Hove West
Hove West AS is a privately held Stavanger-based stage-technology firm offering equipment rental, turnkey installation, design, and service for lighting, audio, AV, and rigging across Norwegian events, theaters, churches, schools, sports venues, and exhibitions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersStavanger, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hove West does
Hove West AS is a privately held Norwegian stage-technology company headquartered in Stavanger, formed through the 2015 merger of Hove Lysdesign AS and West Audio AS (operating since 1983). The company provides integrated lighting, audio, audiovisual, and rigging solutions across four service lines: equipment rental (one of Norway's largest rental parks), turnkey sales and installation, consulting and design (including 3D production visualization), and post-installation service and maintenance via an in-house workshop. Its proprietary mobile staging offering — anchored by the Smartstage 180, billed as Norway's largest mobile stage with a 180 m2 roof carrying up to 15 tons of equipment and a four-hour setup time — extends its addressable market into large-format touring and festival production.
The company serves a diversified Norwegian customer base across six primary segments: event producers and concert promoters (Mablis Festival, Scorpions, Sivert Høyem), theaters and performing arts venues (Stavanger Konserthus, Rogaland Teater), churches and religious venues, schools and universities (Kvam videregående skole, Universitetet i Stavanger), sports venues and hotels (Viking FK, Thon Hotel Opera), and exhibitions/trade shows, with selective international work such as the Folketinget Danmark visitor center. It operates as an authorized dealer for premier global equipment brands (Martin, Yamaha, L-Acoustics, Bose, Sennheiser, Shure, DPA, Panasonic, Samsung, Barco, Crestron, ETC, Nexo, Riedel, Absen LED, Unilumin LED) and is the Norwegian importer of Audipack products. A majority stake acquired in Videoforce Scandinavia AS in January 2021 brought LED and large-screen capabilities in-house.
The business model is primarily direct sales-led: project-based custom quotes for both rental (with or without technicians) and turnkey installation projects, supplemented by managed service agreements. GTM is enterprise field sales targeting Norwegian institutional buyers and event organizers; marketing is largely organic (website, Facebook, Instagram) plus a deep local sponsorship network (Viking FK, Stavanger Oilers, Sandnes Ulf, Rogaland Teater, Gladmat, Folkehallene). The company employs 44 staff plus skilled freelancers, owns its Stavanger headquarters and warehouse (purchased 2016), and has been Miljøfyrtårn (Eco-Lighthouse) certified since 2021.
Hove West firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hove West
- Legal name
- Hove West AS
- Website
- https://hovewest.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hove West AS is a privately held Stavanger-based stage-technology firm offering equipment rental, turnkey installation, design, and service for lighting, audio, AV, and rigging across Norwegian events, theaters, churches, schools, sports venues, and exhibitions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hove West industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stage Technical Equipment Services
- NAICS
- Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tent & Canopy Rentals (HSACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Hove West is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stavanger
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hove West business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Rental of stage technical equipment including lighting, sound, AV systems, stage equipment, and stage textiles. Provides experienced technicians for both local and national assignments. Equipment rental includes various categories: lighting (controllers, moving lights, static lamps), audio (speakers, mixers, microphones, wireless systems), AV (LED screens, projectors, presentation displays), stage equipment (mobile stages, scaffolding), camera and streaming, and backline.
- Sales and Installation: Sales department performs both turnkey installations and pure equipment sales. Delivers everything from standalone small systems to complex total contracts. Solutions for stages, meeting rooms, auditoriums, video conferencing, exhibitions, museums, schools, churches, boats, restaurants, shopping centers, sports halls/arenas, and exterior lighting including indoor and outdoor large screens.
- Consulting and Design Services: Professional consulting and design services for stage technical solutions. Staff with up to 35 years of experience. Specializes in complete, cross-disciplinary solutions including seamless audiovisual solutions, lighting systems, sound systems, stage technique, and textiles.
- Service and Maintenance: In-house service workshop with experienced service technicians performing necessary service or repairs on equipment and solutions delivered. Offers service agreements on installations performed. Maintains comprehensive parts inventory and good agreements with suppliers for quick repairs.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hove West product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hove West AS provides equipment rental and turnkey installation of stage technical equipment — lighting, sound, audiovisual systems, mobile stages, and rigging — for events, concerts, exhibitions, and permanent venues. Services span design, project management, technical execution, and after-sales service across Norway from its Stavanger headquarters.
Product overview
Hove West AS operates as a stage technology company offering integrated rental and installation services. The core offering consists of Utleie (rental services) providing lighting, sound, AV, and stage equipment with optional technicians, and Salg og installasjon (sales and installation) delivering turnkey solutions for venues. The company expanded into LED displays through its acquired Videoforce Scandinavia AS brand (2021). Supporting products include mobile stages (Smartstage 180, Milos MR2, FreeStage M), camera/streaming services via LiveU and Aviwest, backline equipment, and Audipack accessories (projector lifts, interpreter booths) for which Hove West serves as Norwegian importer. All offerings are delivered by 44 employees with specialized expertise in design, project management, and technical execution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Videoforce Scandinavia AS: LED and large screen specialists - Hove West became a major owner in January 2021.
Products and services
- Utleie (Equipment Rental Services)
Quantifiable outcome
- Smartstage 180 can be set up in four hours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hove West
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Hove West technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hove West partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Videoforce Scandinavia AScoreIn January 2021, Hove West became a major owner in Videoforce Scandinavia AS, which specializes in LED and large screen displays. This expanded their rental offerings and capabilities in LED screens and AV technology. Anders Krogh remains as managing director of Videoforce.
- Veidekke NorgeminorConstruction company partner for installation projects. Hove West worked with Veidekke on Kvam videregående skole project as general contractor.
- Viking FotballminorSponsor relationship for over 15 years. Hove West helps Viking with annual Kick-Off production events and handles operation and maintenance of sound and AV systems at SR-bank Arena.
- Stavanger OilersminorSponsor relationship and collaboration since the team was based in old Siddishallen. Hove West has installed equipment in DNB Arena and provides equipment for opening shows before games and annual Kick-Off events.
- Rogaland TeaterminorSponsor relationship with the local theater. Hove West delivers audio for many productions and has installed multichannel sound system for the main stage. Natural fit as Hove West is often involved in productions at the venue.
- GladmatminorOne of the main sponsors of Gladmat food festival for many years. Also provides technical services for festival events.
- FolkehalleneminorSponsor of Folkehallene including Sørmarka Arena, Sandneshallen, Randaberg Arena, Forus Sportssenter, and Sola Arena. Provides employee benefits including climbing, skating, and curling activities.
- Kirkens BymisjonminorHove West supports Kirkens Bymisjon's diverse work through a sponsor agreement.
- Sandnes UlfminorSponsor relationship. Hove West delivered sound system to Østerhus Arena and supports Sandnes Ulf as they work toward becoming a top team.
- Fagskolen OslominorEducational partnership for placement of students from Fagskolen Oslo. Part of commitment to professional education and training.
- BFSP (Bransjeforeningen for scenetekninsk produksjon)minorActive participant in the trade association for stage technical production, working to continuously improve working conditions, well-being, and terms in the industry.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hove West competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stageco: Belgian specialist in staging, rigging, and roof structures for festivals, concerts, and events. Directly comparable on the staging/structures side of Hove West's business, including large-format mobile stages analogous to Smartstage 180.
- Akaso: Norwegian distributor and integrator of professional AV, lighting, and stage equipment, serving installation customers in venues, schools, and corporate settings. Overlaps directly with Hove West's permanent installation business.
- ABAKO Produksjon: Norwegian AV and event production company providing sound, lighting, and stage solutions for concerts, conferences, and corporate events. Comparable Norwegian competitor with similar full-service rental and crew offerings.
- Litecom: Danish AV and event technology company offering AV rental, staging, lighting, and technical production for corporate events and live shows. Comparable Nordic competitor with overlapping target customers and similar Nordic event-tech stack.
- Bright Group: Norwegian provider of sound, lighting, and AV equipment rental and production for events, concerts, and corporate clients. The closest domestic Norwegian peer, competing for the same festival, touring, and corporate event budgets.
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Global leader in entertainment production services, providing lighting, audio, video, and rigging for live events, concerts, and tours. Directly comparable core offering (rental + crew + production design), though at much larger global scale.
- Solotech: Canadian-headquartered entertainment technology company offering AV, lighting, audio, and rigging rentals and installations for live events, corporate clients, and venues. Closely aligned business model spanning rental, sales, installation, and integration.
Broad incumbents
- NEP Group: Large-scale broadcast and live event production services provider with extensive AV, lighting, and streaming capabilities. Overlaps with Hove West on event/AV services and streaming but operates at broader scale with broadcast and TV production as core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hove West social profiles
Digital presenceHove West financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hove West leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Hove West subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Hove West funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hove West 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 Hove West
What does Hove West do?
Hove West AS provides equipment rental and turnkey installation of stage technical equipment — lighting, sound, audiovisual systems, mobile stages, and rigging — for events, concerts, exhibitions, and permanent venues. Services span design, project management, technical execution, and after-sales service across Norway from its Stavanger headquarters.
Is Hove West a public or private company?
Hove West is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hove West founded?
Hove West was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hove West based?
Hove West is headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Hove West make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are sales and Installation, consulting and Design Services and service and Maintenance.
Who are Hove West's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stageco, Akaso, ABAKO Produksjon, Litecom, Bright Group, PRG (Production Resource Group) and Solotech. NEP Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Hove West have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hove West.
What industry is Hove West in?
Hove West's product category is Stage Technical Equipment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAA, Staging & Rigging Services, with a secondary code of HSACAFAA, Tent & Canopy Rentals. Its NAICS code is 532284 and its SIC code is 7350.