ETC Acquires Dutch Dimming Firm IES

ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.) is adding another respected company and set of technologies to its global family. The international entertainment and architectural lighting company is pleased to announce their acquisition of dimming manufacturer IES, Veenendaal, the Netherlands. The purchase was finalized May 26, 2004. With the IES agreement, ETC further broadens the scope of its European product offerings, which already includes products under the transtechnik Lichtsysteme and Avab brands.

"IES has developed unique products that complement our current product offerings and provide silent dimming for concert halls and theaters," says Steve Terry, ETC vice president of research and development. "IES has been a pioneer in sine wave dimming technologies. IES dimming will be an integral component in ETC’s total lighting systems."

ETC plans to dramatically increase sales of IES products through ETC’s comprehensive sales network in Europe as well as introduce the technologies to the North American and other global markets. "We will give IES the market access they deserve," Terry adds.

As part of the purchase, ETC also adds IES sister company Penko Engineering B.V., which specializes in the development and manufacture of high accuracy electronic weighing, dosing, and batching systems designed for use in process industries. Both companies share manufacturing, engineering and technical resources, which are located in Veenendaal.

Headquartered in Middleton, WI, ETC has branches worldwide: New York, Hollywood, Orlando, London, Copenhagen, Rome and Hong Kong, with transtechnik Lichtsysteme locations in Holzkirchen, Berlin, and Dresden, Germany.