What was the inspiration behind the creation of the Topaz Series?
MP: “We wanted to bring a new, cost-effective product to the market. Design-wise, we drew inspiration from the integrated locks and sturdiness of the Ruby series, so we tasked our R&D team with creating an entry-level, rental product for mid-sized to larger rental companies, while maintaining the high-end quality associated with our product portfolio.”
How has the Topaz Series been developed to serve the live touring and rental market?
JvA: “With Topaz, there are many benefits for end users. Starting with the setup of the screen, we have corner protectors that make for quick and easy setup and helping to reduce damage during load-in and-out. Topaz uses modules made from magnesium – which results in a lightweight, rigid module with good heath dissipation. Better than the plastic modules used by most comparable products. Also, the Topaz curved LED panels use the patented OneLock curving system. Having integrated locks without the need for additional components when setting up the physical part of the screen allows you to implement the panel, engage the locks, and that’s it. From a hanging point of view, as with many of our products, there are magnets in the top and bottom of the panels, which can hold the weight of a panel before it’s locked so you have both hands free to engage the locking mechanisms. In terms of servicing, panels of 0.5m by 0.5m consist of four different modules, so if the LED or drivers are damaged, you can easily remove one of those modules from either the front or back and sent it to one of our repair facilities.
“From an added servicing point of view, the power box, in addition to containing the power supply and connectors, also contains the hub board and receiver card, so if there is any technical fault, it is very easy to access using two pins to unlock the box, and replace and amend if required, which helps in a busy touring scenario when you have minimal downtime to troubleshoot any technical problems. If you are also tight for space on the backside, everything can be serviced from the front. With the combination of our Curve and Cube panels, customers are afforded a lot of creative options and the ability to interchange panels to fulfil modern requirements for exhibitions and live entertainment projects.”
How important is it to develop a cost-effective and malleable LED series?
MP: “It is very important, especially for rental companies that invest in multiple solutions from the same line, so you don’t have any colour discrepancies. This also provides them with the freedom to mix and match to create them a flexible inventory to use for different applications. They all coexist and work together, regardless of their orientation, for multi-shape setup, providing a wealth of options with the curving lock providing an impeccable finish, which is a guarantee we provide when you invest in ROE Visual.”
What has the response been like since introducing the Topaz Series?
MP: “The response has been very positive. We introduced Topaz to the German market in November 2023, but we officially began shipping post-ISE in February 2024. We exhibited the entire range at ISE and Prolight + Sound, from the tilted cube to the straight and curved wall, from which we received a lot of favourable comments. Testament to the ease-of-use of the Topaz series is what happened to our crew at ISE. Our trucks were delayed due to labour strikes in France, so our inventory arrived midday on the Sunday morning before ISE, yet we were still able to fulfil the design brief in mere hours. Technicians really like our products due to their ease of use.”
