Liverpool’s exhibition centre, ACC Liverpool, is world-class: a stunning waterside location, an award-winning events team, prestigious clients, and, thanks to a recent upgrade, two Roadster HD14K-M projectors. Christie partner, Pure AV, supplied two Roadsters to replace the existing projectors, as part of a technical upgrade following a shoot-out with other brands.
The Preston-based system integrators, who have been supplying AV equipment to the facility’s technical team since 2011, recommended the two HD14K-M projectors, which were duly adopted after a competitive shoot-out with other leading 3DLP projectors. They were supplied with 2.6-4.1:1 and 2 x 4.1-6.9:1 lens options: One is permanently installed in the main auditorium while the other flight-cased projector is portable, and available for third-party hire.
According to ACC Liverpool’s senior production and technical manager, Nicky Norman, the venue’s outgoing projector was five years old — having been installed to coincide with the opening of the complex in 2008 — and the cost of lamp replacement was becoming prohibitively expensive. “As technology advances, so it is important for us to keep up with developments,” she acknowledged.
The new 13,500 lumens HD 3DLP projectors, packaged with new switching equipment, are more than adequate to fill ACC Liverpool’s main conference room, which can seat 1,350 delegates. The most compact in its class, this projector platform also has embedded warping, blending and colour matching capabilities that provide even greater installation flexibility.
ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and from September Exhibition Centre Liverpool, hosts a myriad of conferences from national and international associations and corporates, ranging from party politicals to the Royal College of Nursing to BBC Worldwide Showcase. BT Convention Centre meanwhile, hosts 18 breakout rooms with capacities ranging from 10 to 500, while the ACC Liverpool complex also houses the 10,600-seat Echo Arena, which stages high level concerts as well as family, sporting and comedy events.
Winning a high-tech shoot-out
Three suppliers had initially been approached to quote on the new equipment, confirms Norman, and Pure AV became the successful bidder, with Christie its preferred brand. “Our in-house team researched 3DLP options and we asked the suppliers to bring them in for demo so we could assess the different images and quality. The low cost of ownership [of the Christie] was a key factor because of the competitively priced replacement lamps — and we are always looking for low energy solutions such as this.”
Pure AV account manager, Mike Molyneux, who arranged the shoot-out, confirms that the requirement for portability, compactness, flexibility and power were also met. “Other benefits were the additional features that come with the Roadster model like the stacking frame and all the various inputs.
Low cost of ownership
“The new set-up not only allows them to project full HD images, but gives them with a lower cost of ownership, since the lamps are a lot less expensive and longer lasting than the alternatives — plus they are a lot more portable and easier to set up and use.”
The new high-brightness images are projected by the HD14K-M onto a variety of flown screens from the facility’s counterweight flying system — ranging from 7.5 to 12m wide.
The acquisition is certainly paying off for ACC Liverpool. Dave Bateman, Senior Technician (Vision), confirmed, “Our Christie HD14K-M projectors are leaps and bounds ahead of the competition in terms of image quality, processing and output level.
“When we tested them alongside competitive higher rated projectors Christie easily came out on top. As for Pure AV, they have been brilliant to work with from start to finish and operate in a friendly and professional manner.”
This latest project underpins the long partnership that has existed between Pure AV and Christie — particularly at the top end of the projector range. And as for ACC Liverpool, the team couldn’t be happier. “We are already seeing an impressive return on investment,” concludes Nicky Norman.
