MIDDLETOWN, WI — Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) announced March 31 that it is buying High End Systems, the Austin, TX based lighting manufacturer that was acquired by Netherlands-based Barco in 2008. ETC will operate High End as a separate company located in its current Austin, TX location. High End customers will continue to contact the Austin office for sales and service, and sales distribution channels worldwide remain the same for the foreseeable future.
“We welcome the High End team to the ETC family,” said ETC CEO Fred Foster. “ETC will provide a strong support structure for High End to continue to innovate and make great products for the industry.”
ETC noted that the addition of High End Systems will help the Middleton, WI-based company, a current market leader in the theatrical, broadcast and architectural markets, expand along new avenues of growth, with reciprocal benefits anticipated as the two well-known entities work closely together.
High End Systems, which first rose to prominence with products such as its Intellabeam fixtures for the dance club and touring market developed under the leadership of Richard Belliveau in the late 1980s and 1990s, has continued its push toward innovation with products such as the Sola family of all-LED automated fixtures and Wholehog consoles.
“We value the High End products and plan to expand work on their portfolio,” said David Lincecum, ETC’s VP of marketing. “We want customers to know that ETC will protect your investment in High End products through strengthened service, support, and development.”
For more information, visit the websites for ETC (www.etcconnect.com) and High End Systems (www.highend.com):
