Busy Week for Control Concepts and a Williams AV Acquisition Highlighted in Pro AV Newsmakers

The Pro AV industry is buzzing with excitement as major developments unfold in mid-2025. While high-profile acquisitions and top-level appointments may have taken a backseat, the industry is thriving with significant partnerships, innovative technology, and large-scale projects.

Absen, a leading player in the Pro AV market, has made headlines with several new product launches. The Absenicon C Ultrawide, Absenicon X Series, and K V3 Series from their Pro AV lineup, as well as the Flex Series, Jupiter Pro Series, and Pixel Reality Series in AbsenLive, are all set to revolutionize the industry.

Absen's growth is evident in their unit shipments, which increased by 43.2% QoQ in 4Q23, with notable growth in the Fine Pitch Product (FPP) category and the 10.00-14.99mm category. This remarkable growth has earned Absen recognition as the leading provider of LED display solutions outside of China, according to OMDIA.

Partnerships are at the heart of these developments. Absen has partnered with WyreStorm to provide software development and control programming services. Meanwhile, Middle Atlantic Products, a brand of Legrand | AV, has joined the Control Concepts Support Product Program.

Other notable partnerships include Backup Tech's expansion of its network with Core Pro Audio, a UK-based professional audio sales company, and TMB. AudioControl has also appointed two distributors for the U.K. market: Custom AV Distribution and Aldous Systems.

IsoAcoustics has taken a more active role in its dealer relationships by moving its North American distribution operations in-house. Meanwhile, ZTransform has appointed Reed Wilson as Senior Design Engineer, bringing his 28-plus years of broadcast industry experience to the engineering team.

The Pro AV Business Index in July 2025 showed a stable but cautious market, with firms investing in technologies such as AI, cloud computing, managed services, display advancements, and enhanced audio solutions.

InfoComm 2025 highlighted advancements in concealed audio amplification and alternative approaches to traditional audio amplification systems. A novel zero Ohm device for unlimited 8 Ohm speaker connections was showcased, potentially transformative for retail and retrofit applications.

On the project front, Absen and Versatile launched the world’s largest monolithic LED virtual production volume in Deqing, China. Dubai unveiled the region's longest semi-permanent outdoor LED wall, a 418-meter installation along the Fountains promenade. These projects demonstrate the advances in large-scale digital signage and immersive 8K HDR production.

Screen Innovations (SI) has expanded its manufacturing facilities, warehouses, training facilities, and dealer support services worldwide. PPDS has also made changes, promoting Andrea Barbuti to the position of global product management lead for the EMEA region. In her new role, Barbuti oversees product management and technical support for all PPDS signage products across EMEA.

These developments illustrate the ongoing collaboration and innovation within the Pro AV industry. As partnerships continue to shape the landscape, the industry is poised for a bright future.

References:

[1] Absen and Versatile Launch World’s Largest Monolithic LED Virtual Production Volume. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.absen.com/news/absen-versatile-launch-worlds-largest-monolithic-led-virtual-production-volume

[2] Backup Tech Expands Network with Two New Partners. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.backuptheshow.com/news/backup-tech-expands-network-with-two-new-partners

[3] InfoComm 2025 Highlights Advancements in Concealed Audio Amplification. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.infocommshow.org/news/infocomm-2025-highlights-advancements-in-concealed-audio-amplification

[4] Pro AV Business Index Shows Stable but Cautious Market. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.proavbusinessindex.com/news/pro-av-business-index-shows-stable-but-cautious-market

[5] Screen Innovations Expands Manufacturing Facilities Worldwide. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.screeninnovations.com/news/screen-innovations-expands-manufacturing-facilities-worldwide

[6] PPDS Promotes Andrea Barbuti to Global Product Management Lead for EMEA. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.ppds.com/news/ppds-promotes-andrea-barbuti-to-global-product-management-lead-for-emea