BOSTON, January 19, 2010 – Technomad LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and Turnkey PA systems for the commercial pro audio market since 1995, welcomes three new companies to its dealer network in Europe and the United Kingdom. POGO Geluid of the Netherlands, Lynden Micros Ltd. of England and Prosound Munster of Ireland are the latest dealer representatives to join the growing network.
The dealer network expansion follows a year of steady business growth in Europe following the company’s announcement that it would begin stocking equipment in the Netherlands. The overseas warehouse has enabled faster delivery and reduced shipping costs to Technomad customers across the continent.
John Futter, Managing Director of Lynden Micros Ltd, said that Technomad’s range of weatherproof loudspeakers has proven popular for custom projects where quality of sound and durability are key requirements. He points to recent projects at the Worcester Rugby Club in Wales, home of the Worcester Warriors; and the Blackgang Chine Amusement Park on the Isle of Wight as examples.
“The quality and long-range durability of these products have convinced some of our customers who have purchased cheaper products in the past to come back to us and replace them with Technomad,” said Futter. “Having stock available in Europe makes for a far more attractive price point for new and existing Technomad customers as we eliminate the duty and shipping costs.”
Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers are available in 14 custom colors that do not fade in sunlight
Leontine van der Poel, Managing Director of POGO Geluid, added that Technomad products offer a unique design in Europe compared to other loudspeaker and PA products. She cites a recent Technomad installation by her company at Feyenoord, a major league football (soccer) club in the Rotterdam area, as an ideal example of the professional audio niche that Technomad fills in her region.
“We installed Technomad Noho loudspeakers and PowerChiton amplifiers at the facility, both of which are weatherproof products that give Feyenoord a durable outdoor PA system for its training and playing field for amateur and youth teams,” said Van der Poel. “We found the products to be very thorough, easy to handle and easy to install. The European warehouse also seems to be a well-thought out strategy.”
All Technomad products are completely RoHS-compliant, and the company employs a green design process that includes the use of 100% recycled plastic in its manufacturing process. Technomad continues to manufacture its products at its U.S. factory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, including its complete range of IP56-rated weatherproof loudspeakers; its PowerChiton range of networkable weatherproof outdoor amplifier modules; and its Schedulon mp3 player and recorder.
Technomad also offers its Online Quote and Order System to dealers globally, which brings the conveniences of online purchasing, parts replacement, quote generation and other benefits to its network of authorized dealers and resellers.
Technomad Associates, LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and Turnkey PA systems for the commercial pro audio market since 1995, is seeking to expand its network of dealers across Europe to complement international business growth across the continent and beyond.
Technomad began stocking equipment in the Netherlands one year ago to enable faster delivery times and minimize shipping costs for European customers.The company continues to manufacture its products at its U.S. factory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, including its complete range of IP56-rated weatherproof loudspeakers; its PowerChiton range of networkable weatherproof outdoor amplifier modules; and its Schedulon mp3 player and recorder.
A Technomad Berlin loudspeaker installed on a light pole outdoors and unprotected from the elements
Technomad’s expansion into Europe has also introduced changes into the company’s manufacturing process to ensure that all products are RoHS-compliant for equipment sales into Europe, per the standards set by the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances.In addition to superior audio quality and a highly durable, weatherproof construction, Technomad loudspeakers feature a green design that includes the use of 100% recycled plastic in its manufacturing process.
Resellers are carefully selected based on their ability to service a local market with pre-sale technical advice for customers, as well as installation capability. Technomad provides extensive web training and direct factory support is offered to new distributors, with continued support throughout the contract.Interested firms are invited to apply online at https://www.technomad.com/order/
International distributors and dealers are also invited to visit the Technomad website at http://www.technomad.com for more information on the company’s Online Quote and Order System, which brings the conveniences of online purchasing, parts replacement, quote generation and other benefits to the company’s network of authorized dealers and resellers.
New loudspeakers, upgrades to 2008 product introductions steer Technomad into new territory
Technomad LLC, a leader in weatherproof loudspeakers and audio systems since 1995, comes to InfoComm 2009 (June 18-20, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Booth #5940) with renewed momentum as the company expands into new territory based on game-changing products for the general AV, systems integration, education and commercial security markets.
New this year is the Berlin range of narrow dispersion loudspeakers, available in two configurations (90×40 and 60×40).The new models retain the outstanding durability, voice intelligibility musical audio quality and long-distance output of traditional 120×120 Berlin loudspeakers; while giving design engineers, contractors and consultants seeking a more controlled output pattern.Ideal for tightly controlled acoustic environments indoors or in outdoor installations where long distance projection is required — especially large stadiums — the Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers will be displayed at InfoComm 2009 for the first time.
The Technomad range of narrow dispersion loudspeakers will receive their public debut at InfoComm 2009
At InfoComm 2008, the company introduced two products that saw the company build on its traditional product range: The Schedulon, an automatic mp3 player and recording system; and the PowerChiton range of compact, durable and weatherproof NEMA power amplifier modules.Now shipping worldwide, Technomad announces a series of upgrades to both products that will appeal to new and traditional markets that the company has served for nearly 15 years.
The Schedulon™ is ideal for use in themed entertainment, high-quality music playback, simulated environments, sports, schools and universities, and commercial security applications.The Schedulon provides instant, manual playback of up to 99 knob-assigned, user-loaded audio files from a front-panel screen, and allows automatic playback on a user-defined schedule based on an internal clock or synchronized network time server.
For InfoComm 2009, Technomad announces a new internal power backup option that provides redundancy in the event of power loss.The new internal power backup option provides a battery for up to 20 minutes of audio.The battery also keeps any scheduled playback events on target for approximately 75 minutes.The Schedulon immediately ‘wakes up’ at the current time to resume playback of all scheduled content after battery power expires and the unit is restarted.
PowerChiton modules unite a high-performance, passively-cooled amplifier with an IP66 rated, low-profile enclosure.The powerful combination offers system designers and installers a flexible solution for the many challenges of distributed outdoor audio system design.For InfoComm 2009, Technomad has added a series of new upgrades that includes IP and RF networking options, an internal mixer and additional input options.
New networking options include:
Widespread wireless networking using FM audio distribution technology, suitable for facility-wide audio distribution that requires only local AC power to operate the unit.
Ethernet networking capabilities can be used for wide-area distribution on a campus or facility LAN with options for zone control.
Traditional twisted-pair networking can be implemented for very long-distance distribution over copper cabling with minimal signal loss or noise.
Technomad has also added two standard inputs to all three power levels of PowerChiton modules: a high-quality line level input for improved site-wide audio that is ideal for both voice (paging) and musical output; and a second input that can be used for local audio or as a secondary audio source.An internal mixer has also been added to balance, improve and maintain audio levels out of the amplifier modules en route to loudspeakers.
“Technomad continues to refine existing products that offer proven value to design engineers, systems integrators and end users in our traditional markets,” said Rodger von Kries, vice president of Technomad.“At the same time, the company is adding key new products and upgrades that provide a more well-rounded Technomad portfolio, and appeal to both our traditional customers and allow for growth in new markets.”
Pro AV’s March edition, “The Green Issue”, recently shipped to readers. Dan Tynan, a freelance journalist and author, contributed a feature article called “Shades of Green”. The story includes an introduction about the benefits of manufacturers’ green efforts, with comments from Project Green AV, a grassroots organization focused on news for sustainable practices and green products.
The Technomad Noho C Series of Weatherproof Loudspeakers
Technomad was one of several manufacturers featured in the article, with an emphasis on the company’s recent switch to recycled plastic for loudspeakers; and its new RoHS-compliant manufacturing process. Products mentioned include the PowerChiton series of networkable amplifier modules; the Schedulon mp3 player and recorder; and the Noho C series of weatherproof loudspeakers.
Technomad Centralizes Green Manufacturing Operations at New England Facility, Contributes to Local and U.S. Economy
Headlines around the world continue to broadcast the dire state of the U.S. economy, along with the associated business closings and job losses. Manufacturing is one such industry that has been hit hard across the country, with seemingly new announcements every day about another company closing its doors for good.
While the big picture seems challenging at best, plenty of manufacturers large and small are reporting success in a variety of different businesses. One needs to look no further than New England to discover a thriving local manufacturing scene among the professional audio industry, a niche business that has shown vitality in these challenging economic times thanks to creative, high-quality products and engineering. Pro audio manufacturers are moving loudspeakers, signal processing equipment and other gear to a variety of customers; cruise ships, theme parks, and stadiums and arenas are among the more active segments. Sales are steady-to-brisk both in the U.S. and internationally, further helping the bottom line for many companies.
Middle Tennessee University special ordered two blue Technomad Berlin loudspeakers to blend in with stadium and team colors. The company offers 14 custom colors that do not fade in sunlight, one of many Technomad design features that keep customers coming back.
Technomad, a leading manufacturer of weatherproof outdoor loudspeakers and Turnkey PA systems since 1995, is one of these companies contributing to the success of the pro audio industry as well as the economy. The company recently celebrated its 13th anniversary of boutique manufacturing in the U.S.A., and has shipped more than 23,700loudspeakers from its manufacturing facility in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. And in a market where many firms are reducing product innovations and cutting budgets for research and development, Technomad recently introduced two game-changing new products: Schedulon, a new automatic mp3 player and recording system for pro audio and commercial security applications; and PowerChiton, a series of compact weatherproof outdoor amplifier modules that allows system designers to place amplifiers closer to the loudspeaker in challenging indoor/outdoor installations.
“Technomad is proud to contribute to the long-standing tradition of New England manufacturing. New England has long been recognized as a prominent region for the production and export of electronics including pro audio equipment, and Technomad is just one of many companies that play a role in this ongoing success,” said Rodger Von Kries, Vice President of Technomad. “We’re also committed to manufacturing all of our products in the U.S.A. to ensure the careful craftsmanship of all Technomad loudspeakers and pro audio products is centralized in our Massachusetts facility, while also contributing to the local, regional and national economy.”
The manufacturing side of the business employs small teams to work on the same hand-built loudspeaker from start to finish, with multiple quality checks along the way. This process creates a highly consistent production environment that ultimately reflects the cost and quality of the loudspeakers. Performance data for each loudspeaker is recorded, which consultants and design engineers often use to plan installation points and audio directivity throughout a new venue. This includes the new GLL (Generic Loudspeaker Library) format, of which Technomad is an early adopter. GLL format data gives design engineers, consultants and contractors more options in positioning and simulating loudspeakers in large sports, entertainment and other venues that require array or clustered installations.
A close-up of the latest loudspeaker product introduction from Technomad: The new Berlin HiQ models, offering a narrower dispersion pattern in 90x60 and 60x60 versions.
The company also employs a green approach to its manufacturing approach, using 100-percent recycled plastic for its black loudspeakers and eliminating lead from the soldering process to comply with strict RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations in Europe. RoHS compliance has raised Technomad’s profile in Europe and elsewhere overseas, and the company has begun to stock its products overseas to enable faster response times to European orders, and more cost- and time-efficient deliveries.
Technomad’s use of recycled plastic and localized manufacturing operation has led to an increase in LEED-certified projects in recent months. Functional Devices, a MUZAK affiliate in upstate New York, is one example; the company recently ordered 42 Technomad Vernal loudspeakers for a LEED-certified installation. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council that provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
Technomad was the first professional loudspeaker manufacturer to introduce Mil-Spec weatherproof loudspeaker systems with exceptional voice intelligibility and superior musical output for the professional audio industry. All Technomad loudspeakers also have an IP56 rating from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for maximum protection against hazardous materials, shock, and dirt and water ingression — meaning it can survive outdoor elements in the harshest of conditions.
“Pro audio manufacturers in general put a large amount of care into product development, which has allowed our industry to persevere through economic downturns,” said Von Kries. “Technomad has always been careful to support research and development efforts, and maintain a specific production process that results in a consistent product. This careful attention to detail is important to our growth as a company, and niche manufacturers such as Technomad, although not household names, are working hard to contribute positively to the economy — in New England and beyond.”
