A.C. Entertainment Technologies
A.C. Entertainment Technologies is a UK-based distributor of professional lighting, audio, rigging, and video equipment serving dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across film/TV, touring, theatre, corporate, architectural, and education sectors through four specialist divisions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersWycombe, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What A.C. Entertainment Technologies does
A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) is a UK-based, privately held distributor of professional entertainment-technology equipment, self-described as one of the largest single-source providers to the entertainment industry. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the company operates four specialist product divisions — Lighting, Audio, Rigging, and Video — supplying dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across six market sectors: Film/TV/Studio/Broadcast, Touring & Live Events, Corporate & Events, Theatre & Stage, Architectural & Installation, and Education & Performing Arts. The product portfolio spans moving and static lighting fixtures, lighting control consoles, data distribution and power/dimming equipment, professional microphones and mixing consoles, loudspeakers and personal monitoring, trussing and lifting equipment, and media servers and projection. Distributed brands include PROLIGHTS, Martin Professional (since 1987), Chauvet, Robe, GLP, SGM, Anolis, Rosco, and Chroma-Q, alongside PIXELHUE video processing.
The company's differentiators include its proprietary Tourflex custom cabling and connector brand (with in-house cable manufacturing and a repair/maintenance service) and its in-house chain hoist manufacturing capability for the rigging division. Operations span two UK locations (High Wycombe HQ + demonstration facility and a Leeds office and trussing/staging warehouse), plus a wholly-owned European subsidiary, AC-ET Europe GmbH in Berlin. Sales coverage includes dedicated UK Northern and Southern sales teams, an international sales function with regional account managers covering Scandinavia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and an external field sales team. AC-ET also runs the AC Shop clearance e-commerce storefront for discounted equipment. The company is led by Co-Founder and Executive Chairman David Leggett, CEO Phill Capstick, and Managing Director Jonathan Walters, alongside Derri Gordon (Finance Director & Company Secretary), Neil Vann (Brand Development Director), and Teroy Spencer (IT Director), with no disclosed external institutional or private-equity investment.
A.C. Entertainment Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A.C. Entertainment Technologies
- Legal name
- A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd.
- Website
- https://ac-et.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- A.C. Entertainment Technologies is a UK-based distributor of professional lighting, audio, rigging, and video equipment serving dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across film/TV, touring, theatre, corporate, architectural, and education sectors through four specialist divisions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A.C. Entertainment Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Entertainment Equipment Distribution
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220)
- SIC
- Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Touring & Production Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAIAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB), Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH)
Keywords
Where A.C. Entertainment Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wycombe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
A.C. Entertainment Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Distribution: Distribution of professional Lighting, Audio, Rigging, and Video equipment to dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across multiple entertainment market sectors
- Custom Cabling (Tourflex): Bespoke cable assemblies for film, broadcast, and entertainment with repair and maintenance services
- Chain Hoist Manufacturing: In-house manufacturing of chain hoists for lifting equipment solutions
- After Sales Support: Full after-sales support services including technical services and repair
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels3 records
A.C. Entertainment Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A.C. Entertainment Technologies distributes professional Lighting, Audio, Rigging, and Video equipment to the entertainment industry through four specialist divisions, supplying dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across Film/TV, Touring, Theatre, Corporate Events, Architectural, and Education sectors. The company also manufactures bespoke cabling and connectors under the Tourflex brand, operates in-house chain hoist manufacturing for the rigging division, and complements this with after-sales technical services and repair/maintenance support.
Product overview
A.C. Entertainment Technologies is one of the largest single-source providers of professional Lighting, Audio, Rigging & Video equipment to the entertainment industry, along with fully customisable cabling and connectors for every type of production and broadcast. The company operates four specialist product divisions: Lighting (encompassing moving lights, static lights, film/TV/studio lighting, lighting control, data distribution, power distribution, effects, architectural lighting, and consumables), Audio (including microphones, mixing consoles, speakers, amplifiers, personal monitoring, and assistive listening systems), Rigging (trussing, lifting equipment, hardware, PPE, and temporary structures), and Video (media servers, capture & processing, displays, and projectors). Their product portfolio includes distributed brands such as PROLIGHTS (featuring the ArcShine, ArcPod, EclFresnel, Lumipix, Jet Wash, Smart Bat series), Chauvet Professional, Martin Professional, Anolis, Robe, GLP, and SGM. The company also offers bespoke cable manufacturing under the Tourflex brand, along with repair and maintenance services. Their four divisions supply dealers, distributors, rental companies and end users across Film/TV/Studio/Broadcast, Touring & Live Events, Corporate & Events, Theatre & Stage, Architectural & Installation, and Education & Performing Arts markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AC-ET: Primary trading name for A.C. Entertainment Technologies - professional technology sales to the entertainment industry
- Tourflex Cabling
- AC Shop
Products and services
- Lighting Equipment Professional lighting equipment for stages, venues, events, broadcast, and architectural installations. Includes moving lights, static lights, film/TV/studio lighting, lighting control consoles, data distribution/networking (DMX/RDM), power distribution and dimming, support and grip, architectural lighting fixtures, atmospheric effects, and lighting consumables and accessories.
- Audio Equipment Professional audio equipment for live events, broadcast, theatre, and installations. Includes microphones and wireless systems, mixing consoles (analogue and digital), I/O and stage boxes, loudspeakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, stage monitors, personal monitoring systems, media players, audio communication systems, and assistive listening systems.
- Rigging Equipment Professional rigging, trussing, and lifting equipment for staging productions. Includes general purpose and high load trussing, stage decking, electric chain hoists (including in-house manufactured units), electric and hand winches, chain hoist controllers, load monitoring equipment, stands, hardware, PPE, and temporary demountable structures.
- Video Equipment Professional video equipment for events, broadcast, and installations. Includes media servers, consoles, capture and processing devices (capture cards, scalers, presentation switchers, video wall processors), transmission and networking, displays and projectors (LED panels, digital signage, projectors), cameras and controllers, cables, connectors, and power distribution.
- Tourflex Custom Cabling Bespoke cable assemblies manufactured in-house for film, broadcast, and entertainment applications. The Tourflex division offers fully customisable cabling and connectors for every type of production, along with repair and maintenance services.
- AC Shop Clearance Online clearance storefront operated by A.C. Entertainment Technologies offering discounted lighting, audio, rigging, and video equipment.
- Chauvet Professional Distribution Distributed range of Chauvet Professional luminaires, trussing, controllers, and atmospherics including moving battens, beam lights, hybrid lights, pixel effects, profiles, spots, washes, static battens, battery lights, blinders, fresnels, PAR lights, pinspots, and strobes for concerts, touring, theatres, hospitality, cruise ships, clubs, houses of worship, television, and architainment.
- PROLIGHTS SunBar FLX Linear IP65 hybrid LED strobe and wash fixture distributed as part of the PROLIGHTS product range.
Companies that use A.C. Entertainment Technologies
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
A.C. Entertainment Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
A.C. Entertainment Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EXE TechnologycoreA.C. Entertainment Technologies appointed as official UK distributor for EXE Technology, a leading innovator in chain hoists and lifting solutions for the entertainment industry
- PROLIGHTScoreMajor brand partnership - distributes full range of PROLIGHTS professional lighting products including moving lights, static lights, wash fixtures, strobes, battens, Fresnels, and architectural lighting
- Martin ProfessionalcoreMajor brand partnership - distributes Martin Professional products including strobe effects, haze machines, fan & wind machines, and smoke/haze fluids since 1987
- ChauvetcoreMajor brand partnership - distributes Chauvet products including moving lights (profiles, spots, wash, hybrid, beam), static lights, battens, strobes, battery lights. Founded 1990 by Albert and Berenice Chauvet
- RobecoreDistributes Robe strobe effects and moving lights for the professional lighting market
- GLPcoreDistributes GLP strobe effects and intelligent lighting fixtures for the professional lighting market
- SGMcoreDistributes SGM static strobes, moving heads, and compact LED washes manufactured in Aarhus, Denmark
- AnoliscoreDistributes Anolis architectural LED lighting products including linear battens and wash/flood lights. Anolis is a global manufacturer of high-end architectural LED lighting designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic
- RoscocoreDistributes Rosco smoke & fog machines and haze machines. Rosco is a leading global manufacturer of creative solutions including LED fixtures, backdrops, colour filters, gobos, and fog effects
- Reel EFXcoreDistributes Reel EFX haze machines and fan & wind machines for lighting effects
- LiteccoreFeatured product - Litec QC30S General Purpose Truss from the S Series
- Look SolutionscoreDistributes Look Solutions low smoke & fog machines and effects equipment
- JEMcoreDistributes JEM brand fog and haze effects equipment
- Chroma-QcoreFeatured product - Chroma-Q Color Force 3 Range, professional LED lighting
- PIXELHUEcoreFeatured product - PIXELHUE P80 4K Presentation Switcher for video solutions
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A.C. Entertainment Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TMB: US-based entertainment technology distributor specializing in lighting, rigging, and electrical products for live events, film/TV, and architectural installations. Comparable in distribution-led business model serving touring and film/TV customers globally.
- Hawthorn: UK-based supplier of professional lighting, audio, video, and rigging equipment for live events, corporate, theatrical, and broadcast productions. Directly comparable as a UK mid-market entertainment equipment distributor serving overlapping customer verticals.
- CUK Audio: UK distributor of professional audio equipment for live sound, installation, and broadcast. Comparable in UK-based distribution of pro audio to dealers, rental companies, and integrators — overlapping with AC-ET's audio division but without AC-ET's broader lighting/rigging/video coverage.
- Entedi: UK-based distributor of professional broadcast, pro-AV, and live production equipment. Comparable in distribution of broadcast/professional A/V equipment to UK and European customers, though with greater emphasis on broadcast rather than touring/live events.
- White Light Ltd: UK entertainment technology supplier specializing in lighting, audio, and video equipment sales, rental, and installation for theatre, broadcast, and live events. Comparable in mid-market UK positioning, multi-vertical customer base, and integrated equipment supply model.
- Stage Electrics Group: UK-based provider of professional lighting, audio, and rigging equipment to entertainment, theatre, and live events. Directly comparable in product categories served (lighting/audio/rigging), UK footprint, and customer base across touring and theatre.
Broad incumbents
- Christie Lites: Global entertainment lighting equipment rental and sales company serving concert touring, television, theatre, and corporate events. Comparable in lighting distribution to touring/rental companies, though primarily a rental-house rather than a product distributor.
- Production Resource Group (PRG): Global leader in entertainment and event production solutions offering lighting, audio, video, and rigging services across film, broadcast, live events, and corporate. Comparable product categories and customer segments but at significantly larger global scale; serves as the dominant incumbent AC-ET competes against for large projects.
- Solotech: Global provider of entertainment technology, AVL, and rigging services and equipment for live events, concerts, and corporate productions. Comparable in lighting/audio/video/rigging distribution and service across entertainment, with substantially larger North American footprint.
- 4Wall Entertainment: US-headquartered entertainment lighting and video equipment rental, sales, and production services company serving concert touring, theatre, corporate events, and broadcast. Comparable in entertainment lighting/video distribution and rental support, with broader US footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
A.C. Entertainment Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceA.C. Entertainment Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A.C. Entertainment Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
A.C. Entertainment Technologies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
A.C. Entertainment Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A.C. Entertainment Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A.C. Entertainment Technologies
What does A.C. Entertainment Technologies do?
A.C. Entertainment Technologies distributes professional Lighting, Audio, Rigging, and Video equipment to the entertainment industry through four specialist divisions, supplying dealers, distributors, rental companies, and end users across Film/TV, Touring, Theatre, Corporate Events, Architectural, and Education sectors. The company also manufactures bespoke cabling and connectors under the Tourflex brand, operates in-house chain hoist manufacturing for the rigging division, and complements this with after-sales technical services and repair/maintenance support.
Is A.C. Entertainment Technologies a public or private company?
A.C. Entertainment Technologies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was A.C. Entertainment Technologies founded?
A.C. Entertainment Technologies was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is A.C. Entertainment Technologies based?
A.C. Entertainment Technologies is headquartered in Wycombe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does A.C. Entertainment Technologies make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Distribution is the primary driver. The others are custom Cabling (Tourflex), chain Hoist Manufacturing and after Sales Support.
Who are A.C. Entertainment Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TMB, Hawthorn, CUK Audio, Entedi, White Light Ltd and Stage Electrics Group. Broad incumbents are Christie Lites, Production Resource Group (PRG), Solotech and 4Wall Entertainment.
Does A.C. Entertainment Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for A.C. Entertainment Technologies.
What industry is A.C. Entertainment Technologies in?
A.C. Entertainment Technologies's product category is Professional Entertainment Equipment Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAFAF, Touring & Production Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video), with a secondary code of MPADAFAB, Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental. Its NAICS code is 334310 and its SIC code is 3663.