What Image Engineering does

Image Engineering is a Baltimore-headquartered, founder-owned entertainment technology firm that designs, fabricates, and operates custom special effects for live sports, concert touring, and permanent venue installations. Its core technology stack combines in-house laser systems (including proprietary Beam Composer control software and Light Vector Lasers designs), pyrotechnics, flame and CO2 effects, large-format Syncrolite xenon lighting (the industry's largest SXL fleet at 150+ fixtures), and a Verge Aero X1/X7 drone fleet — orchestrated through integration with CueServer, Christie Pandoras Box, Crestron, and Color Kinetics platforms. The company offers custom effect engineering from concept through mechanical/electrical design, fabrication, and field deployment.

The company serves four primary verticals: professional sports teams (30+ across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, WNBA, and XFL — including Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Vegas Golden Knights), concert tours (Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, BTS, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), permanent architectural installations (Washington Monument Baltimore, Smithsonian NMAI, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, BGE LNG tanks, Corn Palace), and government/cultural projects. Customers include the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Seattle Sounders, LAFC, among others.

The business model is project-based professional services sold via direct enterprise sales, with multi-year recurring contracts on flagship accounts (e.g., 15+ years with the Ravens, since 2003 with the Bills). Revenue streams include event production services, permanent installations, equipment rental, and drone show design and deployment. Operational footprint spans Baltimore (HQ and fabrication), Valencia CA, Las Vegas, and Lititz PA, with full in-house design, manufacturing, and assembly capability and dedicated regulatory, permitting, and laser-safety functions. The 2025 acquisition of TASC expands themed-entertainment engineering and fabrication to both coasts, while the related ImagesFX brand handles touring pyrotechnics and special effects separately.

Name

Image Engineering

Legal name

Image Engineering

Website

https://imageengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Image Engineering is a Baltimore-based entertainment technology firm that designs, fabricates, and operates custom laser, pyrotechnic, flame, drone, and large-format lighting effects for professional sports teams, concert tours, and permanent venue installations across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Special Effects Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Backline & Musical Instrument Rental (MPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC), Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic) (MPADAFAG)

Keywords

• Live entertainment effects
• Custom laser systems
• Pyrotechnic event services
• Permanent lighting installations
• Drone show services

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: On-site special effects services for live events including pyrotechnics, laser shows, flame effects, CO2 systems, and drone demonstrations. Project-based pricing for specific events.
2. Permanent Installation: Design, fabrication, and installation of permanent lighting, laser, LED video, and special effects systems for sports venues, entertainment facilities, and architectural landmarks.
3. Drone Show Services: Custom drone show design, programming, and deployment for events ranging from intimate shows to large-scale aerial productions.
4. Equipment Rental: Rental of special effects equipment including lasers, lighting, pyrotechnics, and control systems for touring productions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Image Engineering is a creative solutions company that designs, engineers, fabricates, and operates custom laser systems, pyrotechnics, flame and CO2 effects, large-format Syncrolite lighting, drone shows, and integrated multi-technology control systems. It serves professional sports teams, concert tours, permanent venues, and architectural landmarks with turnkey services from concept through production, including custom effect engineering, on-site event production, equipment rental, and permanent installation design and integration.

Product overview

Image Engineering is a creative solutions company offering an integrated portfolio of entertainment technology products and services. The core offerings include Custom Effect Engineering (custom laser, lighting, flame, and special effects designs), a Drone Show division (using Verge Aero X1 and X7 drones), and the acquired Syncrolites brand (large format xenon lighting with the largest SXL fleet in the industry). The company provides service verticals in Sports Entertainment, Permanent Installations, and Touring (via sister company ImagesFX). In 2025, Image Engineering expanded its fabrication and themed entertainment capabilities through the acquisition of TASC (The Attractions Services Company). The company also acquired Syncrolites in 2017, adding powerful large-format lighting to its portfolio. Services span from concept through production, integrating different technologies into cohesive, user-friendly systems with streamlined control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Syncrolites: Large format lighting and xenon technology division, operating the largest fleet of Syncrolite SXL fixtures with over 150 fixtures in inventory.
• TASC
• ImagesFX
• Image SFX

Products and services

• Sports Entertainment Special Effects Services Full-service design and on-site operation of pyrotechnics, flame towers, CO2 systems, laser effects, and stadium-wide cue coordination for game-day presentations, player introductions, and fan engagement experiences. Serves professional and collegiate sports teams across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, WNBA, and XFL.
• Permanent Installation Services Design, fabrication, integration, and installation of permanent architectural lighting, LED video screens, laser systems, theatrical lighting, and special effects for stadiums, arenas, casinos, hospitality venues, and architectural landmarks, including user-friendly control interfaces and remote monitoring.
• Custom Effect Engineering Custom design, mechanical and circuitry engineering, and fabrication of integrated laser, lighting, flame, CO2, pyrotechnic, and special effects systems that combine technologies which do not natively speak the same language, from ideation through field deployment.
• Drone Show Services Design, programming, and operation of custom drone show entertainment using Verge Aero X1 and X7 drones, scalable from intimate shows to large-scale aerial productions, with select platforms supporting integrated pyrotechnic effects.
• Syncrolites Large-Format Lighting Rental Rental and operation of large-format Syncrolite SXL xenon lighting fixtures, leveraging the largest fleet in the industry with 150+ units in inventory for events, permanent installations, and touring productions.
• Concert Touring Special Effects (ImagesFX) Concert touring special effects and production support including custom stage effects, laser shows, and effects programming/operation for major music tours, delivered through the ImagesFX touring division.
• TASC Engineering and Fabrication Services Engineering and fabrication services for themed entertainment and show action systems, brought into Image Engineering through the 2025 acquisition of TASC, adding coast-to-coast assembly capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created viewing audience of 111 million for Super Bowl 50 pyrotechnics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TASC (The Attractions Services Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Acquired TASC in 2025 to expand services in engineering and fabrication and bring assembly capabilities to both coasts. Expands themed entertainment and show action systems capabilities.
• Verge AerocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Verge Aero X1 and X7 drones used as core platform for drone show technology. Purpose-built drones for creative entertainment with integrated pyrotechnic effects capability.
• SyncrolitecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Acquired majority of Syncrolite's SXL inventory in 2017. Now operates the largest fleet of Syncrolite SXL large format lights with over 150 fixtures.
• Color Kinetics (Philips Lighting)majorTechnology or IntegrationPrimary LED fixture supplier for permanent installations including ColorBlast, ColorBurst, ColorReach, and iColor LMX Flex products used in Washington Monument, Verizon Building, Corn Palace, and other architectural lighting projects.
• Christie DigitalmajorTechnology or IntegrationChristie J Series 20k projectors with Pandoras Box Media Servers and Mystique Auto calibration system used in Vegas Golden Knights ice projection installation at T-Mobile Arena.
• BML BlackbirdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with BML Blackbird for Kosciuszko Bridge opening ceremony, providing Syncrolite SXL fixtures for synchronized lighting show with permanently installed LED lighting.
• Fiur ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with Fiur Productions for major events including US Open Tennis, College Football Playoff National Championships, and other flagship productions.
• Quinn Evans ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged by Smithsonian Institution and Quinn Evans Architects for National Native Americans Veterans Memorial flame effect installation at National Museum of the American Indian.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): One of the largest global providers of entertainment and event production services spanning lighting, video, and scenic. Overlaps with Image Engineering across touring, sports, and permanent install work, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Solotech: Major North American AV and entertainment technology provider with extensive lighting, video, and audio inventory for tours and venues. Competes with Image Engineering in concert touring SFX and integrated venue installations.

Direct peers

• TAIT: Designer, manufacturer, and operator of staging, scenic, and automation for live events including Cirque du Soleil and major tours. Directly comparable to Image Engineering's permanent installation and custom effect engineering practices, with overlapping client mix in themed entertainment.
• Atomic: Experience design and event production firm delivering custom scenic and effects for corporate, sports, and entertainment clients. Closely parallels Image Engineering's sports entertainment and custom engineering service lines.
• BML Blackbird: Event technology and lighting partner that has collaborated with Image Engineering on flagship projects (e.g., Kosciuszko Bridge). Directly comparable as a live-event and architectural lighting integrator with similar federal/institutional client base.
• Pyrotecnico: US-based pyrotechnics and special effects firm focused on sports, concert, and corporate events with in-house permitting and operations. Direct competitor in the pyrotechnics/SFX for live events segment.
• 4Wall Entertainment: National provider of entertainment lighting, LED video, and rigging rentals used across concerts, tours, and corporate events. Comparable in scale to Image Engineering's equipment rental and touring services.

Regional players

• Fireworks by Grucci: Multi-generational American pyrotechnics company serving stadium shows, civic celebrations, and broadcast spectaculars. Overlaps with Image Engineering's pyrotechnic event services and shares the NFL/MLB event client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/imageengineering
• Xx.com/imgengineering
• Facebookfacebook.com/ImgEngineering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Image Engineering