business forward.www.etcconnect.comMajor Updates Announced for Meyer Sound MAPP XT and Compass Software ProgramsMeyer Sound has announced significant upgrades of its MAPP XT system design tool and Compass control software, including greater integration between the two platforms along with new, streamlined workflows and inclusion of data sets for new products.The new release of MAPP XT (1.2.2) now offers users the ability to perform copy and paste operations within the sound field, a feature that speeds up the design process. Other important additions include design data sets for the new USW-210P subwoofer and Acheron loudspeakers with woven screens. Predictive capability is now available for ground-stacked configurations for Leopard line array loudspeakers with companion 900-LFC low frequency control elements and for Lina loudspeakers with companion 750-LFC elements.In the Compass control software release (4.3.4), the most significant advancement is the ability for users to open a MAPP XT project in Compass and have it automatically populate settings for output processing, delay integration, array correction and labelling of channels. Also included are delay integration for several of Meyer Sound’s newest loudspeaker products, including the UP-4slim ultra-compact installation loudspeaker and the newly released USW-210P compact narrow subwoofer. In addition, delay integration has been expanded to include the Ashby ceiling loudspeakers and the UP-4XP ultra-compact loudspeaker.The new Compass release (4.3.4) supports the following firmware versions in Meyer Sound products controlled by the software: GALAXY 1.3.4, RMServer 2.5.0 and CAL 1.5.0. The RMServer 2.5.0 version now includes support for the new USW-210P subwoofer. A number of bug fixes also were addressed in the new releases.All new Compass versions also incorporate/are compatible with RMServer 2.5.0, which now includes support for the USW-210P. A number of bug fixes also were addressed in the new releases.“At Meyer Sound we are constantly updating our software to achieve greater flexibility, faster workflows and stable operation in the most demanding conditions,” says director of product management Todd Meier. “This latest simultaneous release of new MAPP XT and Compass updates represents some of the most significant improvements in functionality and ease of use since Meyer Sound first entered the digital era.”DiGiCo Immerses with KLANG:technologiesDiGiCo has announced the acquisition of KLANG:technologies as a key new addition to the Audiotonix family that already includes leading audio brands Allen & Heath, Calrec, DiGiGrid, Solid State Logic and DiGiCo. The deal, which was concluded recently, further brings together some of the most influential and innovative brands within the Pro Audio Industry.James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix comments: “We have had the pleasure of working with KLANG and their pioneering immersive technology for a couple of years and when the opportunity arose for them to join Audiotonix, we were keen to make it happen. We have always stressed that with our M&A we would look at each brand’s requirement and help support them with their aspirations. On that basis KLANG will become a key part of DiGiCo’s future, as they combine forces to improve the listening world of artists and monitor engineers alike. It is about to sound a lot more natural, with the arrival of I-IEM (Immersive In Ear Monitoring).”Austin Freshwater, GM of DiGiCo, added: “We have been working in the background with KLANG for some months on increasing our level of integration. Over that time, it was clear the ethos of the development teams was similar, with a lot of shared common goals. Combining the control of the KLANG system into the DiGiCo worksurface will allow I-IEM and 3D personal monitoring to be a part of an engineer’s natural work flow, and that’s just the beginning for us and the KLANG team. We are keen to meet all their existing supporters and help more potential users understand the difference a KLANG system can make.”Roman Scharrer, CEO of KLANG summarises: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the team at KLANG. Having the wealth of industry knowledge and relationships that only the DiGiCo team have at our disposal is really going to allow us to demonstrate the benefits of our technology to those we feel will benefit the most from our ground-breaking development work. Being part of the Audiotonix family will allow our R&D team to bring more of our ideas to life. We can already anticipate that 2019 is going to be a busy year for us and we will continue to excite our users with innovative and sustainable solutions.”www.digico.biz7news9Issue: 311L-Acousticsstrengthens its R&D and Production expertise with acquisition of HGPL-Acoustics, headquartered near Paris and HGP, a manufacturer of precision sheet metal, based in Amboise, France jointly announce the acquisition of HGP and its sister entity API, specialised in powder coating by L-Acoustics.L-Acoustics presently employs over 400 people worldwide and has generated an increase in revenue at a compound annual growth rate exceeding 15% since the company was founded in 1984. A robust R&D focus, combined with ongoing efforts to optimise operations, guides L-Acoustics in this decision to broaden the scope of industrial know-how to encompass precision sheet metal manufacturing, which is used in rigging and internal loudspeaker components. HGP currently employs close to 50 people.“This operation represents a new and extremely positive step in augmenting our R&D and production capabilities,” explains Hervé Guillaume, managing director of L-Acoustics. “This alliance will allow us to improve our technical skill set and market intelligence regarding precision sheet metal, a vital technology in our professional audio solutions. HGP’s expertise and savoir-faire are highly complementary to our own, enabling us to better comprehend the constraints and specifics of the trade at every stage, from conception to production.”For Bertrand Bounoure, president and commercial director of HGP: “This constitutes a natural extension of a decade-long, successful supplier-client relationship between two growing companies with shared interests and objectives. We are delighted to pool our resources and abilities.”Jérôme Dolou, purchasing director, L-Acoustics, one of the key contacts to regularly interface with HGP, adds: “Our interactions with HGP as a key supplier are win-win: quality, dependability, logistical excellence, and above all, a highly nimble approach to rapid prototyping. All this brings serenity and comfort in the planning and production process. We’re thrilled to reinforce this dynamic collaboration.”L-Acoustics has previously demonstrated a successful track record in integrating acquisitions of companies who were formerly component suppliers. In 2007, L-Acoustics acquired Simea in eastern France, a carpentry and cabinetry manufacturer specialized in loudspeaker enclosures. Since that acquisition, Simea’s staff (20 employees in 2007) has quadrupled and their revenue has increased seven-fold. More recently, in 2016, L-Acoustics acquired CAMCO, a German electronics firm with expertise in amplification and DSP.“From the very beginning of L-Acoustics, excellence in products and services, as well as long term investment in human and technical resources, have been key tenets of our strategy,” declares Hervé Guillaume. “Fiscal 2017 was exceptional with 24% year over year revenue growth. Similarly, 2018 is wrapping up in a climate of optimism with remarkable interest and uptake surrounding our latest audio innovation: L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound. World-renowned artists including Ennio Morricone, alt-J, Childish Gambino, Christine and the Queens and other early adopters have already achieved great results, with more to be announced. This clear momentum will allow L-Acoustics to further consolidate our global leadership.”Next >