To describe today’s mounts, trolleys and enclosure as ‘accessories’ is to belittle the contribution that these vital elements make to the design and construction of an AV solution. AV News examines reports on the trends in this growing and active sector, as well as a selection of the latest product introductions.
Prior to the digital signage boom, the market for mounts, trolleys and enclosures was more notable for the quantity rather than the diversity f solutions on offer. With the entry of the Far Eastern manufactures allegations of copying were legion, and products in the consumer space were largely commoditised. In the professional space, the emergence of new markets and applications for AV has driven innovation in the engineering and aesthetics of mounts, trolleys and enclosures.
Rachel Hunt, sales and marketing director at Unicol comments: “The professional market has become an interesting a colourful place to be involved in, with the growing requirements for Kiosks, with and without interactive screens and touch foils, we find ourselves exposed to new and challenging requirements of our solutions to meet the wants of the market place.”
“The need to be bigger and better, and more ‘off the wall’, in designs and introduction of new tech keeps us all on our toes. Solutions for the up-and-coming LED market sees the need for infinite detail and design to mount the panel arrays other than on walls to meet customer requirements, especially in retail and corporate environments. The structures have to be installer and maintenance-friendly, allowing an adjustable seamless array held with extreme precision.”
Ian Abernethy, Director of Sales at Peerless-AV UK concurs: “The professional mounts sector is flourishing at the moment as high profile installations demand state of the art support solutions, and there is a noticeable drive towards new technology in this area. The professional sector is not yet commoditised and this is aligned with the roll out of ever more impressive and innovative display technologies.”
Drivers
Hunt says that digital signage, particularly in retail, is among the most demanding sectors, driving innovation in technologies that support and present AV displays. Retail is a fast-moving, heavy investment sector – factors which make for an “exciting, problem solving, solution-making, project-led vertical niche”. At present, the corporate market follows digital signage with its demands for innovative technologies – and this before the general adoption of direct LED displays in the near future.
But as a market to watch, Hunt points to higher education, with its need to impress students and woo them with the latest and greatest technology. “Long gone are the days of blackboards and replacing the chalk when its run out – futuristic film ideas are now on the brink of becoming a reality.”
Seasonality
Abernethy remarks on the seasonal nature of the market: “As we enter summer, education will be very active, whereas winter is all about retail. We’re also seeing exciting new opportunities in construction, and the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) space is taking off as more businesses switch to the convenience of digital.”
Abernethy cites KFC as a prime example of the growth in the QSR sector. Pioneer recently announced plans to install digital menu boards in 400 stores throughout the UK, over the next five months. Peerless-AV is the preferred mount supplier for the project and will be using the SFX650P Universal Flat Wall Mount for LG’s 42in and 47in flat panel displays.
A customised version has also been developed specifically to cater for the smaller size 32” screens in the KFC installation. The mounts were chosen for “their flexible open wall plate design, ease of install and convenient vertical micro-adjustment for a seamless menu board appearance”.
As a longer term trend, Abernethy believes that: “Construction has great future potential with the rise in property development and a surge in the new northern powerhouse as the government invests outside London. We will see growth in lobbies for high impact video wall and large format screen mounting solutions, and videoconferencing trolleys for meeting rooms and boardrooms. Wayfinding is another high growth area and interactive screens, weatherproof displays, kiosks and enclosures will become increasingly popular.”
Mobility
Over the last three years, sharing of AV solutions was the driver behind mobile mounting solutions. Other factors driving this niche include the popularity of videoconferencing and other forms of collaborative technology. Abernethy comments: “
The cost of video streaming, collaboration and sharing has now reduced and buyers in the corporate, hospitality, higher education, residential and event sectors are becoming more adventurous with their virtual meeting habits.”
“To address a significant renewed interest in videoconferencing, we have just launched our new range of VC Trolleys, designed to save time and money with a convenient, functional and attractive mobile solution. Our single and dual display versions provide a high quality viewing position and are UL safety tested to ensure ease of handling and structural reliability during use, transportation between rooms and storage.”
“We also continue to grow our line of Portable Video Wall Trolleys in line with market demand. Utilising a modular design, a 2×2, 3×3, 3×3 or 4×2 configuration can be built with a single SKU. Designed for quick set-up and tear-down, Peerless-AV’s DS-C555 is ideal for temporary signage and rental and staging applications. No tools are required for micro adjustment to seamlessly align the displays and lockable castors allow easy and safe mobility.”
Some heavy screens can only be supported by powered trolleys, but since the trend continues towards lighter displays, manual trolleys are complementary with their lighter structures. They are also more versatile, cost-effective and offer tool-less adjustment for quick and simple one-person installation.
The adoption of IFPDs by the education sector has seen a growth in demand for trolleys and lifts. Hunt comments:
“The growing touch screen market has increased demand for the ability to adjust the height for different age groups. Our range of trolleys caters for every situation from small screens to mobile video walls, but with the introduction of the Smart Kapp 42 we have updated the trolley accordingly – a similar trolley to the one that started Unicol 52 years ago. There is also a growing demand for lifts that transform a vertical screen for teaching into a horizontal interactive meeting table.”
Innovation
Innovation in this market doesn’t always have to mean new features and capabilities. Hunt comments: “Aesthetics are always a consideration given the need to potentially blend into an environment through: custom colours and branding; the need to recess, fit ultra-thin mounts or to use multipurpose products, such as a mirror TV.”
“I see all of these being the norm in years to come. You want your choice of technology to fit within the environment as it becomes an everyday tool to those that live, work, shop or travel there. Why not allow the technology we need to blend into the environment?”
Abernethy believes that: “Addressing aesthetic choices without compromising safety and performance is challenging, but new developments are emerging all the time in line with demand. Wireless connectivity with bespoke mounting solutions designed to remove tiresome and unsightly cabling will be a major consideration within listed buildings, for example.”
But perhaps the greatest challenge for manufacturers is to communicate these innovations to the market. Hunt believes that that systems integrator has a vital role to play in this regard: “In general, if left to their own devices, end-users are probably as aware as they could be. The information is available but, in many cases, they don’t know what they want in the first place, other than to have content that will transform their business / organisation.”
“The right choice is guided by the interaction of end-user with the right integrator who can put together what is needed to meet the end-users ‘want list’ – which, in practise, could be very different to reality. The mounting solution is still seen by most to be the less important piece of the jigsaw and is often left to the last minute, when in fact time and cost savings can often be made by including this at the outset.”
Abernethy agrees: “End users aren’t sufficiently well informed when it comes to AV accessories, simply because it’s not the most sexy or photogenic category. Mounts are the ‘power behind the throne’ and people are far more interested in content than what secures the display to the wall, ceiling or floor.”
Outdoor AV: enclosures or weatherproof screens?
Outdoor AV has staggering potential as a market at the very base of the adoption curve. Applications include 24/7 retail – often integrated with mobile e-commerce and Near Field Communication – wayfinding, public information, building graphics and transport hubs and routes. These applications are well served by an active market in kiosks and enclosures, but in recent years these solutions have been rivalled by IP-rated weather and dust-proof displays.
So which is the right choice for a particular application? Abernethy says: “Peerless-AV offer both, however, having recently announced the industry’s first fully-sealed weatherproof display, we are very excited about the opportunities in this area. Our displays have a guaranteed IP68 rating, whereas the outdoor performance of enclosures and screens can be inconsistent. We have a solution that’s available now, that works and is being installed in diverse outdoor applications across the globe.”
Hunt says that Unicol can also supply both solutions: “This is an area that we have supplied solutions into for many years but recently have seen a resurgence of both solutions. The choice between these technologies is led by the application, and to some extent the budget.”
“While non-IP screens can be put inside enclosures, IP-rated screens also need enclosures – not protection against the elements – but for protection from damage. I think the main reason now for the adoption of IP-rated displays is the boom in touch products – whether touch screens or touch foils (from the likes of Visual planet) that can transform an ordinary enclosure into a wayfinding, interactive hotspot in the chosen environment – and at a price that us now appealing to new markets.”
New on the market 1: Direct LED mounting solutions
LED signage has become a great choice for interacting with customers outdoors. The demand for signage displays has become increasingly sought after, especially in markets such as street billboards, storefront windows, stadiums, transit, QSRs, shopping malls, and airports, among others. According to a study by Grand View Research, the global digital signage market is expected to reach $20.03 billion by 2020. The SMS Totem Casing Series is designed for indoor digital signage purposes in retail environment and public spaces such as airports and railway stations to name some. The product covers back, sides and front of the display with the customer’s own selection of glass to cover the display front. It can be customized for displays between 40-85”. Standard colours are white, black, silver and anthracite grey but tailored solutions for colour and logo can be made. Accessories are available such as waste bin, brochure holder and extra storage. SMS Outdoor Cabinet is SMS’ new generation of media cabinets, designed for outdoor and semi-outdoor use. The product can cope with dust, rough treatment and great variations in climate. Created in aluminium to reduce weight and make installation easier.
New on the market 2: Projector enclosures
Tempest has unveiled the LIZA noise attenuating enclosures capable of attenuating projector noise by as much as 27dB. “Many projectors are installed in the places where intrusive noise really matters, such as the corporate board room, meeting rooms, home cinemas and other premium spaces,” says Tim Burnham, President of Tempest. “Typically, in these environments people also care deeply about aesthetics. LIZA is the perfect solution, engineered to be the most effective noise attenuating projector enclosure on the market, and on top of that a drop-dead gorgeous look.”
New on the market 3: Outdoor projector enclosure
Tempest has introduced the Typhoon outdoor enclosure family. Typhoon is said to be suited both to installations and to the needs of busy rental shops serving outdoor events as well as tours and TV specials, where protection from oil fog is a critical need. “Typhoon is a completely new design for us,” says Tim Burnham, President of Tempest. “This enclosure is sleek, compact, with all Tempest’s patented enclosure control knowhow, and it gives a wide range of rigging and installation options without customisation. So a rental shop could be using Typhoon one week at a desert festival in landscape mode and the next on a TV special set up as portrait – easy!”
New on the market 4: Videoconference trolley
Peerless-AV’s new Video Conference Trolleys are design to help businesses to integrate new virtual meeting and presentation habits in their corporate, hospitality, higher education, residential and event applications. “As more companies re-evaluate their travel policies to lower the cost and environmental impact of international and domestic business travel, a preferred option is to participate in virtual meetings,” said Keith Dutch, Sales & Marketing Director, Peerless-AV. “Coupled with the increasing rise of home working and hot desking, these new habits have created a new niche for videoconferencing equipment and furniture and this is where we anticipate considerable growth opportunity. Our new trolleys have been designed to save time and money while delivering peace of mind. Rather than having to purchase multiple displays, users can now order one display and create a mobile solution that can be manoeuvred easily for use in multiple locations.” The Peerless-AV SR555E/SR555M Dual Display and SR575E Single Display Video Conference Trolleys, accommodating side‐by‐side displays of 40‐55″ and 32‐75″ respectively, are suited to settings in which aesthetics are key and all cables can be hidden from sight.
