The celebration of Avolites’ 50th anniversary at Sound:Check Xpo was much more than an anniversary. With the launch of the new D3 Series, live demonstrations, and a strong commitment to training, the brand and Showco demonstrated how they envision the future of lighting control: more integrated, more intuitive, and with the professional community taking center stage.
More than a product launch, Avolites and ShowCo’s participation at Sound:Check Xpo reflected a strategy that combined innovation, education, and close engagement with users. The presentation of the new D3 Series, the celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary, and “The Lighting Designers’ Night” were the pillars of a proposal that sought to demonstrate not only where technology is heading, but also how a professional community is growing—one that finds in knowledge the driving force to face the challenges of the future.
In an industry where new tools and technologies emerge every year, it is easy to think that a trade show is simply the place to showcase products. However, some companies understand that true innovation also lies in the way they connect with the people who will ultimately use that technology.
That was the approach Avolites and Showco brought to Sound:Check Xpo, the leading event for the entertainment and audiovisual integration industry in Mexico. Over the course of three days, their booth welcomed lighting designers, programmers, rental companies, system integrators, and students interested in learning about the evolution of a brand celebrating five decades of history this year.
But the anniversary was much more than a commemoration. It also served to demonstrate how Avolites continues to evolve toward an ecosystem where lighting, video, and media control work together seamlessly. The perfect stage to demonstrate this evolution was the official launch of the new D3 Series in Mexico.
“For Avolites, reaching more places and increasingly larger venues has become more important than ever,” explained Emmanuel Blanquel, Avolites Brand Leader at Showco. “During the celebration, we wanted to share the company’s history, how it was founded, what its first products were, and even the origin of the name Avolites, which comes from the first ammeter developed by its founder.”
That historical journey was also reflected in the booth itself. One of the most photographed elements was a special edition D3 console finished in 24-karat gold, created specifically to commemorate the brand’s 50th anniversary and transformed into a symbol of a legacy that continues to write new chapters.
The presence of Ronald Carrington, Avolites Sales Director, and Francisco Yañez Valdivia, Area Manager for Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, added special value to this edition of Sound:Check Xpo. Both executives actively participated in the activities held at the booth as well as “The Lighting Designers’ Night,” accompanying ShowCo and reaffirming Avolites’ commitment to the Mexican market and to the growth of the professional lighting community throughout Latin America.
A platform designed to integrate lighting and video
The new D3 Series was Avolites’ major technological launch during Sound:Check Xpo and clearly demonstrated the direction the company intends to follow over the coming years.
Rather than simply adding another product to its portfolio, the brand introduced a platform conceived to respond to a reality that is becoming increasingly evident throughout the industry: the integration of lighting, video, and multimedia content within a unified control ecosystem.
The public’s response confirmed that this vision has found fertile ground in Mexico. According to Blanquel, many visitors highlighted not only the system’s power, but also its compact format and carefully crafted design.
“The power of the console impressed a lot of people, but so did its aesthetics. That was something visitors constantly pointed out.”
However, the interest went far beyond its technical specifications. For Blanquel, the Latin American market is undergoing a transformation in which more and more productions require a single operator to control both lighting and visual content.
“Today, many lighting designers also need to control video. With tools like Synergy and the integration with Prism and Ai, they can program both lighting scenes and video sequences from a single console. That greatly simplifies the workflow and allows them to have complete control of the entire show from one system.”
The D3 Series is not intended to add complexity to the operator’s work. On the contrary, its purpose is to remove barriers so designers can focus on creativity rather than technology.
The arrival of this platform also represents an opportunity to broaden access to professional technology. Its balance between performance and cost makes these tools available to a much wider market.
“It is a very compact console, extremely powerful, and very competitively priced. That opens new opportunities for many professionals and also allows us to support them as they continue to grow,” said Blanquel.
That same concept was reflected in the booth’s design. Rather than presenting a static display, Showco created a space where visitors could experience the Avolites ecosystem operating in real time. The setup combined Avolites and Robe equipment in a single demonstration to showcase how all the tools interact with one another.
“The idea was to tell the story of Avolites. To show that the philosophy on which the company was founded fifty years ago remains exactly the same: developing tools that allow programmers to dedicate their time to creating the right scenes, without technology becoming an obstacle.”
That statement probably summarizes the main message the brand conveyed during Sound:Check Xpo: after five decades of innovation, the future of lighting control is no longer simply about offering more power—it is about offering greater creative freedom.
Technology only comes to life when someone puts it into action
At a trade show, products can capture attention for a few seconds. The real challenge is getting a visitor to understand, in just a few minutes, why that technology can change the way they work.
That was the challenge embraced by Christian Flores, Head of Lighting at Showco and the person responsible for the live demonstrations conducted throughout the three days of Sound:Check Xpo.
Standing before him were everyone from students attending a specialized trade show for the first time to lighting designers with decades of experience and international tours under their belts.
“The diversity was enormous,” he recalled. “People who had never seen a professional lighting console came by, as well as operators who had known Avolites since the Pearl days.”
That contrast required every demonstration to be constantly adapted.
“When a large group gathers, everyone wants to see something different. Some ask about colors, others about gobos or programming. That’s why I prepare different scenes that allow me to quickly respond to every question.”
The demonstrations also helped break down some misconceptions. Many visitors still associated Avolites with consoles they had used more than a decade ago and were unaware of how much the platform had evolved.
“Many of them were surprised. They knew the brand, but they had no idea how much it had changed. After the demonstrations, they asked us to visit their companies so they could continue testing the equipment.”
One of the aspects that attracted the most attention was the simplicity of the user interface.
“It is a very visual and intuitive console. You don’t need to constantly type commands. We even let some visitors use it for a few minutes, and they were immediately able to create their first scenes,” explained Flores.
Building community: The strategy behind Avolites’ present
If there was one word that came up repeatedly during conversations with the Showco team, it wasn’t “technology.” Nor was it “console,” “software,” or “launch.” It was “knowledge.”
And that is probably the key to understanding why Avolites’ participation at Sound:Check Xpo was much more than the presentation of a new platform.
While many companies focus their efforts on showcasing technical specifications, Showco chose to complement that launch with a strategy that places education and professional development at the center of its relationship with users. The demonstrations held during the exhibition represent only one part of an ongoing effort that continues throughout the year through workshops, certification programs, AvoCamp, AvoWeek, and personalized demonstrations.
“We like staying in close contact with our customers by providing training and support to help them grow,” said Emmanuel Blanquel. “Many people still identify Avolites with consoles such as the Pearl 2000 or the Pearl 2010, but the reality is that the platform has evolved tremendously, especially with tools like Synergy and its complete video integration.”
Lorena Partida, Marketing Manager at ShowCo, agrees that this philosophy is part of the Mexican company’s identity.
“For us, knowledge is essential. We organize workshops throughout the year, from beginner to advanced levels, as well as official Avolites certification programs. Our goal is for users not only to become familiar with the products, but also to develop the skills necessary to fully unlock their potential.”
That vision also gave rise to one of the week’s most memorable moments: “The Lighting Designers’ Night.” Held during the exhibition, the gathering brought together lighting designers, operators, programmers, and system integrators in a space created to share experiences, strengthen relationships, and generate new opportunities for collaboration.
“The idea was to build a community,” summarized Partida. “We wanted to create an environment that was different from the trade show itself, where people could talk, get to know one another, and exchange experiences beyond simply discussing equipment.”
Blanquel added that networking is also part of Showco’s commitment to supporting the industry’s growth.
“When a professional truly understands how a tool works, they can also recognize its quality and take full advantage of everything it offers. Knowledge removes barriers, prevents mistakes, and helps people make better decisions in their projects.”
A future built on creativity
After walking through the booth during the three days of Sound:Check Xpo, the impression is that Avolites is no longer seeking to compete solely on the power of its consoles.
The new D3 Series demonstrates that the market increasingly demands platforms capable of integrating lighting and multimedia content within a single working environment. Synergy, Prism, and Ai are all part of a technological strategy designed to respond to that reality.
But the company’s true differentiator emerged elsewhere. Throughout every interview, it became clear that Showco understands that technological evolution only makes sense when it is accompanied by education, support, and a community prepared to take full advantage of these tools.
The celebration of Avolites’ 50th anniversary served as a reminder of the legacy of a brand that has helped write a significant part of the history of professional lighting control. The launch of the D3 Series demonstrated where that story is heading in the years to come.
And activities such as “The Lighting Designers’ Night,” together with ongoing training programs like AvoCamp, showed that the future of the industry does not depend solely on developing better equipment, but also on developing better professionals.
Perhaps that is the main conclusion left by Avolites and Showco’s presence at Sound:Check Xpo.
After five decades of innovation, the company continues to develop technology. But above all, it continues to build a community.
Because, in the end, a console can always program a show, but the ones who truly illuminate the future are the people who learn how to use it.
