Creative Technology acquires Avollusion in Hong Kong

Creative Technology (CT), an NEP Live Events Company, has acquired Avollusion, a Hong Kong-based technical event production company providing equipment and design services to the events industry.

CT is one of the world’s leading suppliers of specialist audiovisual (AV) equipment to the corporate, exhibitions, sport and entertainment industries, with clients in Hong Kong including Uniplan, Jack Morton, Zeal Experiential and LORE.

The asset deal strengthens CT Hong Kong’s position by adding audio, display, lighting, projection, media management, technical design and production capabilities to its offering.

“This acquisition was inspired by our desire to have a larger foothold in Hong Kong,” said Chris Burke, managing director, CT Asia Pacific, in an interview with CEI.

“We have been in the market for a long time and in more recent years had operated more as technical consultancy than a fully fledged AV solutions and equipment provider. This acquisition gives us more ways to expand our presence in the Hong Kong and Macau live events market, and gives us a formidable platform from which to service our clients.

Effective immediately, the 12 current staff members from Avollusion will join CT as employees and the two businesses will operate out of Avollusion’s headquarters under the leadership of Justin Choy, who will become managing director of CT Hong Kong. 

Justin Choy will become managing director at CT Hong Kong.

“Client demands for AV solutions in Hong Kong are driven in the most part by the desire to have flawless technical production, with the want to have the latest and greatest equipment available,” added Burke.

“Whilst budgets may not always support these requirements, as the 'technical providers', it’s our role to educate, adapt and design solutions so that our clients can get to where their creative process is taking them. CT’s reputation around the world is that we are leaders in this field and we saw the same talent and passion in Justin and his team at Avollusion.”

Though many companies and event owners are scaling back event spend in Hong Kong, Burke sees opportunity in regional offshoots and visiting major events in particular.

“With companies like CT in Asia Pacific, it encourages foreign event agencies to bring their large-scale events here with the knowledge that the delivery will be equal to or better than what they would expect in their home countries,” he said.

“It’s also unprecedented that Asia will be hosting three of the world’s largest global sporting events over the next four years with Rugby World Cup 2019 (Japan), Summer Olympics 2020 (Japan) and Winter Olympics 2022 (China)."

A Volkswagen event led by CT.

Burke is also confident in CT Asia Pacific’s ability to keep up with the region’s ever-changing technology landscape. “We have long-established relationships with the equipment manufacturers, which enables us to get access to the newest technology before it goes to market and in some cases our feedback will steer how the end product is finally delivered,” he said.

Recent technologies across all AV standards are becoming flooded with multiple options, there are more and more manufacturers producing more equipment for our industry than ever before. As a buyer of technology, you have to make some very careful and considered choices when investing in new equipment and there are many factors that will define where and how you spend your dollars.

What is also changing in the region is that there are more smaller AV businesses opening up, as the price to enter the market and invest in lower-end equipment is dropping.

However, owning the equipment is only one small part of the equation, the most important factor is having the right people to drive that equipment and even though our business focuses on the latest technology, we are a people business first and foremost – and the relationships we have with our clients are usually the most important factor in their decision making.”

There is no doubt consolidation is becoming an important strategy for many industry players, so can we expect further expansion news?  

Our goal is to offer clients the highest level of service anywhere in the region,” he said. “We regularly deliver events in all parts of Asia and I do think there is room for further expansion.