China’s fast growing professional audio and lighting market continues to attract record numbers of exhibitors and visitors to Prolight + Sound Shanghai, one of Asia’s best known professional audio and lighting, event and entertainment technology show.
Four hundred and fourty four leading brands from 17 countries and regions showcased their products and technologies at the show when it was held 10 – 13 October at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This was a seven percent increase compared to last year. The exhibition space covered three halls totalling 35,000 sqm.
There was a 19 percent visitor increase with the final figure being 23,869. Of these, 22,187 were domestic visitors, a 19 percent increase, and 1,682 were international visitors, an increase of 12 percent compared to last year. The visitors represented 79 countries and regions.
Commenting on the show, Ms Fiona Chiew, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd said: “This year we saw an increased number of visitors who were looking for the latest technology breakthroughs in LED screen panels and other lighting products. They appreciate the fact that Prolight + Sound Shanghai offers the very latest technology which is often available first in China, and that our show is helping to drive industry technology.”
Exhibitors and visitors praise the value of the show
Exhibitors from China and other parts of the world were keen to praise the value that the show brings to their businesses. Mr Christopher Smith, Director of International Sales and Business Development for US company Samson, one of the leading industry brands and a first time exhibitor said: “The show is important because in the first few hours of the first day we accomplished more than we could have by phone calls and emails. It’s important, even today, to sit down across the table and talk about new opportunities together. We have met with customers from Azerbaijian and all over Europe and we really feel this is an international show.”
Regular exhibitor Leem Products Co Ltd from Korea was happy with what they acheived at the show. According to Ms Truth Leem, representing the International Sales Department, her target customers are mostly the international market. “This year is really good for contacts with more South American buyers interested in our products. They are looking for equipment for big events. We come to the show because it’s really important to meet our customers and we feel that the show is developing every year and getting bigger.”
TW Audio from Germany were exhibiting at the show for the fifth consecutive year and were also part of the outdoor Concert Sound Arena (CSA) demonstrations. Managing Director Mr Bernhard Wustner said that China was one of his company’s biggest markets. “The show has played an important role in getting us established in China. Without the possibility of being able to exhibit at a show like this we would not get the acceptance from customers. The show plays a big role for us and it gets a lot of business for us. It’s interesting here in Shanghai because you don’t just meet Chinese customers but customers from around the world. We have met a contact who will become our distributor in Vietnam.”
Chinese exhibitor Phoenix Audio and Lighting Technology Limited were exhibiting for the first time. Mr Nelson Liu, the company’s General Manager for the Shanghai office said: “Exhibiting at this show bring us remarkable help. The show is an excellent platform that assembles customers in the whole Eastern China region and from many other countries.”
Topled Lighting Electronics Limited from China focuses on high class lighting products and have participated at the show a number of times. Ms Tina Xu who is responsible for sales said: “The total condition of the world market for this industry nearly stops growing, only Japanese and Chinese market are still growing fast. Therefore, the domestic Chinese market is also a big target for us."
RGBlink Science & Technology Co Ltd was exhibiting for the third time with its LED video panels. Mr Ben Hu, the company’s Overseas Sales Manager said: “We increased our booth space so that we could build up strong cooperation with upstream and downstream enterprises.”
Other brands at the show included 4-Acoustic, Adastra, AEPEL, Antari, Apora, Audiocenter, Behringer, Beta Three, Biema, Chromateq, Chord, Citronic, Clair Bros, Coolux, CREATELED, Dataton, domeprojection.com, Enter Tech, FBT, Global Truss, GTEK, Infiled, K-array, KV2 Audio, Laserworld, LAX, LEEM, Lightlink, Maquinas, Martin Professional, Pangolin, QTX, RGBlink, Samson, Soundking, Sunrise, Superlux, Takstar, TENDZONE, Triple Onda, Verity Audio, VTC and Xilica.
This year’s show attracted many international visitors. First time visitor and wholesaler Mr David Velasqvez, Sales Manager for IDIMSA in Guatemala was looking for speakers. He said: “The standard of the show is awesome and amazing but at the same time every hall is specific so it is very easy to find what you are looking for. Shows like this are very important otherwise it would be impossible to buy all the things that I need.”
Three international visitors were looking for LED screens and lighting products. Mr Farzad Dihlul, Safir Imangardi Novin Co Ltd, Iran, runs a rental business. He said: “I need to find the latest products. I am looking for lighting stages, LED walls and what is new because you have to be the first in business.” Mr Uli Petzold, Managing Director of LMP, Germany added: “I’m only interested in LED screen and lighting. I found everything. I have been able to talk to everyone and I have got more information than last year.” Mr Johan Gotthardsson, General Manager, Ljudia Sound & Light, a Swedish importer of light and sound products said that due to energy saving policies of countries such as Sweden, LED products are becoming a big business. “I think this show is great because we can find big companies from not only Asian countries, but also Europe and other areas,” he explained. “It gives us the chance to compare and we can visit the factories that we are doing or going to do business with, right after the show. I know that if a new product appears here, then it’ll appear in Europe one year after, so it’s very important for me to pick the products here first.”
Chinese visitors were also impressed with this year’s show. Mr Pei Nan Zhang, a Sales Manager for Shenzhen Rexer Audio Co Ltd was visiting the show for the fifth time. “We come here to meet existing long-term partners and to select some new lighting and audio products. The show helps to further the lighting and audio market while driving the development for every aspect of this industry.” Mr Jumbo Yie, Manager, Solidex (Suzhou) Co Ltd, a loudspeaker exporter added: “The exhibition provides us a good communication platform and a good bridge for us to find suitable products.”
Fringe programmes were a popular show attraction
During the four-day Prolight + Sound Shanghai visitors and exhibitors had the chance to participate in a variety of fringe programmes. The Concert Sound Arena featured an outdoor live line array from 11 leading overseas and local brands. The international brands taking part in The Sound of the World arena were Clair Bros, FBT, KV2and TW Audio and the Chinese brands participating in The Sound of China arena were CB-ACOUSTIC, DE Acoustics, iBO, Sae, TASSO, WAVK and Zsound.
Visitor Mr Gao Feng Wu, General Manager of Beijing JinShan HengFeng Technology Co Ltd found the arena to be helpful. He said: “I think Concert Sound Arena is very good and the foreign equipment is very attractive, especially two brands and we are considering purchasing these products.”
The use of advanced technology in a creative way was on show at the first ever ATMOSPHERE – Visualise the Creation on Stage to visualise the seminar topic: New Media for Exhibitions and Theatres.
The idea was initiated by Messe Frankfurt, the show organiser and was executed by 24 students from the City University of Hong Kong and the Shanghai Theatre Academy under the direction of Mr Tobias Gremmler, Visiting Associate Professor, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong and Shanghai Theatre Academy. Visitors to a dome on the show floor found themselves surrounded by a variety of creative images and moods which they could select.
Mr Gremmler explained: “The basic idea was that visitors could use an interactive touch table to choose different visuals representing different moods and atmospheres. The visitors really liked to play around with this and hopefully they got some inspiration from this.”
One visitor who was inspired was Mr Zhi Xue Zhao, General Manager, Tibet Hard Yak Culture Media Co Ltd. He explained: “ATMOSPHERE displays new technology by joining LED screens together to achieve a wider and better visual effect. We would like to apply this new technology.”
Visitors also benefited from a variety of product presentations given by AVSL (UK), FBT (Italy), JArl Audio (China), Superlux (Taiwan), Turbosound (UK) and Xilica (Canada).
Mr Neil McDougall, Group Brand Manager, AVSL Group gave a product presentation entitled Wire-free Operation for Temporoary Lighting Installations and Special Events. Commenting on the presentation he said: “The room was full and a few people asked questions and some went to our stand to look at our products afterwards. The seminar was good because we could demonstrate our lighting products there.”
One of the speakers at the Lighting and Visual Design for TV Production Seminar was Mr Florian von Hofen, Head of Department International Affairs & Communication, VPLT who presented the topic Stage Lighting at the New TV Studios in Germany. He said: “Good fringe programmes and seminars are very very important for a trade show. This programme has made the show even better than it was already. For a good production, it has to be a combination between local products and imported knowledge, especially when it comes to content and concepts.”
Forum audience member, Mr Jin Hui Yu, Lighting Control Supervisor, Ningbo Grand Theatre said he found the forum information valuable. “The content fits my needs and is closely related to my daily work,” he commented.
Other fringe sessions were:
- Applications of AV System in the Hotel Industry
- Nightscape & Stage Lighting Forum
- Stage Art Design and Technology Forum
- Tech Shanghai Multi-media Technology Showcase
Prolight + Sound Shanghai is organised by INTEX Shanghai Co Ltd and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and runs concurrently with Music China, Asia’s largest international exhibition for musical instruments and accessories. The next show will take place 8 – 11 October 2014.
For further information, please visit www.prolightsound-shanghai.com or email plss@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
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