Features
L-Acoustics Acquires Precision Sheet Metal Manufacturer HGP In France
L-Acoustics – Coachella Main Stage in Indio, California, USA
L-Acoustics provided the system
French professional audio company L-Acoustics has acquired HGP, a manufacturer of precision sheet metal based in Amboise, France, and its sister entity API, specialized in powder coating.
L-Acoustics has always placed great importance on research and development. This robust R&D focus, combined with ongoing efforts to optimize operations, guided this acquisition, which broadens L-Acoustic’s scope of industrial know-how to encompass precision sheet metal manufacturing, which is used in rigging and internal loudspeaker components.
HGP currently employs close to 50 people, who join L-Acoustic’s worldwide staff of 400.
L-Acoustics – Here’s to a successful future
L-Acoustics MD Hervé Guillaume (left) and Bertrand Bounoure, president and commercial director of HGP and API
“This operation represents a new and extremely positive step in augmenting our R&D and production capabilities,” Hervé Guillaume, managing director of L-Acoustics explained.
He added, “this alliance will allow us to improve our technical skill set and market intelligence regarding precision sheet metal, a vital technology in our professional audio solutions. HGP’s expertise and savoir-faire are highly complementary to our own, enabling us to better comprehend the constraints and specificities of the trade at every stage, from conception to production.”
For Bertrand Bounoure, president and commercial director of HGP, “this constitutes a natural extension of a decade-long, successful supplier-client relationship between two growing companies with shared interests and objectives. We are delighted to pool our resources and abilities.”
Jérôme Dolou, purchasing director, L-Acoustics, added: “Our interactions with HGP as a key supplier are win-win: quality, dependability, logistical excellence, and above all, a highly nimble approach to rapid prototyping. All this brings serenity and comfort in the planning and production process. We’re thrilled to reinforce this dynamic collaboration.”
L-Acoustics has a track record of acquiring companies that were formerly component suppliers. In 2007, L-Acoustics acquired Simea in eastern France, a carpentry and cabinetry manufacturer specialized in loudspeaker enclosures. Since that acquisition, Simea’s staff has quadrupled and revenues increased seven-fold.
In 2016, L-Acoustics acquired CAMCO, a German electronics firm with expertise in amplification and digital signal processing.
“From the very beginning of L-Acoustics, excellence in products and services, as well as long term investment in human and technical resources, have been key tenets of our strategy,” Guillaume continued.
“Fiscal 2017 was exceptional with 24 percent year over year revenue growth. Similarly, 2018 is wrapping up in a climate of optimism with remarkable interest and uptake surrounding our latest audio innovation: L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound.
“World-renowned artists including Ennio Morricone, alt-J, Childish Gambino, Christine and the Queens and other early adopters have already achieved great results, with more to be announced. This clear momentum will allow L-Acoustics to further consolidate our global leadership.”