Spain: professional
audio, video and
lighting sector
ICEX sector reports
one
two
three
four
five
six
Sector definition
Spanish sector overview
Foreign trade
Leading companies
Trade fairs
Useful addresses
The professional audio, video
and lighting sector
one
The Spanish professional audio, video and lighting sector includes all companies that manufacture:
Apparatus, equipment and components related to capturing, recording and reproducing sounds
or images
Professional lighting for events related to these recordings or reproductions.
Spanish sector overview
two
The Spanish professional audio, video and lighting sector is relatively small in terms of the number
of companies, but it enjoys international prestige due to its growing competitiveness. It is made up
of 86 companies, half of which are manufacturers, mostly SMEs, and 67% of which are located in
Catalonia and the Valencia region.
YEARS
Companies
Jobs
Revenue*
*million €
2007
89
1,330
221,622
2008
2009
2010
90
87
86
1,332
1,289
1,250
223,020 219,020 215,732
Source: Secartys
Geographic distribution
Regions
Valencia
Catalonia
Madrid
Andalusia
Other
%
34.88%
32.90%
8.65%
6.18%
17.39%
Source: Secartys
COMPANIES
Small
Medium
Large
%
50%
41%
9%
Source: Secartys
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
2
Technological evolution (R&D+i)
The technology in this sector is always seeking ways to improve, especially in the following areas:
Wireless music content distribution. This technology brings products to the market that make it
possible to use cable-free speakers to listen to music played on a central stereo system in any
room. This will enable systems to be created that move with people, switching speakers on and off
as they move through different rooms.
New sound compression standards (MP3 and MP4). These are causing a revolution in the traditional
concept of playing music, with equipment coming onto the market that is increasingly compact and
portable, allowing music content to be available in a wide variety of devices (cell phones, MP3 players,
cars, etc.).
The use of LED lighting in the field of event lighting. This makes it possible to create new, longerlasting concepts and designs at a lower cost than traditional technologies (discharge lamps).
The trend towards the convergence of lighting and sound. This technology makes it possible to
incorporate a screen or an ultra-thin LED into speakers that display different images depending on
the sounds being played. This makes speakers much more aesthetic and allows them to be better
integrated into the environment in which they are located.
This indicates that the sector tends more and more clearly towards the integration of systems to
take advantage of new synergies and benefits associated with them, such as a more attractive design with improved features. This is leading to flexible production systems that meet the demands of
both manufacturers and retailers, responding to the needs of a constantly evolving market.
Sector strengths
Spanish products are readily accepted due to their quality and design, thanks to their innovation
and their creativity as regards new products.
The leading clients for Spanish products are located in the most developed industrial countries,
primarily in the European Union, but lately there are some Asian markets that are gaining relevance
as potential clients, giving the Spanish sector high hopes for the coming years.
Great flexibility, which means complying with all customer and regulatory demands.
Spanish businesses are highly flexible and responsive when supplying their products, and technological advances have made it possible to develop some products at a more competitive price.
The determination and hard work of the sector, which is highly competitive, innovative, dynamic and
creative.
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
3
Foreign investment in the sector
Foreign investment among manufacturers in the sector is not significant, despite the fact that the
large international companies are also present in Spain.
Demand segments
Demand comes primarily from installers, distributors and other manufacturers of professional audio,
video and lighting apparatus and equipment. Other major buyers include companies that design
and construct sporting facilities and stadiums, auditoriums, theaters, night clubs, shopping centers,
theme parks and concert and show organizers.
Factors that affect the sector
The sector is significantly affected by the following important factors:
Investment in R&D+i.
Company size (mostly SMEs).
Competition, primarily from the emerging Asian markets.
Country image and brand values.
Environmental legislation.
Sector associations
SECARTYS
Spanish Association for the internationalization of companies in electronics, computing
and telecommunications.
www.secatys.org
Representation of the association among manufacturers in the sector:
Percentage of the total sector companies: 95%
Percentage of employment: 90%
Percentage of exports: 94%
Percentage of the total number of exporting companies in the sector: 92%
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
4
Foreign trade
three
Spanish trade balance
of the professional audio, video and lighting sector
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
-100,000
-200,000
-300,000
2007
Exports
2008
2009
2010
2007
2008
2009
2010
111,061
95,549
77,490
91,125
Imports
342,784
273,088
194,431
229,257
Balance
-231,723
-177,539
-116,941
-138,132
Data in € 000s
Source: created internally based on Customs data
Country ranking of Spanish exports
by the professional audio, video and lighting sector
Ranking
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Countries
Portugal
France
The Netherlands
Italy
Germany
United Kingdom
United States
Russia
Brazil
Austria
2007
2008
2009
2010
16,195
19,410
2,363
7,887
5,759
5,356
9,594
1,929
1,313
6,540
14,735
12,858
2,423
6,094
5,619
4,593
5,590
1,690
1,882
4,216
14,478
10,299
2,187
4,830
4,826
3,215
3,910
931
576
1,285
12,027
10,798
8,236
8,135
5,758
4,457
3,988
2,326
2,008
1,746
Total top 10
Other countries
Total exports
76,346
34,715
111,061
59,700
35,849
95,549
46,536
30,954
77,490
59,478
31,647
91,125
Data in € 000s
Source: created internally based on Customs data
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
5
Product ranking of Spanish exports
by the professional audio, video and lighting sector
Ranking
1
85181095 – MICROPHONES AND
STANDS THEREFOR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2,303
2,386
2,624
2,784
2
85182100 – SINGLE LOUDSPEAKERS MOUNTED IN THEIR
ENCLOSURES
15,340
10,255
7,246
8,134
3
85182200 – MULTIPLE LOUDSPEAKERS MOUNTED IN THE SAME
ENCLOSURE
18,869
16,464
15,887
27,407
4
85182930 – SPEAKERS WITH A
FREQUENCY OF BETWEEN 300 HZ
AND 3,4 KHZ
238
196
167
123
5
85182995 – LOUDSPEAKERS,
WHETHER OR NOT MOUNTED IN
THEIR ENCLOSURES
19,119
14,832
7,947
8,673
6
85183095 – EARPHONES, INCLUDING THOSE COMBINED WITH A
MICROPHONE
13,134
12,612
10,557
9,523
85184030 -- AUDIOFREQUENCY
ELECTRIC AMPLIFIERS
659
106
16
182
85184081 -- AUDIOFREQUENCY
ELECTRIC AMPLIFIERS (WITH
ONLY ONE CHANNEL)
1,747
1,394
1,198
603
9
85184089 – AUDIOFREQUENCY
ELECTRIC AMPLIFIERS (EXCEPT
THOSE WITH ONLY ONE CHANNEL)
8,476
4,351
3,018
2,712
10
85185000 -- ELECTRIC SOUND
AMPLIFIER SETS
5,759
4,767
4,448
7,406
Total top 10 products
85,645
67,363
53,107
67,548
Other products
25,416
28,186
24,383
23,577
111,061
95,549
77,490
91,125
7
8
Total sector exports
Data in € 000s
Source: created internally based on Customs data
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
6
Leading companies
four
The leading companies in the sector by volume of sales are the following:
SONY ESPAÑA
D.A.S. AUDIO.
EQUIPSON
BEYMA
AMATE ELECTROACUSTICA
ECLER LAB. ELECTRO ACUSTICA
VIETA AUDIO
OPTIMUS
RAM AUDIO
www.sony.es/
www.dasaudio.com
www.equipson.es
www.beyma.com
www.master-audio.com
www.ecler.es
www.vieta.es
www.optimus.es/index_es.asp
www.ramaudio.com
Source: Secartys
Trade fairs
five
FAIR
AFIAL
Professional Audio and Show Lighting Exhibition
LOCATION
Madrid, Spain
www.afial.net
FAIR
NAMM SHOW
The International Music Products Association Fair
LOCATION
Anaheim, CA. (USA)
www.namm.org/thenammshow
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
7
FAIR
ISE
Integrated Systems Europe
LOCATION
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.iseurope.org/kcms/home.php
FAIR
PROLIGHT+SOUND
The International Fair of Technologies and Services for Events
and Entertainment
LOCATION
Frankfurt, Germany
http://pls.messefrankfurt.com/global/en/home.html
FAIR
PALME Middle East
Professional lighting, audio, music, entertainment, audio visual
and systems integration solutions
LOCATION
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
www.palme-middleeast.com/
FAIR
PALM EXPO CHINA
International exhibition on professional audio, light,
audio visual, music and technology.
LOCATION
Beijing, China
www.palmexpo.net/
FAIR
PLASA
Leading Trade Show for Event, Installation and
Entertainment Technology
LOCATION
London (United Kingdom)
www.plasashow.com
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
8
FAIR
LDI
Entertainment Technology Show & Conference
LOCATION
Las Vegas, USA
www.ldishow.com/LDI11/public/enter.aspx
FAIR
EXPOMUSIC FAIR
International Music Fair
LOCATION
Sao Paulo, Brazil
www.expomusic.com.br/
FAIR
INFOCOMM LAS VEGAS
The information communications marketplace
LOCATION
Las Vegas, USA
www.infocommshow.org
Useful addresses
six
SECARTYS
Electronics and IT Exporters Association of Spain
www.secartys.org
AFIAL
Professional Sound and Show Lighting Manufacturers and Importers
www.afial.net
The professional audio, video and lighting sector
9
© Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX).
Pº de la Castellana 14-16 28046 MADRID | 902 349 000
Report prepared in 2011 by the Information Dept. of the
Industrial Products and Technology Division.
www.spaintechnology.com
www.icex.es | www.spainbusiness.com