Exploring AV Innovation with Panasonic and Epson

As part of a select group of just five UK AV professionals, our Director of Systems Integration UK, Graeme Bunyan, was given the opportunity to attend two exclusive trips hosted by Panasonic and Epson, each offering an insider look at their latest innovations.

With opportunities to explore new and advanced display technologies, as well as discovering the potential of immersive experiences, both trips highlighted how these industry leaders are shaping the future of visual solutions and creating technologies that will benefit clients and projects alike. 

In October, Graeme travelled to Munich to visit the Panasonic Innovation Campus. Panasonic’s commitment to advancing visual technology has always been clear, yet this visit went beyond their well-known innovations, uncovering additional areas of growth and transformation. One major highlight was learning more about the strategic capital partnership between Panasonic Connect and ORIX Corporation.

This partnership led to the creation of a new company based on Panasonic’s Media Entertainment Business Division (MEBD), with ORIX holding 80% of the shares and Panasonic Connect retaining 20%. This move signifies a major step forward in ensuring sustainable growth within the visual display and projector business while leveraging combined expertise and investments for market expansion.

Panasonic also showcased future plans for a range of display and camera/vision systems, offering a glimpse into the direction they are headed. For AV consultants and integrators in attendance, the trip provided not only a deeper technical understanding but also a valuable networking opportunity to discuss shared industry challenges and insights.

The Innovation Campus in Munich offered more than technical presentations; it featured live demonstrations of Panasonic’s most promising technologies. These hands-on experiences allowed visitors to fully explore the potential of Panasonic’s newest tools and envision how they could be applied to real-world scenarios.

Networking was another highlight of the visit, with AV consultants and integrators exchanging valuable insights and experiences, fostering collaboration and innovation across the industry.

Following the Panasonic event, Graeme also attended an overnight trip to Hamburg with Epson, this time to explore the world of immersive technology. Epson brought attendees into the heart of immersive digital artistry, introducing some of the best-known projects in the field. 

Presentations included works from TeamLab, Culturespaces, and KunstKraftwerk, offering an exclusive look into how they use Epson’s projection technology to create captivating, interactive installations. Attendees were also introduced to Port de Lumières, a new immersive gallery in Hamburg set to open soon, which combines digital art and experiential design.  

Epson’s trip was not just limited to displays; it included perspectives from academic experts and artists working at the intersection of AI, multimedia, and digital manipulation. 

One professor specialsing in multimedia technology gave a compelling presentation on the role of AI in art and education, while another artist demonstrated how they blend dance and AI for digitally enhanced performances. These insights broadened our understanding of how immersive technologies can create powerful, educational, and transformative experiences. 

Sustainability.

Across both trips, there was an ongoing dialogue around the role of innovation in advancing AV solutions, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. Panasonic and Epson are actively integrating sustainable practices into their development roadmaps, reflecting a growing trend within the industry. As clients increasingly seek eco-friendly options, this commitment to sustainability will be crucial for us in driving future projects.