Calrec Audio Expands Bexel Distribution Relationship

Calrec Audio is entering the U.S. and international rental market for broadcast audio equipment through an expansion of its longtime distribution partnership with Bexel.

“From the beginning, our partnership with Bexel has gone from strength to strength — so Bexel was the obvious choice when we decided to enter the rental market,” says Dave Letson, regional director of sales, Calrec Audio. “Bexel is one of the strongest and most successful broadcast rental companies, and this new chapter in our partnership will be an extremely positive step toward both building our relationship with Bexel and providing equipment to our existing and new customers.”

Calrec’s relationship with Bexel began in 2003, when Bexel’s Audio Specialties Group (ASG) became exclusive distributor of Calrec products in the western U.S. — an arrangement that expanded to include the southeastern and south-central U.S. in 2007. As Calrec’s business has grown through the successful partnership, the company has added two sales managers dedicated to working with Bexel; likewise, Bexel now employs two Calrec-specific business development managers and many factory-trained engineers providing pre- and post-sales support.

Calrec’s initial rental partnership with Bexel will include the company’s Artemis audio mixing consoles and Hydra2 audio routing systems. Bexel’s strategy for rental of Calrec equipment consists of two components: support of existing Calrec console owners who need to temporarily expand their systems for production of large events and expansion of Bexel’s Hercules flypack system that can include up to two Artemis mixing consoles.

“Calrec has an excellent reputation in the market and a large install base, and our successful sales and distribution partnership has significantly benefited both companies,” says Jim Richardson, director of sales at Bexel. “With the new rental arrangement, we’ll be able to build on this success and provide complete rental packages including top-flight consoles with the Dolby 5.1 and audio routing requirements of our international customers.”

For more information about Bexel’s Calrec rental program, contact Helen Carr, Director, Pro Audio Sales (East) at (800) 542-3332 or John Root, Calrec Sales Executive (West) at (818) 565-4314.