Stage Audio Works, a supplier, manufacturer and distributor of pro AV technology solutions, has invested in new manufacturing equipment at its Johannesburg headquarters as the company marks its 25th anniversary.
The company, which manufactures pro AV products under brands including Stage Plus, Pixel Plus and Plus Audio, has acquired several pieces of machinery, including a direct-to-material printer, a CNC machine, an aluminium extrusion rolling machine and an embroidery machine. The investments are designed to enable faster turnaround times on custom trussing and staging solutions, enhance quality control and allow the company to offer more customised products.
The direct-to-material printer replaces previously outsourced screen printing that required several days’ turnaround. The company says the new equipment allows designs to be reproduced in minutes, enabling custom branding and identification solutions on products.
The CNC machine is designed to support greater precision and efficiency across manufacturing processes, whilst the aluminium extrusion rolling capabilities mean Stage Audio Works no longer needs to rely on outsourced parts for its Stage Plus trussing and stage deck solutions.
Gustav Barnard, chief operating officer at Stage Audio Works, said: “The recent purchase of a direct-to-material printer is the latest in a line of several investments to improve our manufacturing operations. Together, these upgrades strengthen our in-house manufacturing capabilities for our group brands, including Stage Plus, Pixel Plus and Plus Audio, allowing us to deliver products more quickly in response to customer demands.”
Nils Perreira, service manager at Stage Audio Works, added: “This printer gives us the ability to produce custom branding and identification solutions almost instantly. It’s a huge leap forward in terms of speed, flexibility and creative capability.”
Arnold Serumula, Stage Plus factory manager at Stage Audio Works, added: “Our CNC upgrade unlocks many new opportunities. It allows us to achieve exceptional consistency and quality in the products we are producing, whilst improving production workflows, in turn, delivering our customers better products, faster.
“Rolling has always been outsourced, but with our machine, we now have full control and creativity in-house. This not only speeds up production but also lets us expand our Stage Plus range with new shapes and custom solutions.”
The embroidery machine brings custom embroidery in-house, which is designed to enable tighter quality control and faster production timelines.
Barnard added: “We’re now equipped to handle very large international orders and support our clients and partners across more projects without relying on third-party suppliers. As we expand our manufacturing facility, we’re also growing opportunities and developing specialised manufacturing skills within the local community.”
