Forerunner Technologies Inc has been appointed the exclusive distributor of Australian lighting control manufacturer LSC Lighting Systems in the Philippines. Forerunner Technologies will be responsible for the importation, distribution network and technical support of LSC's lighting control desks, DMX network products and the complete range of portable and installation dimming systems.

Based in Manila, Forerunner Technologies has significant experience in lighting sales, installation and production. CEO Mario Benipayo has been looking to represent a supplier of lighting control systems that covered not only desks but dimmers and associated control items. In LSC he saw a reliable supplier of 25 years. 

“We chose LSC mainly because of the company’s business philosophy,” explained Mario. “When I met Ian Pope at the PALA 2005 Expo he reminded me of this, explaining that LSC made products that you need not necessarily a product that everybody wishes to have. He told me that LSC don’t want to be building the biggest boards but the best boards for the money – and he’s correct. This is what is needed in the Philippine market. We have sold LSC products since 2000 but now we have entered a new and exciting phase; I see a more active supplier just as they see a more active partner in us.”

Mario states that he particularly favours LSC products for their ease of use and the logical layout of the faders and knobs. Mario points out that the easier a product is to use, the more time you have to be creative.

“More time creating the things that can be done, not spending time figuring things out,” he added. “Having a line of controllers and dimmers targeted not only to the pro user but also to the architectural market gives a distributor a bigger market to sell to.”

Mario believes that LSC products will bridge the gap between entry-level products and expensive products. 

”The stepping stone if you will,” he said. “That is if you would want to move higher; the maXim is capable of doing most types of shows in the local scene. The Philippine market has more mid-sized shows where products like the maXim fit very well. Basically you get all the features that you’d like at the right price and, with such a good price, you can also rent it out at a good rate.”

When marketing a product there are four important factors: price, product quality, durability and acceptability. 

“The first three factors are definitely there whilst we are currently building acceptability,” Mario said. “We already have a handful of LSC owners and users but with more work, and strong support from LSC, we intend to create this atmosphere sooner than others may expect.”

Photo: Ian Pope, LSC’s Business Development Manager and Mario Benipayo, CEO of Forerunner Technologies, sign their lives away