ESE
ESE European Show Equipment is a Hamburg-based private rental and sale provider of audiovisual and event technology — LED walls, displays, conference systems, and lighting — serving corporate event planners, trade show organizers, and prestige European venues with on-site installation and technical support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ESE does
ESE European Show Equipment (legal entity: ESE Service and Trade GmbH) is a privately held, Hamburg-based provider of audiovisual and event technology rentals and sales, founded around 2009–2010. The company rents LED video walls (indoor, outdoor, curved, and mobile trailer configurations), LCD/LED displays from 32" to 98", touchscreens, professional projectors, conference and simultaneous interpretation systems, lighting, audio, and supporting IT hardware (laptops, iPads, kiosks), with equipment sourced from manufacturers including Absen, Unilumin, LEDitGO, Samsung, NEC, Panasonic, and Barco. Its core technical differentiators include video mapping, softedge projection, and custom LED configurations for trade shows, corporate conferences, and outdoor events.
ESE serves enterprise B2B customers across European exhibition venues, with primary segments being trade show and exhibition organizers, corporate event planners, and prestige venue operators. Pricing is daily rental-based (e.g., €36–€48/day for high-end indoor LED walls, inclusive of VAT over 7-day windows) with quote-based pricing for custom configurations; a Dry Hire option allows self-operated equipment rental, while Full Service bundles planning, delivery, installation, and on-site technical staff. The company holds official technical partner status at Palais des Festivals de Cannes and is officially referenced by organizers of MIPIM, MIPTV, MIDEM, MIPCOM, and MAPIC, with additional long-running event credentials including WEF Davos, Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Yacht Show, and Expo Astana 2017.
The company operates through a Hamburg headquarters and additional offices in Schwalbach/Frankfurt (Germany), Cannes (ESE Azur SAS subsidiary), and Dubai (via partnership with Laser Kinetics Middle East), supported by a multi-language website in German, English, French, Spanish, and Russian. It is founder-led by CEO Jens Rau with Technical Director Matjaz Pusnik, has disclosed no external capital, and shows no AI/ML, software platform, or recurring SaaS components — revenue is generated entirely from physical equipment rental, sales, and event-day service delivery.
ESE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ESE
- Legal name
- ESE Service and Trade GmbH
- Website
- https://european-show-equipment.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ESE European Show Equipment is a Hamburg-based private rental and sale provider of audiovisual and event technology — LED walls, displays, conference systems, and lighting — serving corporate event planners, trade show organizers, and prestige European venues with on-site installation and technical support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ESE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Technology Rental & Services
- NAICS
- Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals (Sound, Projection, Screens) (HSACAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAGAAAG), Event Production & Technical Services (AV, Lighting, Staging) (BPAFAGAB)
Keywords
Where ESE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
ESE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Rental of audiovisual equipment including LED walls, displays, conference technology, lighting, sound systems, and projectors. Equipment available for daily or multi-day rental periods with flexible terms including Dry Hire option where clients self-operate equipment.
- Full Service Rental: Complete event solutions including planning, consultation, equipment rental, delivery, installation, configuration, and on-site technical support throughout events.
- Equipment Sales: Wholesale and foreign trade of professional show equipment with installation support for permanent installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Absen Aries AX 1.2MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Absen Aries AX 1.5MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LEDitGO 496 v2 2.0MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Absen PL Pro V2 2.5MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unilumin Utile 2.6MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unilumin Utile 3.9MM Indoor LED Wall |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unilumin URMIII 03 MK2 Pro 3.9MM Outdoor LED Wall |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ESE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ESE rents and sells audiovisual event technology equipment — primarily LED walls (indoor, outdoor, curved), LCD/LED displays, touchscreens, conference technology, projectors, lighting, and translation systems — together with full-service delivery including installation, video mapping, on-site technical support, and project management for trade shows, congresses, conferences, and corporate events across Europe and the UAE.
Product overview
ESE European Show Equipment is a full-range event technology rental provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of audiovisual equipment and technical services across Europe. The core offering centers on LED walls (indoor, outdoor, curved, and mobile trailer configurations) as well as LCD displays and touchscreens for visual presentations. Supporting equipment includes conference systems with simultaneous translation, projectors with video mapping capabilities, professional lighting, audio systems, and computing devices. The company provides end-to-end service encompassing consultation, planning, delivery, installation, and on-site technical support. Equipment is sourced from manufacturers including Absen, Unilumin, LEDitGO, LightKing, Gloshine, Samsung, Panasonic, NEC, and Barco. Services are delivered through offices in Hamburg (headquarters), Frankfurt, Cannes, Spain, and Dubai.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Indoor LED Walls
Companies that use ESE
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ESE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ESE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Palais des Festivals de CannesflagshipOfficial technical partner of Palais des Festivals de Cannes. ESE Azur serves as one of the primary event technology providers for events held at the venue, handling technical equipment for client booths and conferences.
- MIPIM (Marché International des Professionnels de l'Immobilier)coreOfficially referenced by the MIPIM organizer as a preferred technical service provider for this major international real estate exhibition held annually in Cannes.
- MIPTV (Marché International des Programmes de Télévision)coreOfficially referenced by the MIPTV organizer as a preferred technical service provider for this international television programming market held in Cannes.
- MIDEM (Marché International de l'Edition Musicale)coreOfficially referenced by the MIDEM organizer as a preferred technical service provider for this international music industry market.
- MIPCOM (Marché International des Programmes de Communication)coreOfficially referenced by the MIPCOM organizer as a preferred technical service provider for this international communications programming market in Cannes.
- MAPIC (Marché International Professionnel de l'Immobilier de Commerce)coreOfficially referenced by the MAPIC organizer as a preferred technical service provider for this international retail real estate exhibition.
- Laser Kinetics Middle EastminorPartnership arrangement for Middle East operations based in Dubai, enabling ESE to serve clients in the UAE and wider Middle East region.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ESE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Production Resource Group (PRG): The largest global provider of event technology, AV rental, and production services. Direct competitor in the European exhibition and corporate event rental market with substantially greater scale and inventory.
- Gahrens + Battermann: German full-service event technology provider offering video, audio, lighting, and conference systems for trade fairs and corporate events. Similar product mix and DACH customer overlap.
- Lang AG: German specialist in LED and large-format display rental for trade shows, congresses, and live events. Overlaps directly with ESE's LED wall and outdoor LED trailer offerings.
- GES (Global Experience Specialists): International provider of exhibition and event services including AV rental, signage, and on-site support. Direct comparable for ESE's trade show customer segment in Europe and the Middle East.
- Neumann&Müller: German event technology company delivering AV, lighting, and rigging for trade shows, corporate events, and concerts. Comparable mid-sized European competitor with similar full-service positioning.
- Habegger: Swiss-headquartered event technology and staging company with operations across DACH region. Closely comparable in product portfolio (LED, sound, lighting) and customer base of trade shows and corporate events.
Broad incumbents
- Nüssli Group: Swiss-headquartered international provider of temporary event structures, grandstands, and event infrastructure. Comparable in serving the European trade show and exhibition ecosystem, with overlapping LED and staging offerings.
- GL events: Major French-listed event services group covering venue management, exhibition construction, and event technology. ESE's Cannes subsidiary competes in the same French exhibition ecosystem with broader capabilities.
Emerging players
- BPS GmbH (Brand Picture Solutions): Smaller German event technology specialist focused on LED walls and video technology for trade shows and corporate events. Niche overlap with ESE's LED rental portfolio, primarily in the DACH market.
- MCI Group: Swiss-headquartered event and association management group. ESE frequently supplies AV technology to MCI-managed corporate events and congresses, making it a recurring customer as well as an adjacent service provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ESE social profiles
Digital presenceESE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ESE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ESE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ESE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ESE 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 ESE
What does ESE do?
ESE rents and sells audiovisual event technology equipment — primarily LED walls (indoor, outdoor, curved), LCD/LED displays, touchscreens, conference technology, projectors, lighting, and translation systems — together with full-service delivery including installation, video mapping, on-site technical support, and project management for trade shows, congresses, conferences, and corporate events across Europe and the UAE.
Is ESE a public or private company?
ESE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ESE founded?
ESE was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ESE based?
ESE is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ESE make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are full Service Rental and equipment Sales.
Who are ESE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Production Resource Group (PRG), Gahrens + Battermann, Lang AG, GES (Global Experience Specialists), Neumann&Müller and Habegger. Broad incumbents are Nüssli Group and GL events. Emerging players are BPS GmbH (Brand Picture Solutions) and MCI Group.
Does ESE have an API?
No public API is recorded for ESE.
What industry is ESE in?
ESE's product category is Event Technology Rental & Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAFAF, Audio-Visual Equipment Rentals (Sound, Projection, Screens), with a secondary code of MPAGAAAG, Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video). Its NAICS code is 541850 and its SIC code is 7350.