Electronic Theatre Controls

Electronic Theatre Controls

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) is a privately held corporation with global headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin, United States. An international manufacturer of entertainment and architectural lighting systems, ETC offers professional lighting fixtures, lighting control consoles, dimming equipment and power distribution components. Specific products include the "Source Four" line of lighting fixtures; "Ion", "Eos", "Congo", "Congo jr", "SmartFade", "SmartFade ML", "Emphasis", "Obsession", "Expression", and "Express" lighting control consoles; "Sensor+" and "SineWave" dimming systems; "Unison" architectural-lighting control; and "Smart Solutions" lighting gear. ETC also manufactures the "Transtechnik" brand of dimming and control systems, studio automation systems, as well as "IES Matrix" dimming systems, used throughout Europe.

History

In 1975, Bill Foster and his younger brother Fred founded ETC while students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bill was the first president of ETC. Fred is the current chief executive officer. During its first decade, ETC established itself as a manufacturer of microprocessor-based lighting control consoles.

By 1990, ETC had acquired Lighting Methods, Inc. (LMI), a Rochester, New York-based manufacturer of entertainment dimming systems. Soon, ETC became one of the largest fully-integrated entertainment lighting control manufacturers in North America, with offices in Middleton, WI; Orlando, FL; Rochester, NY; and Hollywood, CA.

In 1995, the company grew again when ETC acquired the lighting control division of London-based distributor ARRI GB. Also that year, ETC opened an office in Hong Kong, extending its expansion into Asia. In 1997, ETC opened an office in Copenhagen, Denmark, to serve the Northern European market, and a year later opened an office in Rome, allowing greater access to Southern Europe.

ETC acquired Transtechnik Lichtsysteme, Holzkirchen, Germany, in 2002, widening ETC’s market share in Europe. Continuing its growth, ETC took an equity position in Avab France in 2003. In 2004, ETC acquired pioneering Dutch sine wave-dimming manufacturer IES as well as its industrial weighing and measuring division Penko Engineering BV, both located in Veenendaal, the Netherlands.

In March, 2005, all formerly separate operations of ETC in Europe joined under the common corporate banner of ETC. ETC’s headquarters, located in Middleton, WI (near the state capital Madison) serves as the hub of global administration and manufacturing.

Timeline

*1975 - Brothers Fred and Bill Foster begin work on a new lighting control console in the basement of a Madison, Wisconsin apartment.

*1982 - ETC launches first ETC-branded console, "Concept".

*1987 - ETC designs and manufactures flagship "Expression" lighting control console.

*1989 - ETC controls parade-float lighting for Disney, beginning a relationship that endures today, with ETC systems in all Disney theme parks worldwide.

*1990 - In February, ETC acquires Lighting Methods, Inc., a Rochester, New York-based manufacturer of entertainment dimming systems. ETC becomes one of the largest fully integrated entertainment lighting control manufacturers in North America.

*1992 - ETC introduces "Source Four" ellipsoidal spotlight, "Obsession" control console, and "Sensor" dimming at LDI (Lighting Dimensions International) 1992 tradeshow.

*1995 - ETC expands into Asia with opening of Hong Kong office, and into Europe, acquiring the lighting control division of London-based distributor ARRI GB.

*1996 - ETC introduces "Unison" lighting control systems for architectural applications.

*1997 - ETC opens office in Orlando, Florida, to better serve southeastern U.S. ETC opens office in Copenhagen, Denmark, to better serve Northern European market.

*1998 - ETC offers "Irideon" automated lighting within architectural product range (1998-2004).

*1999 - ETC opens office in Rome to better serve southern Europe.

*2000 - ETC becomes exclusive distributor of CAST Lighting’s WYSIWYG lighting design and visualization software (2000-2004). ETC begins year-long 25th birthday celebrations on December 24, 2000.

*2001 - On May 14th, ETC achieves ‘Certified to ISO 9002:1994’ distinction. ETC purchases land in Middleton, WI, on which to build new 250,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility.

*2002 - ETC acquires German lighting company "Transtechnik Lichtsysteme", Holzkirchen, Germany, from former parent-company "Transtechnik GmbH". With purchase, ETC acquires "Transtechnik" dimming products, Voyager studio-automation system and the Avab control-console brand. On June 22nd, ETC receives ‘Certified to ISO 9001:1994’ distinction.

*2003 - ETC takes equity position in Avab France. ETC introduces first ETC automated fixture for theater, "Source Four Revolution". On August 26th, ETC Receives ‘Certified to ISO 9001:2000’ distinction.

*2004 - In spring, ETC moves into new 250,000-square-foot international headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin. On May 26th, ETC acquires Dutch sine wave dimming manufacturer IES and its industrial weighing and measuring division Penko Engineering BV, located in Veenendaal, Netherlands. ETC introduces "Congo" lighting control console at PLASA 2004, London, September.

*2005 - ETC extends the Smart Solutions line of compact lighting control gear with "SmartSwitch", "SmartLink" and "SmartStand". ETC's "Source Four Enhanced Definition Lens Tube (EDLT)" debuted at LDI 2005 in Orlando, FL.

*2006 - ETC debuts new 14º, 70º and 90º "Source Four" field-angle spotlights. ETC becomes exclusive North American distributor of "Pharos" lighting control products, May 2006. ETC introduces the "Eos" lighting control system and the "Congo jr" console at LDI 2006, Las Vegas.

*2007 - ETC introduces "SmartFade ML" lighting console at USITT tradeshow in Phoenix. ETC releases "Ion" lighting control system at LDI 2007, Orlando. The company also began construction on an addition to its Middleton, WI, headquarters.

*2008 - ETC unveils new "Unison Paradigm" architectural control system, featuring "Paradigm" and "SmartLink", at Lightfair tradeshow, Las Vegas, May 2008.

Executives

* Fred Foster, Chief Executive Officer

* Dick Titus, President

* Matthew Brookfield, General Manager, ETC Ltd.

* Jimmy Cheung, Managing Director, ETC Asia

* Julie Cymbalak, VP, Human Resources and IT

* Sarah Danke, VP, Professional Services

* Steve Downs, VP, Quality and International Operations

* Bill Gallinghouse, VP, Business Development and Marketing

* Bill McGivern, VP, Manufacturing

* Philipp Schaeffer, General Manager, ETC GmbH

* Pekka Sundstedt, General Manager, Penko

* Steve Terry, VP, Research & Development

* Mark Vassallo, VP, World Sales

* Mark Veldey, VP, Finance

External links

* [http://www.etcconnect.com ETC website]


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