BPM SFX
BPM SFX Special effects specialist BPM SFX welcomes TPi to take an exclusive tour of its new facility in Burnley and discover how the company became an industry leader. Stew Hume reports…
Whether you’re a regular at festival sites or in one of the various arenas around Europe, there is little doubt that, at one point or another, you will have seen a BPM SFX logo, with its striking black and orange colour scheme, emblazoned on a hoodie or flight case. Established over 16 years ago, by Managing Director Adam Murray and Operations Director Jamie Holmes, the company was very much a success story from the EDM boom in the early 2000s. Over the years, the company has positioned itself as key player within the European live events industry, this TPi Award winning company provides a whole host of effects, from CO2 jets and confetti blasts, to G-Flames and lasers. But with a wide offering of effects, not to mention a strong recruitment drive for young aspiring crew, it became clear that BPM SFX was going to need a larger piece of real estate. “Our old facility was 3,500 sq ft, whereas this place is a 47,000 sq ft, three-storied building,” stated Murray, as he greeted TPi at the door of the company’s new HQ. The building is a converted, 100-year-old mill in Burnley, Lancashire. While walking around the new state-of-the-art space, there are still clues of the building’s past, which had been used for everything from a sweet factory to a munitions workshop for the military. “I guess you could say it’s all come full circle, although the explosives are somewhat different to what used to come out of the door,” joked Murray. The conversion of the mill has been a passion project for the entire team
since the company took ownership of the building back in July 2015. But the time it’s taken has clearly been worth it. Brand awareness was at the forefront of the renovation, as can be seen on the approach to the building, which is painted black with two Olympic-style fire bowls flanking the reception entrance. Walking through the office space – and receiving a warm greeting from the friendly office dog – the company’s decade-and-ahalf of work is on display, with tour posters and photographs from its wide range of clients, including the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Coldplay and Calvin Harris, not to mention large-scale events such as Creamfields. Although aesthetics were clearly important during the renovation, functionality was also a major consideration. “The SFX industry saw a dramatic change 10 years ago, as it moved from a niche sector of the market, to a model where you had manufacturers and those who used equipment,” reflected the MD, comparing it to the framework seen in the lighting, audio and video industries. “Before we started looking for a building, we knew we wanted to create a modular warehouse – in the same way lighting rental houses receive kit, which is then serviced and prepped before being sent out again,” he commented. “In the past there was a trend of SFX companies sending out kit and crew to site and then ‘figuring it out’ there. Due to the sheer amount of stock and number of jobs we have, we need to move to a more efficient way of
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