Panasonic Connect Europe, a leading audiovisual technology provider, puts sustainability at the heart of its technology, from using recycled materials within projectors and packaging to increased power efficiency and its use of Intel SDM (Smart Display Module) in AV equipment.
The Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) industry constantly evolves, seeking ways to deliver immersive experiences while lowering costs and environmental impact. As visitor expectations rise, entertainment venues, staging companies, and touring productions face pressure to provide sustainable, cost-effective visual experiences.
Investing in energy-efficient technology is crucial for a lower carbon footprint, reduced transportation costs, and streamlined operations without sacrificing performance.
Choosing the right materials
Panasonic has a long history of delivering state-of-the-art projection systems to the LBE market. Panasonic projectors play a crucial role in global projects, with its wide range of projectors providing stunning visuals and brightness of up to 50,000 lumens.
Panasonic’s work at the UK’s largest permanent immersive experience in the UK, Frameless (pictured, top), is a great example, with Panasonic projection technology used to illuminate the works of Dalí, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Rembrandt. Over 3,000 kilometres away in Selçuk, Turkey, Panasonic DLP projectors bring the ancient city of Ephesus to life at the Ephesus Experience Museum.
Smart design drives these innovations. Projectors are now 40% more compact, using fewer materials while preserving brightness, performance, and installation flexibility.
The latest projectors also use recycled resins wherever possible. For example, the projector bodies of the VMZ82 Series have up to 59% recycled resins, while the RQ7 Series contains 73% and the VMZ7ST Series has 56%.
This commitment to sustainability reduces packaging and emissions during transportation, benefiting rental and staging companies involved in touring productions or frequent events.
Reducing energy consumption, costs and operational disruption
Minimising energy consumption and reducing operational costs are key priorities for entertainment venues and event producers. Panasonic has made significant advancements in this area, with the latest VMZ82 Series, for example, delivering 25% greater energy efficiency than previous LCD projectors and the VMZ7ST Series increasing power efficiency by nearly 53%.
Additional savings arise from features like Auto Power On, which minimises energy use by activating projection only when a signal is detected. This significantly reduces energy consumption in venues with multiple AV installations.
Lifetime maintenance costs are crucial for venues and rental businesses, where equipment longevity matters. Many Panasonic projectors operate maintenance-free for up to 20,000 hours, or 10 years at 40 hours per week. This results in lower costs, minimal downtime, and reduced need for replacement parts.
Built-in future-proofing
While sustainability is front of mind, the rapidly evolving LBE industry also requires technology that can adapt to new demands. Panasonic’s Intel Smart Display Module (SDM)-enabled technology provides a future-proofed, high-performance AV solution for immersive attractions, live events, and digital installations.
Using the SDM slot available in its latest projectors and displays, Panasonic offers:
- Easily upgradeable: modular design allows rental and staging businesses to upgrade processing power or add new capabilities without replacing entire displays, ensuring longer equipment lifespans.
- Seamless integration: reduces the need for additional devices such as external media players, cutting down on equipment bulk, transportation costs, and setup time.
- Reduced cabling : streamlines connectivity for faster, more reliable installations in live event settings.
- Flexible use : supports applications such as immersive experiences, projection mapping, interactive exhibits and live event streaming.
- IT-friendly management : enables remote monitoring and updates, reducing the need for on-site maintenance and ensuring equipment is always event-ready.
- Energy efficiency : optimised power consumption helps venues, production teams and rental houses meet sustainability goals while lowering operating costs.
Examples of how Panasonic is using this technology to innovate in LBE can be seen in its use with Hive and its media server on a board to create a Distributed Architecture powered by Intel SDM to sustainably stage the BBC Earth Experience.
A similar approach brought the Sistine Chapel to life through an innovative immersive experience in Poland.
Beyond projectors and displays, Panasonic’s ecosystem of short- and ultra-short throw lenses, mounts and function boards is designed to work across multiple product generations. This means that when upgrading to newer models, existing accessories remain compatible, reducing waste and lowering capital investment costs.
This sustainable approach extends product lifecycles, maximises return on investment and minimises total cost of ownership.
