Emden, Germany, 24 June 2010 –
FUNA International Group (FUNA), a global design and systems integration company specializing in innovative entertainment and technical solutions for a variety of markets, has acquired Florida-based ShowSys, a technical management and design company. The acquisition bolsters FUNA's North American portfolio and enhances its in-house expertise to address major land-based entertainment projects such as theme parks, themed attractions and casinos.
FUNA now has more than 200 employees in 10 locations in Europe and the US, including two offices in Florida.
“There is great synergy here,” says FUNA president Rex Stull. “With this expansion, our company can now serve the major global visitor attractions markets on both land and sea. We enthusiastically welcome ShowSys into the FUNA group. In less than 10 years and with a small staff, ShowSys has generated a high-profile project list, a loyal clientele and an impressive amount of goodwill within the themed entertainment markets, especially in North America. FUNA will uphold that goodwill and build upon it.”
“It's a good professional and cultural fit and we're very pleased to join FUNA,” says Scott Arnold, who in 2002 founded ShowSys with Jason Pontius. “This alliance enables us to continue the work we've been doing in the markets we've been serving, but on a larger scale – and to reach new international markets. We will be able to expand our scope of services while upholding our high standards of quality, innovation and commitment to the client.”
The acquisition of ShowSys is part of FUNA's ongoing drive to bring its suite of technical design and consulting services to a wider range of themed entertainment markets, especially land-based projects in North America, Europe and Asia. At the same time, FUNA will maintain its ties and leading position in the maritime industry, and to that end recently acquired ANT, a leading UK-based superyacht design and engineering company.
About FUNA:
FUNA International Group is a global design, engineering, integration and consulting firm founded in 1972 and based in Emden, Germany. FUNA has over 37 years of experience integrating a variety of complex systems encompassing projects from airports to wind turbines. The company is well established in maritime projects – vessels of all types including cruise ships and superyachts – but also serves a variety of land-based developments. During FUNA's long history they have successfully completed over 150 cruise ship projects including 8 of the 10 largest cruise ships as well as four of the largest superyachts in the world. Their client list includes Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises and Disney Cruises Lines among others. FUNA is certified ISO 9001 compliant in Germany and Finland and is in the process of receiving certification in the United States.
The FUNA Group encompasses:
FUNA International – The premier cruise ship integrator in the world / in business for 37 years / completed over 150 new-build and refit projects / responsible for 8 of the 10 largest cruise ships in the world, including Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean).
FUNA Nachrichtentechnik – A systems integrator based in Germany that specializes in land-based projects for corporate, government and commercial clients.
FUNA Global Safety Systems – A global company specializing in the integration of safety technology for wind turbines, ocean platforms and other specialized marine projects.
ANT - Advanced New Technologies Ltd, the world's premier superyacht integration company with credits that include 25 of the 100 largest superyachts in the world.
ShowSys – A highly specialized technical management, consulting and design company serving the entertainment, gaming, leisure and theme parks & attractions markets.
For more information,
visit the FUNA website at www.funa.com or please contact:
Marion Duif, Press Relations Europe
p: +49 (0) 4921-967150 | f: +49 (0) 4921-967155
CET (Central European Time)
Kevin Cartier Press Relations North America
p: +1 (305) 622-2878 | f :+1 (305) 622-2878
EST (Eastern Standard Time)
About ShowSys:
ShowSys, founded in 2002 by Scott Arnold and Jason Pontius, provides technical management and design services including control, video, and specialized audio system design to the entertainment and themed markets. Through its network of design associates ShowSys also provides lighting, media, and special effects design.
The technical management and design team has experience with multi-million dollar shows and attractions located in the US and in many other countries around the world. ShowSys practices thoroughness, organization and communication when managing the technical aspects of any project.
ShowSys' systems are utilized by the entertainment and theme industries to provide safe and reliable technical solutions. System related services include complete control system design and integration, programming, interactive systems, Internet enabled applications, master show control, specialized audio system design, video system design, lighting control, and special effects control.