Singapore a Sweet Spot

Singapore – Grass Valley has opened its new Asia Pacific headquarters in UE Square, Singapore. The premises include a regional support competency centre, as well as engineering and training facilities, which aim to serve customers more comprehensively and boost business development in this fast growing market.

Andrew Sedek, Senior Vice President of Grass Valley Asia, said at the new office’s grand opening, “Asia has surpassed the EMEA” and that Singapore was chosen because the country is “very central in the region”.

At the event, the video technology solutions company also introduced the Karrera Video Production Center switcher to production professionals in the area. The product was first launched at IBC this year.

Karrera is a fully digital 10-bit 4:2:2 video switcher with up to 96 inputs and 48 outputs. It features HD/SD SDI signal support with (optional) up/down/cross converters on selected inputs and outputs, with six keyers in every full M/E. It also offers a unique 1 M/E soft panel and keyboard option for use in a secondary production suite or standalone applications.

The switchboard market is one that Sedek believes is Grass Valley’s “sweet spot” – the most pivotal sector. He said switchers occupy the lucrative middle ground between high-end industry products and bottom-end prosumer equipments.