Inside InfoComm's Green AV Rating System

Behind the scenes of InfoComm’s new green AV rating system. What will it mean for you?

Having struck out with the U.S. Green Building Council, the AV industry now aims to create its own LEED-type sustainability certification process, due out in January 2011. Here's what it entails.

Associations

Q&A with Allen Weidman, InfoComm International
Here's how important sustainbility if to InfoComm and the pro AV community: InfoComm recently hired a dedicated sustainability officer. Read about how he's approaching his job.
NCSA Names New Education Director
The National Systems Contractors Association's (NSCA) Education Foundation has elected Steven Emspak, partner at Shen Milsom & Wilke, to its board of directors.
Flat Is Indeed the New Up
InfoComm's latest Economic Snapshot Survey show industry sentiment bottomed out last year. Now AV pros are holding steady in hopes that business will improve.
InfoComm Launches GovComm 2011
InfoComm International announced yesterday it is launching GovComm 2011, a professional audiovisual and information communications exposition and conference to be held November 1 and 2, 2011, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
USAV Welcomes New Pro AV Members
USAV Group, an association of professional AV integrators, recently added new integrators to its national network—NBS Commercial Interiors (NBS), of Troy, Mich., and bkm Audio Video Solutions (bkm) of East Hartford, Conn.

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Industry News

Mitsubishi, Thinklogical Partner on Fiber-to-the-Display
Through a joint development effort, Mitsubishi and Thinklogical announced they will bring the security of fiber optics to Mitsubishi's Seventy Series data wall cubes and tiled flat panels.
AVI-SPL Wins Virginia AV Contract
AVI-SPL, a global integrator of pro AV, video conferencing and telepresence systems, was recently awarded a two-year contract to supply AV services for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Harman's HiQnet 3.0 Supports AVB
At InfoComm 2011, Harman Professional introduced of its HiQnet System Architect 3.0 system configuration software, the first version of System Architect to provide Audio Video Bridging (AVB) capabilities.
Dataton Releases Watchout 5
At InfoComm 2011, Dataton released version 5 of Watchout, the company's flagship multidisplay production and playback system. The new version offers a long list of new features, many of which were requested by Dataton customers, according to the company.
Planar Offers Second Componentless LCD
At InfoComm 2011, Planar Systems introduced a new version of its slim-profile Planar d82L LCD display designed for corporate environments, small-scale control rooms, and public venues for digital signage.

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Marketwatch

The Makings of a Real Recovery
InfoComm International's most recent Economic Snapshot offers the clearest evidence yet that AV companies are feeling better about their business future.
Flat Is Indeed the New Up
InfoComm's latest Economic Snapshot Survey show industry sentiment bottomed out last year. Now AV pros are holding steady in hopes that business will improve.
Gauging CEDIA
In September, CEDIA released its 2010 Benchmarking Survey. As you'd expect, residential business is off, but for the first time, researchers asked installers about commercial work.
Flat-Panel TV Shipments Heat Up Again
After anemic growth in 2009, LCD TVs are apparently hot again, according to research firm DisplaySearch, which is exactly what purveyors of 3D and LED-lit flat-panels were aiming for.
Integrators Plan More Service Offerings
The National Systems Contractors Association's Q1 Market Intelligence Briefing, "Recurring Revenue: Selling Service", breaks down services into six main categories, including training and maintenance.

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Uncommon Carriers
Spend time on the road with drivers, as ProSales did recently, and you'll get a new perspective on what's happening with dealers today.
Liberty AV Buys Intelix
Liberty AV Solutions, a division of Wesco Distribution, has acquired Middleton, Wisc.-based Intelix, a manufacturer of AV components and software, for an undisclosed sum.
Southeastern AV Integrators Merge
Multi Media Services of Atlanta and Video Systems of the Carolinas of Charlotte, N.C., have merged to form Unified AV Systems (UAVS).
Middle Atlantic Products to Be Acquired
Middle Atlantic Products, which makes racks and other AV products for commercial, residential, security, and broadcast applications, has agreed to be acquired by Legrand North America. Officials from the companies said the transaction should be completed by mid-June and is subject to regulatory...
Chief's Parent Company Snaps Up Da-Lite
Milestone AV Technologies, manufacturer of Chief and Sanus brand AV mounting and display solutions, and Da-Lite Screen Company, manufacturer of Da-Lite, Projecta and Procolor brand commercial and residential projection screens, announced a merger of the two companies.

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People and Places

AVI-SPL Wins Virginia AV Contract
AVI-SPL, a global integrator of pro AV, video conferencing and telepresence systems, was recently awarded a two-year contract to supply AV services for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Projectiondesign Taps New President for North America
Projectiondesign announced the appointment of Karl Hantho as president of its Americas subsidiary.
Crestron Beefs Up Western U.S. Sales
Crestron announced the appointment of six new members to its west coast sales team.
Crestron Names News Director for Residential Market
Crestron announced the appointment of Ami Wright as its director of residential market development.
Almo Pro A/V Elevates Three to VP
National distributor Almo Professional A/V announced the promotion of three employees to vice president positions within its professional audio/visual division.

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Brad Grimes

PRO AV's editor muses on the AV issues of the day. Feedback welcome.

Latest from Brad Grimes

Magenta Research + TV One = ?
Magenta and TV One will be the cornerstone of a new commercial AV division at Nortek, led by Magenta's CEO Keith Mortensen, who recently re-took the helm at Magenta.
More Impressions of InfoComm 2011
Last week I gave some first post-InfoComm 2011 impressions. But surely there was more to the show than that. Upon further reflection, here are some more of my highlights.
What I Did at InfoComm 2011
That's it. That's all she wrote. Another InfoComm in the rear-view mirror. Despite reports of record numbers, I heard conflicting descriptions of attendee traffic on the show floor. What could that mean? Vendor shake-outs? Blah products from certain companies? Not sure, but here are some...