Sound Stylists, a Johannesburg-based rental and production firm, has purchased 24 Robe PAINTE moving lights from South African Distributor DWR, with more units on the way.
The new moving lights add to Sound Stylists’ existing inventory of about 300 Robe luminaires. These lights will help them offer polished and elegant productions for a wide range of corporate shows and events.
Owner and founder Kevin Glover is streamlining their lighting equipment as work steadily resumes post-pandemic.
Their specific requirements included a compact LED fixture with shutters, ensuring “something bright, reliable and with plenty of features to service indoor venues with a headroom of around 6 or 7 metres,” a common requirement for their projects.
According to Kevin, PAINTE met all standards and “desirable and frequently requested”, contributing to an essential component of their business.
Establishing a longstanding relationship, Sound Stylists acquired Robe’s ColorSpot and ColorWash 575 units in 2006 from DWR, still occasionally utilized after approximately 16 years.
Additionally, their warehouse contains an older but operational set of Robe ColorSpot, ColorWash, and ColorBeam 700 luminaires alongside newer additions such as Pointes, miniPointes, LEDWash 600s, and LEDWash 300s. Recently, they expanded their Pointe stock by 12 units, recognizing its exceptional utility.
“We know from experience that Robe fixtures offer fantastic longevity, great value for money and ROI,” Kevin said, all of which supported the choice to go with brand new PAINTES.
He also highlights the importance of good backup and after-sales service, which DWR provides. “It’s absolutely second to none! Not that I am expecting any issue with the Robe kit, but if there is, DWR are on it immediately to help or provide a solution!”
He admires Robe’s personal approach, noting that both CEO Josef Valchar and key account manager Harry von den Stemmen have visited SA on a regular basis over the years, “and made great effort to get to know myself and the team personally, which means A LOT.”
The PAINTES were selected by members of the Sound Stylists lighting crew. They praised its small size and broad feature set, particularly the TETM 310W White LED TRANSFERABLE ENGINE light source’s adaptability.
Robe’s TE technology enables the replacement or exchange of the LED engine, extending the life of their hardware and giving rental firms maximum flexibility for their equipment fleets.
Belonging to the TE-based fixtures series, PAINTE, according to Kevin, signifies “a road map ahead” from Robe, with potential expansions through ESPRITE and FORTE. Notably, the IP65-rated iFORTE and iESPRITE are of interest for future outdoor events, “which we will be factoring into next year’s planning,” he concluded.
DWR’s Duncan Riley says, “Kevin has been a fantastic and loyal customer over the years and built a great reputation for excellence. As with everyone, it’s brilliant to see Sound Stylists bouncing back strongly and with plenty of work again!”
