Cabsat 2012 day one
Published: MEA
UAE: The 18th Cabsat show got underway in Dubai yesterday with a host of announcements and a real feeling of positivity. The broadcast-based event brought news of new distribution agreements, local offices opening for business and perhaps most tellingly, a global product launch.
Celebrating new local offices were Canford and Saltzbrenner Stagetec. The UK manufacturer had already announced its Dubai presence – which is the result of many years commitment to the Middle East – and Middle East sales manager, Jonathan Keith as well as a number of staff from the UK were on hand to highlight some of Canford’s latest products.
For Stagetec however, the Middle East and its new location in Kuwait marked ‘the last regional office we are opening,’ according to Sam Depauw, international sales manager for the firm. ‘The idea is to set up a regional office that will help to increase sales and especially after-sales support for broadcast.’
Distribution was another key theme at Cabsat, with both Rycote and Solid State Logic announcing new partners for the region. Rycote has opted to team up with Dubai-based distributor NMK, while SSL has chosen to go with Sennheiser Middle East.
While there are plenty of products that are new to the Middle East on show in Dubai World Trade Centre’s Sheikh Saeed Halls – such as Yamaha’s latest consoles – the best news for the event was the global launch of a new product from Harris. Rather than wait for NAB, the broadcast specialist highlighted the importance of Cabsat and the Middle East in general by debuting its new HView SX Pro multi-display management system on its prominent and extensive stand.
Another factor pointing to the importance of the show is the number of companies that have decided to take a booth in their own right for the first time, including UK-based HHB Communications. ‘We’re looking at expanding our HHB Catalogue business of supplying audio equipment to broadcasters and systems integrators in the region,’ said Matthew Fletcher, international sales manager for the company. ‘It’s been a positive experience so far, we have seen people from a variety of countries in the region.’
With comments on the floor of ‘the best Cabsat first day in years’, there are certainly high hopes for the rest of the show. And with day two traditionally being the busiest period for the event, exhibitors are hoping for another positive day on Wednesday.
Cabsat continues at The Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls until Thursday March 1st.