Protec (Expansion)

IN PROFILE

IN PROFILE: PROTEC GROUP

This month, TPi takes a deep dive into one of the world’s largest technical and staging solutions companies in Europe and the Middle East.

With the establishment of its European operation, the Protec Group has fielded a home run of successes recently, which includes additional investment and increased opportunities across the board. The company’s services to the live event industry include technical expertise, state of the art equipment and a highly skilled crew of live event design and technology professionals.

Priding itself on consistency in exceeding expectations and delivering slick and unforgettable event experiences across the UK and Europe, the company has detailed exciting times ahead, as TPi finds out...

A GROWING EUROPEAN OFFICE The Protec Group ramped up its expansion in early 2018 and has certainly put its foot on the throttle since. Its growth in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East region has been especially successful. Furthermore, the company’s European branch, based in the UK, has been impressing the industry by scooping awards, aligning itself a major player capable of competing for large scale events and shaking up the industry. The group’s expansion and investments has placed them as one of the largest companies of its kind in the world - showing no signs of slowing down. As a reflection of the company’s ethos of pioneering the latest

technologies, Protec have significantly added to an already enviable inventory of brands including L-Acoustics, DiGiCo, Claypaky, Robe, MA lighting, SGM, disguise, Christie, Barco, Blacktrax, Notch and Watchout, to name but a few of its regular suppliers. Not to mention that the company was also the first in the Middle East region to get its hands on a full suite of new MA Lighting grandMA3 consoles.

Protec, it seems, are not afraid to take the leap when it comes to new technologies and in doing so, push the industry as a whole to evolve and offer exciting new solutions in the world of events. Especially having introduced its advanced technologies which include robotics, drones and automation to all of its new locations.

SAUDI SUCCESS STORY Protec has been a cornerstone of the events industry in the Middle East since 1999. Established by industry leader Stephen Lakin, Protec has grown into the region’s most committed and consistently reliable event equipment rental company, producing live events that are truly spectacular, leading edge, and globally acclaimed projects.

With additional purchases especially for its new warehouse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Protec KSA now offer the same preferred, trusted, reliable

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brands and service that it is revered for in Dubai. This professional service made available from within Saudi Arabia has seen Protec land some very impressive events this past year.

Saudi Arabia is making giant leaps to diversify and progress its economy and its vision of the future. Formula E, which Protec was an integral part of, was a historic event for the region. Not only was it the first Formula E event held in the region it was also the first major international sports event to take place in Saudi Arabia - with the whole world was watching in real time.

This required technical support that was second to none. Protec’s audio team chose an varied range of L-Acoustics pro audio equipment to cover an extensive area across six grandstand viewing areas, two hospitality areas, a podium, a gaming area and an e-village stage.

For video, the team turned to Barco’s S3 and Luminex networking to livestream to 140 screens across the venue which required 19km of fibre to ensure 4K video with less than one frame of delay.

Lighting for the event was provided using the company’s range of new SGM P-10 and Claypaky lights for the E-Motion club and hospitality village.

Another mega event in Saudi Arabia that Protec provided a complete package for was the ground breaking of the new tourism destination, Al Qiddiya. It is planned to be 334 sq km in area, dwarfing Walt Disney World in Florida (110sq km) to become the world’s largest entertainment destination. Based in the desert with no infrastructure in place, Protec was invited to supply the temporary structure - its 36m x 88m Supa Dome with full technical support inside the auditorium including audio, lighting, 3D video projection mapping, and rigging as well as scenic, staging and

automation for this lavish, and extraordinarily complex ceremony attended by royalty and VVIPs to celebrate the beginning of an estimated two year build project.

At the time of writing, Protec are currently shortlisted for three Middle East Event Awards in recognition of its contribution to the event industry across the region including Best Technical Support for BAO Festival in Dubai and the Al Qiddiya Ground-Breaking Ceremony in Saudi Arabia, and Best Event Technology for its robotics stand at GITEX 2018.

Protec was called upon by its clients Envie Events to provide full AV support for Bao: The Final Frontier EDM festival at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai. Working with Envie before on Sensation and Unite with Tomorrowland, Protec was delighted to continue this partnership and rise to the challenge on what, according to baofestival.com, promised to be a “two-day extravaganza of unrivalled entertainment and music,” and “a production of unparalleled show-stopping grandeur.”

Marked as one of the biggest EDM music festival from a production standpoint ever put on in Dubai, many of the world’s top ranked DJs made up the Bao Festival lineup.

Protec got the opportunity to provide a full-size MA Lighting grandMA3 and grandMA2 console along with over 200 moving Claypaky and Robe fixtures. This was complemented by L-Acoustics K1, V-Dosc and Kara PA operated via a DiGiCo SD5. Video used its Barco E2 along with 12 30k projectors and a large amount of LED. It required some impressive processing power to supply the 4k feeds.

These high-profile live events speak volumes of the trust Protec’s clients

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have in its service.

Instilling even more confidence in the upward trajectory of the Protec Group is the return of several key staff members who have re-joined the company bringing a renewed energy and invigorating the team with its ambition and creativity. Well known in the events industry with decades of experience Protec welcome back Rick Wade, Nick Groves, Simon Travis, Abi Bates, Andy Cooper, Nina Badr, André Opperman and Jason Strange.

Fulfilling roles from project management to business development these high calibre staff signify a strong confidence in the Protec brand and have people excited about what’s to come. Investment in these strong, experienced professionals tells us that founder and CEO Stephen Lakin has no plans on slowing down and if anything, bigger things are on the horizon.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES Following Saudi’s successful expansion, focus is moving to the UK based Protec European Events. With access to the group’s massive inventory of industry preferred equipment already at hand, Lakin has now acquired a new premises more than doubling the warehouse space and offering a huge 68,000sq ft of storage which he is planning on dedicating to a new, comprehensive staging and scenic department and storage for his growing inventory. This new department will be led by the best in the industry.

New recruit André Opperman brings his impressive background in film, theatrical set building, and fabrication to the department joining Jason Strange – also with decades of experience in scenic and staging – to make Protec European Events a very desirable option capable of supplying large scale events with creative and state of the art options. Protec veteran and creative, Eddie Andradé will join the team from Dubai where he currently holds the position of marketing director but goes beyond that role to offer

clients the benefit of his diverse events background. This expanded space also means job opportunities. Protec have brought in some new employees already to help the UK branch make the transition but are opening up some exciting opportunities for project managers, senior riggers and senior audio, lighting and video technicians. It will be looking for experienced and ambitious people who share the vision of the Protec group.

Protec European Events have already made impressive strides in its first year having won an AV award for ‘AV Production, Staging & Rental Company of the Year’ and made the shortlist for ‘Event Tech of the Year’ at the EN Awards. The company turned heads at this year’s Event Production Show with its stands showcasing advanced technologies. Offering drones and robots, the company certainly has its finger on the pulse of the current event trends.

Its technology had the desired effect on attendees with many taking out their phones to share images and video of the robot playing darts or were delighted to be able to engage in a hands-on way with the technology. It was also a great opportunity to find out about the many ways drones are gripping the event world immersing audiences and enabling brands and event professionals to tell their story in more creative and unique ways.

These are exciting times for the Protec Group. Already a trusted name in the Middle East, it is now ready to take the next step in the European market. Expect big things in the coming months as it increase its capabilities and bring on board new staff - its certainly be one to watch. TPi Photos courtesy of Protec. www.productiontec.com

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