What West Audio does

Hove West AS is a Norwegian stage-technology company headquartered in Stavanger that rents, sells and installs professional lighting, audio, audiovisual (AV) and stage equipment to event organizers, venues and institutions across Norway. The company operates one of the country's largest rental parks for stage-technical equipment, including Norway's largest mobile stage (Smartstage 180, 180m2 roof, 15-ton load capacity, four-hour setup), and holds authorized dealer and service-partner status for premium brands such as Yamaha, L-Acoustics, Martin Professional, Barco, Crestron and Sennheiser. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise sales split across a rental division (with or without technicians, design, project management and coordination) and a sales-and-installation division delivering turnkey contracts from small systems to total installations for theatres, concert halls, schools, churches, sports arenas, hotels and corporate venues.

The company traces its roots to 1983 through predecessor firms Hove Lysdesign AS and West Audio AS, which merged in 2015 along with subsidiaries AV System and Scene to form the current entity. In January 2021 it acquired a major stake in Videoforce Scandinavia AS and absorbed the Videoforce AS rental division, extending its capabilities into LED and large-screen displays. It also serves as the Norwegian importer of Audipack products (interpreter booths, projector lifts, screen mounts). The firm employs 44 people and additionally draws on a network of skilled freelancers for touring productions. Notable customers include Mablis Festival, Thon Hotel Opera, Viking FK (15+ year relationship at SR-Bank Arena), Rogaland Teater, Stavanger Konserthus, Universitetet i Stavanger, the Norwegian pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai, and touring acts such as Scorpions, Highasakite and Sivert Høyem.

Revenue is generated through four streams: equipment rental (recurring/project-based), equipment sales and turnkey installation (one-time), service and maintenance agreements (recurring), and Audipack product distribution. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; rental terms include structured cancellation policies. The company is privately held with no institutional investors disclosed, owns its Stavanger headquarters building (purchased 2016), and holds Miljøfyrtårn environmental certification (2021) plus an Energy Character A building rating.

Name

West Audio

Legal name

Hove West AS

Website

https://westaudio.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hove West AS is a Stavanger-headquartered Norwegian stage-technology firm that rents, sells and installs professional lighting, audio, AV and stage equipment — including Norway's largest mobile stage — for events, theatres, sports arenas, schools, churches and corporate venues nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stage Technical Production Services

NAICS

General Rental Centers (5323)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio-Visual (AV) Systems & Rentals (Audio, Video, Projection, LED Walls) (THAHAEAA), Backline & Musical Instrument Rentals (Concert/Performance Support) (THAHAEAL), Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Stage lighting rental
• Professional audio rental
• AV system installation
• Stage equipment rental
• Live event production

Headquarters

HQ city

Stavanger

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Rental of stage technology equipment including lighting, audio, AV, stage equipment, and stage textiles with or without technicians. The company offers one of Norway's largest rental parks for stage technical equipment. Rental includes experienced professionals for design, project management, and coordination.
2. Sales and Installation: Turnkey installations and pure equipment sales. Delivers everything from simple 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, exterior lighting, and indoor/outdoor large screens.
3. Service and Maintenance: Own service workshop with experienced service technicians performing necessary service or repairs on delivered equipment and solutions. Also offers service agreements on installations performed. Maintains comprehensive parts inventory.
4. Audipack Import/Distribution: Norwegian import and distribution of Audipack products including interpreter booths, projector lifts, and screen mounting solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hove West AS rents and installs professional stage technical equipment including lighting, audio, AV/video, and stage systems for events and permanent venues across Norway. The company delivers turnkey solutions—from mobile stages to complex AV installations—and offers design, project management, and on-site technical staff for concerts, theatres, corporate venues, sports arenas, schools, and houses of worship.

Product overview

Hove West AS is a stage equipment rental and installation company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The core offerings include: (1) rental services for lighting, audio, AV, stage equipment, camera/streaming, and backline gear; (2) sales and installation services for turnkey audiovisual systems; (3) Videoforce Scandinavia AS (acquired in 2021) for LED and large display screens; and (4) Audipack products including interpreter booths, projector lifts, and screen mounts (Hove West is the Norwegian importer). Additional services include design/consulting, service/maintenance, and 3D visualization for productions. The company represents numerous equipment brands including Yamaha, Martin Professional, L-Acoustics, Bose, Crestron, and serves venues such as theatres, concert halls, schools, churches, and sports arenas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Videoforce: LED and large screen display solutions, operated as part of Videoforce Scandinavia AS in which Hove West holds major ownership since January 2021.

Products and services

• Lighting Equipment Rental

Quantifiable outcome

• Smartstage 180 can be set up in 4 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Videoforce Scandinavia AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Major ownership stake acquired in January 2021. Videoforce has special expertise in LED and large screen technology. This extended Hove West's focus on large screens with additional competence and capacity in this technology.
• Veidekke i NorgeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company for installation projects. Veidekke commissioned Hove West for Kvam videregående skole og kulturhus installation.
• BFSP (Bransjeforeningen for scenetekninsk produksjon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for stage technical production. Hove West actively participates in BFSP which works to continuously improve working conditions, well-being and terms in the industry.
• Fagskolen OslominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement with Fagskolen Oslo for placement of students.
• FolkehalleneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor agreement with Folkehallene including Sørmarka Arena, Sandneshallen, Randaberg Arena, Forus Sportssenter and Sola Arena. Also provides employee benefits through fitness facilities.
• Viking FotballklubbcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor agreement and collaboration for over 15 years. Hove West helps Viking with annual large Kick-Off production and handles operation and maintenance of sound and AV systems at SR-bank Arena.
• Stavanger OilersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor agreement and collaboration since the team was in old Siddishallen. Installed equipment in DNB Arena and delivers equipment for opening shows before games and annual Kick-Off.
• GladmatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of the main sponsors of Gladmat festival for many years. Also provides technical services for Gladmat events.
• Rogaland TeaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor relationship. Hove West provides sound for most productions and has installed much of the equipment used, including new multichannel sound system for the main stage.
• Kirkens BymisjonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHove West supports Kirkens Bymisjon's diverse work through a sponsor agreement.
• Sandnes UlfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor agreement. Hove West delivered sound system to new Østerhus Arena and supports Sandnes Ulf.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NEP Group: NEP Group is a global broadcast and live event technology company providing video, audio, lighting and staging for sports, concerts, and corporate events. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Hove West for high-end Scandinavian live-event and arena contracts.
• Production Resource Group (PRG): PRG is the global leader in event production technology, providing lighting, audio, video, rigging and staging equipment for concerts, corporate events, and broadcast. It is a broad incumbent peer with substantially deeper inventory, broader geographic reach, and global touring capability than Hove West, while operating in the same event-tech category and serving overlapping end customers (international tours, festivals, corporate events).

Direct peers

• ABAKUS Lys og AV: ABAKUS is a Norwegian provider of lighting, sound and AV for events, concerts, TV productions and installations. It is the most direct Norwegian event-tech peer to Hove West, competing for the same local concert, festival and corporate clients.
• GAHRENS + BATTMANN: GAHRENS + BATTMANN is a German full-service event technology provider offering event equipment, AV and live production for corporate events, congresses and public events. It is a direct peer to Hove West in mid-sized European event-tech market.
• Sono Norge: Sono is a Norwegian AV and event technology company providing sound, lighting, video and stage equipment for concerts, conferences and corporate events. It competes with Hove West in the Norwegian live-event rental market.
• Bright Group Norway: Bright Group is a Norwegian event and experience company delivering event production, AV, lighting and stage technology for corporate events, festivals and brand activations. It directly competes with Hove West in the Norwegian live-event and installation market.
• Habegger: Habegger is a Swiss full-service event technology provider for trade fairs, congresses, corporate events and live entertainment, offering lighting, sound, video, rigging and staging. It is the closest mid-sized European direct peer to Hove West in terms of integrated rental-plus-installation model and end-customer mix.

Regional players

• Ljusdesign (Sweden): Ljusdesign is a Swedish lighting design and event technology company providing lighting design, rental, and installation for concerts, corporate events, theaters and permanent venues. It is a regional Scandinavian peer that operates in the same stage-tech category across the border in Sweden.
• Nordic Rentals / Nordic Lighting Rentals: Nordic Rentals provides professional lighting, sound and AV equipment rental for events across Scandinavia. It is a regional Scandinavian peer that competes for touring and festival business in the Nordics.

Others

• Chauvet Professional: Chauvet Professional is a major global manufacturer of professional lighting and event technology products. While not a direct competitor, Chauvet is a key supplier/ecosystem peer — both as a brand present in Hove West's inventory and as a competitor for premium touring lighting specification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hovewest
• Instagraminstagram.com/hovewest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-audio

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 West Audio