Radamec bullish on future of virtual reality studios

TWST: Some of your technology is being installed in the United Nations Building in New York, and then also you've signed an agreement with the German Bundestag. Could you comment on these deals, namely, how they came about and also the way your technology is developing?

Mr. Moore: Both of these orders you have mentioned, the Reichstag in Germany and the United Nations, are for Broadcast TV parliamentary robotic TV camera systems, which is one of the core business within the Radamec Broadcast Systems Company, and they've been providing parliamentary Broadcast TV systems for over ten years, initially the UK House of Commons and the Lords, the Senate and House of Representatives, the European parliaments and parliaments throughout the world. RBS is often the automatic first choice in this particular line of business as shown by the recent German and UN orders.

TWST: You said the robotics systems are one of the core parts of Radamec Group. What other core parts are there? Could you comment on them?

Mr. Moore: Radamec Broadcast Systems' principle core business is robotic camera control systems for Broadcast TV studios used particularly for news, current affairs, talk shows, sports programs and similar programme formats. RBS's third business segment is the relatively new virtual reality studio systems. The company also supplies virtual reality sensor heads to third-party computer graphic 3-D vendors.

TWST: How do the markets look for each of these? Are they somewhat steady? Are they growing at this point?

Mr. Moore: Virtual reality studio systems are set to grow. It is new technology that started around three years ago, and it's already a significant addition to the company's business. We definitely see it as a growth area.

TWST: With regards to the electrical equipment sector as a whole, how do you see Radamec Group fitting into the sector?

Mr. Moore: Radamec Broadcast Systems is one of the two principal businesses within the group. The other company is Radamec Defence Systems. They provide electro optical systems for surveillance, tracking, and gunfire control systems for both naval and land-based systems. Recently, we've moved into the aerospace market with a 3 axis airborne platform for an advanced radar system. Though collaborations with Raytheon and Matra-BAE we're moving into lightweight missile launcher systems, which we see as a positive growth area. It may be more accurate to view Radamec as a specialist niche business in both media and defence rather than part of the collective electrical equipment sector.

TWST: The markets that would be served by what you're talking about are international markets, yes? What does it take for Radamec Group to succeed in dealing with international markets?

Mr. Moore: For broadcast TV systems and defence, probably about 70% of their turnover is export and the routes to market are through a very effective network of agencies throughout the world, supported by our own sales executives. We have a subsidiary in the States that supports RBS customers in North America.

TWST: Would North America be your largest market internationally right now or?

Mr. Moore: For RBS It's a very important market and it's one that the Broadcast TV company intends to expand by increasing our presence in the market to that which we have in other countries.

TWST: Namely being?

Mr. Moore: Internationally, outside North America and the States, we have the significant market share; in North America we have around 40% and growing.

TWST: Could you comment on any of the new technological developments that you're working on and new spaces that you are looking at to take the company?

Mr. Moore: New developments within the defence company are currently focused on airborne platforms and missile systems. They're both very new products and new markets for us which have great potential. The Broadcast systems R+D is concentrated on virtual reality studio products and systems. Potential growth includes webcasting through the provision of low-cost robotics and virtual reality studio systems.