Although InfoComm 2012 will be without one of its perennial major exhibitors after Extron’s decision to focus on its own training and pull out of InfoComm and Integrated Systems Europe, officials remain confident about the future of its flagship shows.

Extron shocked many in the industry on Tuesday with the news, especially the InfoComm announcement. Extron had quite a presence at InfoComm with its large booth, flashy displays and popular annual party. Extron exhibited at InfoComm since 1986 and at ISE since 1999.

“Our association has produced trade shows continuously since the 1940s and we have seen many exhibitors come and go. We wish Extron the best of luck with their new business strategy,” Randal Lemke, executive director and CEO of InfoComm International, said in a statement.

Extron will remain a member of InfoComm International and exhibit at some of its other shows, Lemke said.

“Over the years Extron has added its imprint to our shows around the world, including our Integrated Systems events, which we co-own with CEDIA,” Lemke said. “The space reserved by Extron will quickly be taken by other exhibitors. In addition, InfoComm 2012 will be our biggest show ever held in the United States.” The 2011 edition attracted a record 33,001 people to Orlando.

“We have enjoyed and appreciated what InfoComm-USA and ISE have become,” said Extron president Andrew Edwards. “However, we have concluded that the time and energy put into exhibiting at these short three-day events can better serve our customers by being repurposed toward activities that provide direct benefit and support to our customers.”

Extron will open new training facilities in Dallas, New York, and Toronto, Edwards said. These new training centers will add to the 16 training and product demonstration facilities Extron has in Anaheim, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; Washington, D.C., Amersfoort, Singapore, Tokyo, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Bangalore.

The new training facilities, and others planned for the future, “are designed and located to make it easier for A/V professionals to participate in Extron training close to home and in their native language,” Edwards said.

Extron has also recently completed construction on two new, expanded headquarters locations in Anaheim and Raleigh, which will be the west and east coast hubs for the Extron Institute technology training and product certification courses in the U.S., Edwards said.

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D. Craig MacCormack

Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years experience covering local and national news and sports as well as architecture and engineering. He joined Commercial Integrator in January 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @CraigMacCormack.

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