DEINZE, BELGIUM – Growth makes waves, a wise wag once observed. And any business that wants to ride those waves even further responds to growth by expanding its ability to meet the increasing demands of its customers. Following this philosophy, Chauvet has moved its European distribution hub to a new and greatly expanded facility.
The new facility in Deinze is only about 9 kilometers from Chauvet’s previous EU Hub in Kruisem, but in many ways, it is a long distance apart from its predecessor in terms of the capabilities it affords the Chauvet team to stock, sell, service and support their increasingly popular line of lighting products, including the award-winning Maverick, Ovation and MagicQ Stadium series.
Joining Chauvet facilities in the eastern and western United States, Mexico, the UK, France and Germany, the new 8,000 square meter Belgian hub will support the complete line of CHAUVET Professional, ChamSys, CHAUVET DJ and Iluminarc products.
The building’s six loading docks and 14,000 pallet spaces will expedite the processing of product shipments, resulting in even faster delivery times. Also featured in the complex are expanded and dedicate Quality Control and tech facilities. The latter will open new opportunities for customer training.
Chauvet opened its original Belgian facility in late 2015. In less than a decade, the company has grown its presence in the EU market exponentially. Now it is ready to ride that wave of growth to the next chapter, promising even brighter days ahead.
LiteGear Is Acquired By Chauvet To Expand Leadership In The Cinematic Lighting Industry
Burbank, CA – LiteGear, the innovative cinematic LED lighting manufacturer, is excited to announce its acquisition by Chauvet, a leading name in the lighting industry. This strategic acquisition aligns with Chauvet’s vision to broaden its reach and expertise in the realm of professional cinematic lighting. LiteGear, renowned for its pioneering products such as LiteRibbon, LiteMat, and LiteTile, is the latest addition to Chauvet’s prestigious roster, which includes other notable brands like Kino Flo and ChamSys. This merger brings together a powerhouse of expertise and innovation, promising to elevate the standards of cinematic lighting solutions.
With this acquisition, Chauvet is excited to introduce the Chauvet Cinema Group (CCG), a dedicated division focused on expanding cinematic lighting markets. This new division, led by industry veteran Mike Wagner, will drive the mission to venture into new lighting markets catering to image capture. The Chauvet Cinema Group will commence with the Kino Flo and LiteGear brands with plans for further expansion to include other brands. In a statement, Wagner expressed excitement about the merger citing, “Our objective is clear — we are developing a new playbook to become the market leader in cinematic lighting. By combining the strengths of LiteGear and Kino Flo under the Chauvet umbrella, we are poised to deliver unparalleled innovation and value to our customers.”
The collaborative efforts of LiteGear and Kino Flo will channel decades of experience and a commitment to advancing cinematic lighting technology while fostering education and community engagement. The Chauvet Cinema Group is poised to play a significant role in supporting and rebuilding the lighting industry amid challenging times. “Joining Chauvet enables LiteGear to offer a wider variety of products to our customers than ever before,” said LiteGear co-founder Mike Bauman. “We will be focusing on what the community needs and ensuring that new products come from the work, as LiteGear has always done.” LiteGear, under the Chauvet Cinema Group, will bring cinematic lighting forward into the future with cutting-edge technology, world-class customer service, and innovative products that meet the high standards of film professionals.
LiteGear co-founder Al DeMayo added, “The ongoing changes in our industry highlighted the need for a strong partner to continue offering the best to our customers. Chauvet’s world-class manufacturing and global reach make it the perfect partner, and we are thrilled about the future possibilities.”
LiteGear partnered with Gary Rabishaw at Intrepid Investment Bankers and Andrew Apfelberg at Greenberg Glusker to complete this industry-changing acquisition.
About Chauvet: Chauvet is a leader in the lighting industry, known for its high-quality and innovative products that serve a variety of professional lighting applications, including cinematic, architectural, and event lighting.
About LiteGear: Founded by Mike Bauman and Al DeMayo, LiteGear offers innovative LED lighting solutions for film and television, renowned for its dedication to quality and creativity on set.
FAQs
Service Continuity
Will my order or repair be interrupted?
There will not be an interruption with services, including orders and repairs.
Will my existing account remain active?
Your associated accounts including sales, service, rental, and ecommerce will remain active and unchanged.
Pricing and Billing
Will prices change after the merger?
Although limited products may see a price increase, the majority of the LiteGear product portfolio will remain unchanged.
Customer Support
Will customer service contact details remain the same?
All LiteGear contact information including our location, emails, phone, and website URL will remain the same.
Will the merger affect the quality of customer service?
You will continue to receive the same world-class industry leading customer service you have come to expect from LiteGear.
Product Changes
Will there be changes to the products I use?
There will be no immediate changes to your products. The mission of LiteGear and the Chauvet Cinema Group is to continually improve by developing cutting-edge products and technology for you.
Will new features or products be introduced?
LiteGear, under Chauvet, will focus on releasing a wider variety of lighting products and features for image capture applications.
Will certain products be discontinued?
No changes will be made to the LiteGear product portfolio at this time.
Brand and Identity
Will the company name or branding change?
The LiteGear name and branding will remain the same. The Chauvet Cinema Group will include the LiteGear and Kino Flo brands, creating a powerhouse of innovation and service for the cinema lighting industry.
Will there be changes to the website, or other platforms I use?
The LiteGear website and social media addresses will remain the same.
Will my customer experience differ due to cultural shifts?
The LiteGear culture of innovation, community, integrity, passion, and quality will remain the same. You will continue to receive the same industry leading customer service you have come to expect from us.
Transition Timeline
When will the merger take effect?
The merger takes effect on January 22, 2025.
Impact on Locations or Availability
Will physical locations remain open?
LiteGear will remain at our current location, 4406 Vanowen Street, Burbank, CA 91505 Our days and hours remain are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30PM
Will the LiteGear expand or reduce its service areas?
LiteGear and Chauvet Cinema Group will expand into new markets while providing high-quality lighting products to lighting professional worldwide.
LENEXA, Kan. — June 12, 2024 — LynTec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chauvet and a leading manufacturer of innovative electrical power control solutions for professional audio, video, and lighting (AVL) systems, today announced the acquisition of Juice Goose, an innovative, customer-driven company that manufactures and distributes electric power distribution, conditioning, and control equipment.
“LynTec couldn’t be more excited about the reputation and deep customer relationships Juice Goose brings, with solid products that perfectly complement our existing lineup,” said Mark Bishop, president of LynTec. “Now, regardless of how big or small the installation, we have the power solution for the job, whether that’s four circuits for a conference room or 500 circuits for an arena.”
Juice Goose was founded in 1983 and was the first company to provide power conditioning products specifically for the audio industry. Since then, the company has developed and maintained a reputation as a reliable supplier of electric power management products, including power sequencing, power conditioning, power distribution and control, surge protection, UPS, and more, for the commercial AV market in the United States. The chosen solutions provider for houses of worship, theme parks, and a broad range of venues and facilities, the company’s products are easy to install, convenient to use, and reliable.
“For more than 40 years Juice Goose has been the trusted power distribution solution for AV integrators, and we’ve achieved great success in the pro AV market,” said Peter Cook, CEO, Juice Goose. “We are incredibly excited to continue our legacy with LynTec and Chauvet brands, providing our customers with the same power management solutions they have relied on for years and now with LynTec’s leading customer support.”
With the addition of Juice Goose to the Chauvet family of brands, customers will have access to a full solution of power, lighting, atmospheric and control solutions across the full range of AVL applications. Each Chauvet brand serves different customer needs, but share the company’s focus on positively impacting every market segment with a competitive advantage in terms of value, innovation, and performance.
With the addition of Juice Goose to the Chauvet family of brands, customers will have access to a full solution of power, lighting, atmospheric and control solutions across the full range of AVL applications. Each Chauvet brand serves different customer needs, but share the company’s focus on positively impacting every market segment with a competitive advantage in terms of value, innovation, and performance.
“Juice Goose brings another great product line to the Chauvet family of brands, expanding our power solutions portfolio that we began with LynTec,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “The two businesses are highly complementary, with this partnership providing key resources to our customers in meeting the full demands of their AVL installations. With this acquisition, we are able to complete our portfolio of power distribution, conditioning, and control products.”
More information on Juice Goose’s full line of products is available at www.juicegoose.com/. More information on LynTec’s full line of products is available at www.LynTec.com.
About LynTec
LynTec is a leading manufacturer of innovative electrical power control solutions for professional audio, video, and lighting systems. Working closely with system designers, LynTec incorporates electrical protection, circuit switching capabilities, and an operational controller within a common enclosure — saving valuable wall space, lowering installation costs, and simplifying system operation. This state-of-the-art approach to electrical control solutions has positioned LynTec as a trusted resource for any installation with complex power control requirements. More information is available at www.LynTec.com.
SUNRISE, FL– In a move that will significantly expand its capabilities to serve the global film, studio and broadcast markets, Chauvet today announced that it has acquired Kino Flo, a leader in LED lighting systems and color science technologies. Kino Flo is a multi-award-winning manufacturer of lighting systems engineered for cinema and television production.
“This represents an important step for our company in our ongoing mission to expand our broadcast, studio and film lighting capabilities,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Kino Flo has a longstanding tradition of innovation and a commitment to excellence, which makes the company an excellent fit with Chauvet’s own philosophies. We are excited to invest in the future of Kino Flo and build on their technologies, while adding resources to accelerate product development and commercialization.”
“Based on our shared longstanding commitment to our customers and cultural alignment, I am confident our customers will benefit from our new partnership,” said Frieder Hochheim, Founder of Kino Flo, who will continue to lead Kino Flo. “The combined solutions from Kino Flo and Chauvet have limitless possibilities.” Kino Flo will continue to serve its customers from its Burbank, California offices.
Founded in 1987, Kino Flo has developed a series of color technology innovations, and earned an award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for its development of cool, tube-based arrays with color corrected tungsten and daylight balanced light. Kino Flo’s LED tubes, light panels and True Match® firmware dovetail with the extensive collection of CHAUVET Professional ellipsoidal, fresnel, par, cyclorama and special effect fixtures that have become increasingly popular in broadcast applications.
“Our entire team looks forward to bringing Kino Flo’s product line and technology solutions to our global film, broadcast and livestream lighting customers,” Chauvet said.
SUNRISE, FL – Chauvet continues to expand its presence in Europe. The company has just announced that it will begin providing direct sales and service support for its products in the Swiss market through its French and German offices.
Chauvet France will be responsible for the western section of Switzerland, and Chauvet Germany will look after the rest of the country. Renens, Switzerland-based Radio Matériel will continue to be a reseller and service support center for Chauvet in the region. The new program applies to CHAUVET Professional, CHAUVET DJ and Iluminarc products.
Martin Fournier, Chauvet’s European Sales Director will lead the expansion effort, while Aland Mahieu of Chauvet France and Alexander Rexforth of Chauvet Germany will oversee their respective regional markets within Switzerland.
“This is an exciting development for us,” said Stéphane Gressier, Chauvet’s International Sales Director. “Interest in our latest products, such as the Maverick Force and Maverick Silens is extraordinarily high. Now we’ll be able to back up these groundbreaking products with an enhanced level of support, aided by Martin’s vast experience in the Swiss market and the dedicated efforts of our entire team. We’re ready to move forward in Switzerland.”
SUNRISE, FL – Chauvet has doubled its capacity to serve customers in the west region of the US by opening a 35,000 square foot satellite facility in Las Vegas. The new office-warehouse-service center complex is twice the size of the company’s West Coast Burbank, CA satellite facility that it will be replacing on Aug 10th .
“Our investment in a new, larger and more technologically advanced facility reflects our commitment to this industry – and our belief in its future,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Being in Vegas will enhance the level of service we’re able to offer our customers.”
Combined with the company’s Global Headquarters in Florida, the new Vegas operation gives Chauvet the capacity to ship to any point in the 48 contiguous United States within three days, maximum.
The Las Vegas facility will stock CHAUVET Professional, Iluminarc, CHAUVET DJ and ChamSys products. Modeled closely after the company’s East Coast operations, the satellite facility is actively recruiting and will host technical support, sales, demo/training programs, quality control and shipping operations.
Although the Chauvet Las Vegas facility is new, it will be staffed by many familiar faces. General Site Manager Todd Bearden has made the move from California to Nevada, as have Warehouse Lead
Mark Guzman, Sales Support Specialist Elizabeth-Aye-Darko, and Repair Specialist Brandon Cooks. They will be joined by a professional local service, support and warehouse staff.
“The strength of any company begins with its people, so I am proud and gratified that there are key team members that are joining us in Las Vegas,” said Chauvet. “We’re looking forward to building a great future together there and will be ready to serve our US customers as the pandemic passes and business grows.”
Kruisem, Belgium – Keeping pace with the ever-increasing demand for its products in Benelux, Chauvet has named highly-regarded lighting specialist Gerrit Schottert as its Senior Business Development Manager for the Netherlands. Operating out of the company’s office in Belgium, Schottert will be responsible for the CHAUVET Professional line.
Schottert will report to Steven Batslé, Sales Manager Benelux for Chauvet, who said “Gerrit is a tremendous addition to our team. He has a well-deserved reputation as a professional who knows products and is determined to get the job done right for his customers. We are looking forward to working with him.”
In fulfilling his responsibilities at Chauvet, Schottert will be drawing on over 25 years experience in the entertainment lighting industry. He comes to his new position from Livingprojects, VAP for Signify, Vari-Lite and Strand Lighting, where he served as Sales Manager of the Entertainment Distribution division.
“Gerrit has compiled an impressive track record, not just for his keen knowledge of lighting, but also as a result of his dedication to customer service,” said Stéphane Gressier, Chauvet’s International Sales Director. “Rental houses, designers and others in the Netherlands market are very familiar with Gerrit’s commitment to making his customers happy. We are excited to have him on our team and are confident he will make valuable contributions to our continued growth.”
For his part, Schottert is also eagerly anticipating the opportunities that lay ahead at Chauvet. “I’m very impressed with the extensive and versatile Chauvet assortment of products, but especially the family feeling within the organization. Everyone here is 100% committed to entertainment lighting. The wide range and quality of Chauvet Professional products will certainly be embraced in the Netherlands.”
SUNRISE, FL – CHAUVET Professional has appointed Brad Haynes as its National Resource Manager – Concert and Touring. The Missouri native, who comes to CHAUVET Professional from AC Lighting, brings a wealth of experience to his new position, which will involve fostering relationships between the company and touring designers in addition to creating a range of educational programs.
“All of us at CHAUVET Professional are excited about welcoming Brad to our team,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “We have a great deal of respect for his knowledge and integrity. His extensive experience in the concert and touring world will enable us to serve those markets even better than we do today.”
Prior to his experience at AC Lighting Haynes was Director of Product and Application Support at Harmon International, where he managed product training and demo programs for internal staff as well as lighting professionals. He also held a series of commercial positions at Martin Professional for 12 years. Earlier in his career, he worked as a lighting designer for clients such as Sea World, Cirque Productions, and Busch Gardens.
At CHAUVET Professional Haynes will manage product demo and training programs, while also serving as a liaison between the company and lighting designers. “Brad brings a valuable combination of skills to this position since he has a deep understanding of products and the designers who use them,” said Chauvet. “We’re very eager to start working together.”
For his part, Haynes shares this enthusiasm. “Like people throughout our industry, I’ve been very impressed with what CHAUVET Professional has accomplished over the past five or six years,” he said. “It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s 100-percent committed to lighting. I’m looking forward to sharing the Chauvet story with industry colleagues.”
