ACT Entertainment Unveils Center for Technology Excellence to Consolidate Hardware Service and Distribution

On June 9 2026, ACT Entertainment announced a sweeping overhaul of its live‑event support model with the creation of a Center for Technology Excellence at its Cincinnati, Ohio headquarters. The new hub will centralize hardware service, logistics and product distribution for the company’s extensive portfolio, which includes tvONE, Green Hippo, Ayrton, MDG, Robert Juliat, MA Lighting, zactrack, Ultimate Support Systems, ProCo Sound and Visual Productions.

The decision follows a growing convergence of lighting, video, audio and show‑control technologies across live‑event, worship, corporate and performing‑arts venues. According to ACT, this integration has reshaped how customers use and maintain equipment, demanding a more streamlined support structure. The company will separate software and hardware assistance, positioning software and training nearer to customers while consolidating hardware repair and maintenance.

Bob Bonniol, ACT’s Chief Innovation Officer, explained that the shift reflects a broader expansion of live experience beyond traditional venues. "This shift is underway now and our role with partners like MA Lighting and Ayrton is not simply to distribute, it is to bridge our customers’ and our partners’ engineering teams and ensure the tools evolve in lockstep with what designers, operators and integrators actually need," Bonniol told the press.

Ben Saltzman, ACT’s CEO, emphasized that the new center will not disrupt existing service relationships. "Our customers are buying outcomes: shows, venues, experiences, not lighting, video, signal or power products," Saltzman said. "Where we manufacture, we’re committing to deeper investment. Where we distribute, we’re committing to partners whose roadmaps most closely align with where the market is going." The company confirmed that current service contacts, warranty processes and support channels will remain active throughout the transition.

Cincinnati has long hosted tvONE and Green Hippo, and consolidating service functions under one roof aims to accelerate turnaround times, deliver more integrated technical support and create a unified experience for customers using multiple product categories. A centralized parts inventory and streamlined distribution logistics are expected to boost efficiency for North American clients, most of whom are within a day’s shipping reach.

The Center for Technology Excellence will house dedicated repair operations, a centralized parts inventory and logistics coordination for ACT’s family of brands, including industry leaders such as MA Lighting and Ayrton. The strategy is to make the support relationship more efficient and beneficial while preserving the high reliability required for live‑event production.

Industry observers note that the consolidation aligns with a broader trend toward integrated systems in entertainment technology. By centralizing hardware service, ACT positions itself to respond more swiftly to the complex needs of modern productions.

ACT has assured that the transition will be seamless for existing customers and their clients. The company plans to communicate directly with customers at every stage of the rollout and has pledged to maintain the same level of support relied upon for critical projects.

As of the announcement, ACT has not disclosed a timeline for full operational readiness of the Center for Technology Excellence. The company will continue to support its brands during the transition period and will provide updates as the new hub becomes fully functional.

The Center for Technology Excellence represents ACT Entertainment’s response to the evolving demands of an increasingly integrated entertainment industry, aiming to enhance service delivery while preserving the reliability required by live‑event professionals.