Mounts are the best complement to video equipment such as screens or video projectors. This article will explore the realities of these elements and the main evolutions of recent times.
By: Luz García
In many aspects of life accessories are as important as the primary elements for which they were created. A good motorcycle requires that whoever drives it has a suitable helmet and, why not, a jacket that offers safety and distinction. In the case of an elegant women's dress, earrings and shoes play a fundamental role. In an imposing hotel, details such as the fabrics of the curtains and beds are as important as the furniture and amenities of the rooms.
The same could be said of the mount industry, in which these accessories have evolved in tandem with the developments of different display manufacturers. Regarding the screens, these teams are part of the day to day in the hotel, corporate, residential industry and, in short, anywhere you want to transmit fresh content to entertain, inform and train. Hence, the frames are part of that daily life as a complementary and often co-protagonist element.
Today's world
This text was made thanks to the help of Elva Cárdenas, from the marketing department of Peerless Mexico; Sara Schiffler, chief marketing manager, and Eduardo Viteri, international sales director, proMounts.
Regarding the importance of the frames, Eduardo Viteri said that "they have become an important complement because they give added value to the very concept and purpose of flat screens and video projectors; that is, being able to suspend or hang an LCD, LED or plasma on a wall or ceiling."
As was said at the beginning, these elements have evolved along with the screens and have been adapting to the challenges offered by the industry. As commented by Elva Cárdenas, these structures are now put at a minimum distance from the wall, which makes the installation practically invisible, he also mentioned a series of mobile devices to move the screens from one place to another, such as in a convention center, for example. In this regard, Sara Schiffler mentioned the flat panel "carts" that "allow companies to maximize the use of their televisions, in addition to the fact that they can adjust the height and offer one or several accessory shelves."
Nowadays users are increasingly demanding, so Eduardo Viteri believes that for a mount to be successful in the market, it must necessarily have quality and control certifications, and include aesthetic features that combine with the modern lines of flat screen TVs and other audio and video components. He also added that "the presentation of the support, the box and details such as having instructions in several languages also help to have a positive impact."
The Latin American moment
On the reality of our region and the growth possibilities of the frame industry, the guests have been clear: it is a growing market, which is very good if you take into account the latest economic vicissitudes and the continuous transition of CRT (cathode ray tube) equipment for flat screens.
Elva Cárdenas, from the marketing department of Peerless Mexico, said that "Latin America is a developing market as media technology grows as demand grows. The current market demand is focused on LCDs, but early next year we will start seeing LED screens, which are much thinner and lighter and will need another type of support."
For her part, Sara Schiffler, chief marketing manager, said that in the region flat panel screens have had a high impact on hotel projects, hence the future of frames is very promising. "Hotels and other facilities seek to remain competitive by offering a greater experience to their guests. Adding flat panels to meeting rooms and guest rooms is one of the ways they're doing it. In addition, the lobby and other public spaces are becoming key areas to welcome guests with dynamic content using flat screens."
Eduardo Viteri said that despite the recent economic crisis, the outlook is encouraging and the sale of screens continues to rise. He also said that niche markets have emerged that have balanced the deficit left by low sales in more traditional markets, but he was emphatic in pointing out a stumbling block that is on the horizon: generic products.
"Generic products have emerged that affect the work of companies like ProMounts and its big-name products. Generic lines have a very negative impact on the market because their prices do not follow the discipline and structure established. They are also products that do not have any certificate of quality, guarantee and support from the manufacturer, "said Viteri.
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Box
What's new
When talking to the guests about the main novelties of their companies, this is what we found:
ProMounts: Its products cover 95% of solutions for flat panel displays and projectors. At present they have developed ultra-thin brackets that adapt to the characteristics of the thinnest screens: the Super Flat models have only 0.35'' between the wall and the back of the TV. Likewise, this company has introduced technologies such as Self-centering systems (emblem of its articulated supports) and rail mount (very popular support for LCD's and LED'S).
Chief Manufacturing: This company offers the Fusion mount system with inclination or fixed that solves the main installation problems. These frames offer a complete line of modular accessories, connector kit for alignment of multiple screens, among others. The Thinstall series offers tilt and fixed models for ultralight display models that are fixed just 0.39'' or 0.75'' from the wall. Also boxes inside the wall with the PAC515 and PAC521P models.
Peerless: Among its novelties, this company highlights the SUT645P models, a wall mount for ultra-thin screens from 32'' to 46'' with an inclination of +17.5o / -5o and a maximum load of 45 Kg; the SUT660 model is also a wall mount for ultra-thin screens, but from 37'' to 60'' inches, it has the same inclination and maximum load as the previous one. The SUA745PU model is an articulated wall arm that has extension of 1.1'' – 23.8'' (2.8cm – 60cm), inclination of +15o/-5o and rotation of 90o.
