Essential Install | Industry Expert: Visualization
Brace Yourselves!
EI caught up with Visualization’s managing director, Nick Pidgeon,
to find out the impact of wireless technology to rack integration and
what to expect from the future of AV…
Visualization's MD
Nick Pidgeon
What types of services do Visualization provide?
Our core business is rack integration services for the
audio visual industry. As well as building racks, we also
distribute racks and related equipment and accessories,
offer firmware and programme uploads, custom cable
assembly and panel wiring. We are a bolt on to large
partners that require additional resource as well as being
a resource to smaller partners, allowing them to save on
overheads and concentrate on winning new business.
Our main aim is to provide the industry with a higher
standard of rack integration.
What changes have you seen in terms of sizes of
racks, given that some solutions are no longer a
standard size, in addition to wireless tech being so
present now?
Size and location of racks is often more dictated by
the available space within the property, although the
preferred would be a centralised hub system. We
haven’t noticed a change in the core elements of the
rack since wireless tech has become more proficient,
although we have certainly seen an increase in what
once would have been a business style network
incorporated within the home.
How has the growth in wireless technology
changed your business?
It is hard to see from our position in the market, but
I would presume the fact that wireless has made the
technology we integrate more available, in turn has
increased the clients within our industry, the integrators
business, and then in turn ours.
What are the main complications you encounter with
rack building and how do you overcome these?
What about your rack standards work with
Infocomm Standards?
Similarly to CEDIA, InfoComm asked me if I’d be interested
amongst others to be involved with a rack build standard
task group to help write an industry standard.
Previously I’d always been given the impression that the
InfoComm material was very US focused and took this as
an opportunity to provide a British perspective. InfoComm
are actually very aware of this and much of the group has
been selected with a global perspective in mind. This
differs from CEDIAs method of training by setting a written
and visual criteria to be met. While InfoComm at any one
time are writing many standards and working on their
CTS material, my involvement is more focused on the rack
standards rather than current legislation.
What do you think will be the next big tech trend in
the AV industry and why?
I personally feel that voice control integration may be
the next big thing, if not already. But if you’re like me
and feel a little awkward talking to your technology,
maybe this is something that will be more utilised by the
millennial’s onwards.
Do you think cyber security is posing a serious
threat to the industry?
The more technology we integrate together, the more I
see it as a threat to our industry. The key point here is that
it’s our issue to tackle as an industry not just to expect to
pass it off to IT and the client.
More Information: Visualization, +44 (0)1628 673702,
avrackbuild.com
We frequently see rack elevations with little regard for
the volume of kit and thermal management, so we look
to educate our partners and the industry, through CEDIA
training, on best practices and make adjustments to the
systems we build accordingly.
How has involvement with CEDIA benefitted
your business?
Visualization train
rack installers
on thermal
management
CEDIA approached me as a services member and
the owner of Visualization, to create a course around
fundamentals of rack build, that they believed to be a
m uch needed course. Often the rack is a large element of
a lot of projects and, prior to the course, there was no set
direction in how to approach it.
The Rack Build & Wiring Fundamentals course has
been pretty much fully booked since we started it nearly
two years ago. I am always frustrated with the lack of
education in the industry and look to set a precedent in
my profession.
As a services member, our involvement with
CEDIA has most certainly raised our profile and
provided great opportunity to network with peers and
likeminded individuals.
August 2017 | 31