Philips Entertainment in Australia
When Royal Philips Electronics acquired Selecon last year, the company joined Vari-Lite and Strand Lighting in the newly formed Philips Entertainment sector of the world’s largest lighting company sharing the collective goal to meet the specific needs of our entertainment community.
The Philips Entertainment group is investing heavily in new product and market support to meet the demands of our lighting designers, technicians and audiences while delivering on our environmental responsibilities. Some of the resulting technologies demand a high level of system engineering design; installation and support.
Recognising this demand Philips Entertainment is pleased to announce the appointment of Bytecraft Entertainment, with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, as their Project Partner. They will be responsible for our Strand Control project solutions and have access to all the Philips Selecon entertainment and display lighting lines to best meet the needs of our customers. Our current long-standing Philips Selecon Dealers also now have access to much of the Strand Lighting product ranges.
Jeremy Collins, GM for Philips Entertainment comments, ‘This reorganisation recognises the long association that Bytecraft has with our Strand Lighting business. They provide the skilled engineering support required to deliver the more advanced stage and studio systems for which Strand has had a long and successful worldwide reputation, such as the current multi-million dollar Doha Convention Centre currently being installed in Qatar.
Now as Philips Entertainment partners the existing Selecon network have access to a whole new range of products with which to support their customers. As we look forward to delivering exciting new solutions under the Strand and Selecon brand through 2010 our customers will be well served by these knowledgeable and dedicated entertainment lighting professionals.’
The first of these new products will be previewed at this month Pro Light and Sound in Frankfurt and include high output LED display, theatre and studio luminaires; a 21st century high efficiency tungsten halogen ellipsoidal profile range; choke less, quiet IGBT dimming solutions and new console software.
The Vari-Lite range of moving lights continues to be distributed in Australia by Jands Pty. Limited.
To help manage this business growth, Peter McKenzie, Philips Entertainment Australia Market Manager has been scouring the country for a new team member to join him and we can now announce the success of this search with the appointment of Paul Lewis as technical sales specialist based in Sydney.
Peter comments, “After searching the continent Paul Lewis came to our attention via one of our valued clients and, in fact Paul was a client himself several years ago when the Martin Place Studios for Channel 7 were established. As the lighting director on the Sunrise morning program Paul was instrumental in the fit out of this studio complex. So, after his name came up, we touched base and he decided to take on the new challenges that this position presents.
Paul brings with him a wealth of experience, a thirst for knowledge and a passion for lighting and design, all of which will hold him in good stead to service the Philips Entertainment dealer network, with special expertise in the Strand control, network and dimming markets.”
