Avcom, Dublin

Client: Avcom
Type of works: supplied audio and video cables.

Audio and video equipment used for conferences and events has to be tough to withstand the rigours of being moved from one venue to another. This is why Avcom, Ireland’s largest audio visual communications company, turns to UK-based VDC Trading for all its cabling needs.

Established over two decades ago, Avcom offers a wide of range of services for anyone who wishes to organise a conference, both domestically or internationally. Its clients include six of the biggest five star hotel properties in Dublin and many of the large event and professional conference organisers. The company also has a healthy corporate client roster including KPMG, Accenture, Bank of Scotland, Bank of Ireland, Diageo, Masterfoods and Showerings.

Recently, the company approached London-based VDC Trading with a tricky problem that required a bespoke solution. Avcom wanted a sturdy, reliable cable that was capable of carrying both audio and video information and could fulfil the following requirements: multiple mic feeds x 20, audio returns x 8, composite video x 2, RGBHV x 2. It also had to be easy to install and quick to set up.

VDC’s technical team rose to the challenge and created a product that incorporated Van Damme Black Series 32 pair audio cable and three x Van Damme Red Series four-core mini video cable. The four cables were socked together in one jacket and fitted with VDM 150 bayonet latching connectors. VDC also supplied custom AV stage boxes fitted with VDM 150 connectors, which were chosen for their durability. The 40-core cable was assembled in 20-meter lengths, enabling Avcom to cope with any room size. The custom AV stageboxes have also solved problems Avcom was having with its old system, which involved separate audio and video boxes.

Stuart Anderson, Avcom Director and Audio Visual Production Manager, says: "Combining audio and video in one cable proved to be the idea solution because it means we have less cable to carry to each venue and less to install, which makes the whole set-up process much faster. We went for sturdy connectors because we’ve found, in the past, that multi-pin breakout tails tend not to survive well in a rental environment. These boxes and cables give us the flexibility we require to cover virtually all of our needs in a large event. The length of time spent in laying multiple cables was a critical issue in set up times. Thanks to VDC’s multicore cable and stage boxes, this is now down to a minimum."

Stuart Anderson adds that Avcom chose VDC Trading because the company offers such high quality products.

"In a hire environment like ours, cable tends to have a fairly short shelf life due to its rough treatment, especially in fast de-rig situations," he explains. "An amount of it always gets damaged or mis-placed due to fast turn around in venues, so we are constantly re stocking. VDC cable is made to a very high standard and is therefore able to survive the punishment cables receive in a rental situation."

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Audio-visual cables