Alltrade Trade Show 2016 broke all company records with more brands and more visitors than ever before, the distributor has said.
The custom install, TV signal products and AV distributor’s 7th annual Trade Show, held this year at Epsom Downs Racecourse, saw over 30 brands in attendance and attracted close to 200 trade visitors. New products, show deals and well attended Sky Q training seminars swelled visitor numbers throughout the one-day event.
Alltrade managing director, Steve Simper, notes: “Our current portfolio of products from leading brands such as Triax, Antiference, Global Invacom, HDL and Blustream offer a very strong proposition to installers, backed up by our class-leading project planning and technical support operation.
“Many of the show’s attendees took the opportunity to attend the Sky Q seminars, which built on the comprehensive CI training schedule we offer at our five trade counters across the South of the country. I am extremely pleased at the level of support for this year’s Trade Show and would like to thank the events sponsors and exhibitors for putting in the time and effort it takes to make such an event successful.”
This year’s Alltrade show was a big one for Triax. The company introduced an extensive range of 720p and 1080p CCTV security and surveillance products. “CCTV is now a key focus for us,” notes managing director Glenn Vaughan, “and the show provides a great way to reach satellite installers.” Launched in August, the Triax CCTV line comprises HD-TVI and IP cameras, including fixed and varifocal Dome models, PTZ cameras, plus IP and Bullet designs. The brand also offers a compatible DVR and Network Video Recorder to store footage.
Antiference used the event to introduce a second generation TruColour Neo 4K HDBaseT matrix compatible with HDR content. The slim, rackable unit is available in 4×4 and 8×8 configurations. Features include remote management and CEC control (a strong angle says the brand), in addition to IP control. Antiference also offers a dedicated control App. The company was also exhibiting the DMHD01 HD DVB encoder for signal distribution, and the DMS01 AV encoder which includes audio support.
This year saw the arrival of custom install speaker specialist Niles. A new addition to the Alltrade portfolio, Niles offered a line of architectural speakers from its CM7 range – the audiophile grade CM7HD, mid-range CM7PR and CM7SD (for MDU use). With a MicroThin speaker grille for a virtually invisible appearance and 7in, two-way driver, the series is designed to appeal to Hi-Fi enthusiasts and interior designers alike. Also on show was the weatherproof indoor/outdoor OS5.5 loudspeaker, available in white or black so installers can colour coordinate with a client’s pool area. The show also provided an early look at a Niles 16-zone IP addressable multi-zone amplifier.
The Ubiquiti range of 802.11ac wireless access points, POE switches and routers was also on show. Available in dual and single band versions, Ubiquiti access points are designed to be powerful enough to blanket commercial properties with Wi-Fi, yet smart enough not to look out of place in the home. Also on display was the Ubiquiti NanoStation and exterior Wi-Fi solution with a reach of 15km.
Show attendee Eddie Moore, from We Cable IT, says: “I’ve installed half a dozen Ubiquiti systems, and have never had a call back. This says a lot for the system’s reliability.”
Smart home company HDL introduced a new line of wireless wall switches at the Alltrade show and demonstrated a new system configuration App, developed by DemoPad, which allows installers to programme a house with HDL lighting in just 15 minutes. All the wireless wall switches are identical to the brand’s most popular wired modules, allowing installers to mix and match wired and Wi-Fi solutions seamlessly.
DemoPad offered the first look at its new Centro-8M (for mini). The processor, which can be used in conjunction with Centro control HD and HDL apps, is small enough to be located behind a wall-mounted TV. It has three IR emitter ports, with one receiver, and acts as an IP gateway for sending IR commands. It can also be used with an optional RS232 to USB cable adaptor for additional system control.
The mini uses the same Linux server software as the big Centro-8 unit and can handle macro commands. DemoPad has also developed Amazon Echo skill support. A firmware update will add IFTTT support.