A review of PALME India 2007, held in Mumbai.

Although only in its second year, PALME INDIA was a busy show with about 100 exhibitors and an estimated 3000 visitors. During our visit it was very crowded, borne out by the wait we had on many stands to speak to someone, often the owner of the company. We had some interesting discussions and learned a lot about the professional lighting industry in this fast growing part of the world. Fast growing is certainly true as during our time in Mumbai, Osram announced an investment of about US$ 28 million to set up a lighting equipment plant in Haryana thereby doubling its capacity over the next three years.

Here are some notes on our various meetings which I hope give you an impression of the show. If you would like more details of anything just ask.

This was a very large and attractive stand, with a range of Apogee EVO moving heads and D.J. scanners on display together with their various brands of speakers and microphones. With a widespread dealer network across India, AP is well placed to take advantage of the increasing wealth of the market.

Occupying probably the biggest stand at the show, this well established company has been in operation now for over five decades and has installed equipment in over 1000 auditoriums in India and neighbouring countries. With agencies for DTS, SGM, Studio Due and Philips Lighting, and with equipment from all of these on show they seem well placed for continued growth. It was good to meet an old friend, Davinder Wadhwa, who took the time to explain their philosophy in the market and plans for the future. It sounds like an exciting future for MSS.

A very interesting display of solid state lasers on this stand. This Chinese company manufactures a wide range including modulated and Q-switched at different wavelengths including UV, visible and infrared versions.

This Malaysian company manufactures and had on display a wide range of intelligent follow spots, moving heads and colour changing LED spots. An impressive colour changing LED wall added the finishing touch to a very impressive stand.

Although part of the Modern Stage Services stand, it was interesting to meet the new Philips Special Lighting team who plan expansion of their operations throughout the country. With sales of discharge lamps (Single Ended and Double Ended) growing very fast, it was good to see that this international company is making a real effort and deserves its reward. Thanks to Deepak, Navin and Mohanesh for helping me to understand how the Indian market works.

Based in Norway, this company designs and manufactures high performance projectors for professional and business applications. With quality the highest priority in all aspects of its business it showed in the resolution of the professional projectors on display; especially the F30, which had remarkable picture quality and colour saturation, a performance unheard of in single chip DLP projectors.

This German company is a leading innovator and manufacturer of smoke machines. Although it was difficult to see the stand (when they were demonstrating!) the equipment on display was extremely high quality from battery operated through silent operation to one with an integrated wind machine.

A really nice display of Xenon lamps which are now used by many of the multiplex and single screen cinemas in India. With the enormous popularity of the cinema, this is probably the most important market in the world for these lamps types. This Japanese lamp company also offers a complete range of stage/studio lamps here through its local agent Rivera International.

Part of the Yifeng Lighting stand, this lamp manufacturer displayed an impressive array of halogen and discharge lamps for stage and studio use. With production in China, their main business is in discharge lamps with a capacity of 12,000 - 15,000 per month. Tracy Liu, who is based at their head office in Taiwan, was on hand to explain how research and development, quality and affordable prices were the driving forces of their business.

This Chinese company manufactures disco/stage lighting equipment and showed their range to good effect on a large and bright stand. With ISO 9001 certification they are becoming globally recognised for the quality of their products and also the service given to customers.