Robe Lighting

Robe Lighting
Name	Robe Lighting
Type	Private
Industry	Entertainment lighting
Founded	1997
Founders	Josef Valovský
Headquarters	Czech Republic
Products	Moving lights, LED fixtures, automated luminaires, lighting controllers

Robe Lighting is a Czech manufacturer of professional stage lighting and automated theatrical lighting equipment known for moving heads and LED technology. The company supplies fixtures and control systems to touring productions, theatres, television studios, and themed entertainment projects across Europe, North America, and Asia. Robe collaborates with designers, rental houses, and production companies to integrate fixtures into concerts, festivals, broadcast events, and permanent installations.

History and Company Overview

Robe began in 1997 under founder Josef Valovský and expanded from a small workshop in the Czech Republic into an international supplier working with rental firms like PRG (production resource group), Solotech, and Company H Stage. The firm grew alongside developments at events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Glastonbury Festival, and the Eurovision Song Contest, supplying fixtures used by designers including Howard Jones (lighting designer), Adam Bassett, and Lucy Carter (lighting designer). Corporate milestones include opening regional offices to serve markets in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, and participating in trade shows such as Prolight + Sound, PLASA Show, and IBC (conference).

Product Lines and Technologies

Robe’s portfolio includes automated moving heads, LED wash lights, profile fixtures, strobes, and effect lights featuring proprietary optics and electronics used in productions by companies like Cirque du Soleil, Live Nation, and AEG Presents. Signature series have employed LED engines, color-mixing systems, and motorized zooms inspired by advances from manufacturers such as ETC (company), Martin Professional, and Clay Paky. Control compatibility spans protocols and consoles from MA Lighting, ETC EOS, Avolites, and ChamSys, enabling integration into complex rigs for television broadcasts like BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) productions and streaming events from platforms operated by Netflix and Amazon Studios.

Market Presence and Applications

Robe products are used by rental houses, touring productions, theatres, television studios, and themed attractions, with deployments on major tours by artists managed by Live Nation, AEG Presents, and agencies like CAA (company). Applications include arena concerts at venues such as Madison Square Garden, festivals like Coachella, broadcast studios for networks including BBC, ITV, and NBC, and fixed installations in cultural institutions like the Royal Opera House and entertainment complexes developed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Robe competes in markets alongside firms such as Philips Lighting, Signify (company), and Osram.

Notable Projects and Collaborations

Notable deployments include concert tours for global artists produced by companies like Live Nation, television events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, and residency shows in partnership with production designers linked to Cirque du Soleil and Broadway productions. The company has been specified on projects involving architectural lighting for venues associated with organizations like the Metropolitan Opera and festival stages at Reading Festival and Primavera Sound. Collaborations extend to technical suppliers including PRG, White Light, and GDS (Global Distribution Systems) for logistics on large-scale tours.

Manufacturing, R&D, and Safety Standards

Robe’s manufacturing operations in the Czech Republic emphasize in-house assembly, optical testing, and firmware development, coordinating supply chains that include component suppliers tied to industrial clusters in Germany and China. Research and development efforts reference standards and testing used by laboratories associated with UL (Underwriters Laboratories), TÜV, and CE marking processes, while technical teams engage with industry consortia such as PLASA and testing bodies connected to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Safety features and compliance are designed to meet requirements from authorities like ATEX for hazardous environments and broadcasting standards applied by networks such as BBC.

Awards and Industry Recognition

Robe has received recognition at trade shows and industry awards including honors presented at PLASA Awards, Prolight + Sound Innovation Awards, and accolades from publications such as Lighting&Sound America and Lighting Magazine. The company’s products have been shortlisted at industry ceremonies attended by representatives from Live Design International, Theatrecrafts, and organizations that host events like BVE (Broadcast Video Expo).

Category:Manufacturing companies of the Czech Republic Category:Lighting manufacturers