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TV Mounting Options Continue To Expand

CEDIA Expo 2009 Atlanta – A wide variety of new
flat-panel mount systems and TV placement accessories are on display at CEDIA
Expo this week, as vendors try to appeal to consumers – with feature-rich
designs -and installers – with ever simpler mounting methods and hardware.

Here are
some highlight:

Premier Mounts (booth 1642) has
teamed up with U.K.-based Future Automations to offer its first line of
motorized TV and projector mounts, dubbed the Premier Power line.

“We’re
combining our industry expertise in mounting with Future Automation’s expertise
in motorized products to develop unique and specialized automated products for North America,” said Len Dozier, founder and president of
Premier Mounts. “In addition to universal product solutions, we’ll tap into
Future Automation’s capabilities to develop custom projector and flat-panel
mount solutions.”

According
to Dozier, the Premier Power Line, currently in development and scheduled for
launch in early 2010, will focus on addressing consumers’ most common
frustrations about electronic lifestyle installations: keeping technology out
of sight, yet accessible.

Focusing
on developing solutions for the Pro A/V, OEM and vertical market segments, such
as hospitality, retail and education, the first products in the Premier Power
line include two motorized projector mount systems (models PWR-MDP1 and
PWR-MDP3) that fit snug within an enclosed housing unit that can be installed
within any ceiling structure. The automated lifts include integrated universal
mounting points and are available in two sizes to accommodate projectors up to
110 pounds.

Features
include outputs for third-party A/V equipment and integrated cable management.

Remote-controlled
operation drops the projector up to 28 inches from the ceiling and also
controls tilting.

Also being
offered is the motorized remote-controlled universal Swingout Arm (PWR-3765S)
featuring 90 degrees of extension with what the company described as smooth
action and variable speed.

Chief Manufacturing (booth 1154)
is displaying its previously announced model-specific custom versions of the
company’s Fusion low-profile, universal TV mounts.

The custom fixed and tilt mounts ship with hardware kits that are
designed for specific TV models, eliminating wasteful excess hardware that is
otherwise thrown away. Chief is also making available kits that bundle the
Fusion mounts with a flat-panel power filter that provides noise filtering and
surge protection up to 1,890 joules.

Also on
display will be Chief’s Mini Elite projector mount (model RSMA), a miniature
version of the company’s popular RPA Elite projector mount but designed for the
smaller-form-factor projectors hitting the market recently.

The mini
mount features a newly designed universal projector interface bracket with lamp
and filter access, allowing faster installation and servicing of the projector,
the company said.

At almost half the size of the original Elite mount, the mini mount
includes MicroZone adjustability for precise registration, Centris fingertip
positioning and Q-Lock keyed locking. The Mini RPA Elite maintains registration
when disconnected, has integrated cable management and supports projectors up
to 25 pounds.

Chief is
also offering a Mini RPA (model RSA) projector mount, which is a miniature
version of the company’s RPA mount series. The Mini RPA includes a new
universal interface bracket and features independent roll, pitch and yaw as
well as quick projector connect/disconnect. This mount also supports projectors
up to 25 pounds.

On display at CEDIA from Draper (booth 1125) are the company’s first motorized lifts for flat panels.

Draper’s
Flat Screen Lift handles displays up to 65 inches, while adding less than 5
inches to the overall depth. The lift can be built into custom cabinetry to
allow the display to pop up into a home theater, conference room or boardroom.
The lift design does not restrict the width of the display or any accessories
that could be used with the display.

Three
sizes are available, with each able to open to a height roughly 2.5 times the
height of the display.

The lifts also feature a “creep” mode to prevent vibration during
operation, as well as power-surge line overload protection.

They will
retail for $3,325 to $3,825, depending on lift size and control options.

Draper will also show its range of Conceal/Reveal products designed to
hide projectors, projection screens and flat panels when not in use, as well as
its Fine Art for Flatscreens line of custom-woven tapestries to conceal
wall-mounted panels.

OmniMount (booth #2337) is
displaying an expansion of its environmentally-conscious OmniLite series. Two
cantilever mounts, the OL50C and OL125C, have been added to the the line which
also includes fixed and tilt models.

The OL50C
fits flat panels from 13 to 32 inches and support up to 50 pounds, while the
OL125C accomodates 23-inch to 45-inch panels up to 125 pounds. Both single-stud
mounts pan, swivel and tilt (-5 to +15 degrees) for maximum viewing flexibility
and feature a cable management solution and Lift n’ Lock technology to simplify
installations for installers.

The
OmniLite series reduce waste with condensed packaging and streamlined hardware
kits. Manuals and installation templates for each product are printed on the
inside of the box eliminating the need for unnecessary paper. The line also
utilizes 100 percent recyclable internal packaging with no plastic bags,
post-consumer recyclable outer box material and non-petroleum-based ink for all
package printing.

The line
is engineered specifically to reduce the amount of material by 32 percent while
increasing each mount’s overall weight capacity by 56 percent, in comparison to
current competitive models.

The OL50C
and OL125C have suggested retail prices of $59.95 and $149.95, respectively,
and are available now.

Omnimount
has also added a fresh spin to it Classic series, with the retooled New Classic
line of fixed, tilt and cantilever mounts. The line boasts improved
functionality and a new, clean look, according to Omnimount.

The New
Classic series consists of two fixed (NC80F, NC200F), two tilt (NC80T, NC200T)
and five cantilever (NC30C, NC80C, NC100C, NC125C, NC200C) mounts. The line
adds frictionless Delrin washers at every joint in four of the five cantilevers
for smoother movement. An improved locking system better secures the panel to
the mount and provides easier behind-the-panel access, according to the
company. The series also features low mounting profiles, as well as single
stud, four-point solid wall and double stud mounting, depending on the mount.

The
series’ fixed and tilt mounts offer a space-saving footprint that uses less
material and universal rails provide greater flat-panel compatibility. Rail
hooks are padded to avoid metal-on-metal contact and reduce vibrations. Enhancing
the new design, end caps cover locking hardware for a cleaner side view. The
NC80F and NC80T accommodate most flat panels from 23 to 42 inches and up to 80
pounds, while the NC200F and NC200T fits most flat panels from 37 to 63 inches
and up to 200 pounds.

The five
cantilever mounts feature a patent-pending four-bar tilt mechanism to ease
adjustment and extruded aluminum arms for maximum support. Streamlined arms are
designed to nest for a compact mounting profile. Each cantilever in the line
tilts, pans and swivels -5 degrees to 15 degrees for optimal viewing and glare
reduction.

The New
Classic line is available now. Pricing for the fixed and tilt mounts have not
yet been announced.

The NC30C,
NC80C, NC100C, NC125C and NC200C have suggested retail prices of $79.95, $179,
$199, $299 and $349, respectively.

Sanus Systems (booth 2458) is showing the most recent additions to the
company’s Vertical series of “on-wall furniture.”

Now
shipping are the VF2012 and VF2022 on-wall A/V stands designed to be used in
combination with the company’s TV wall mounts for a complete home theater
setup.

Vertical-series
stands simplify installation with quick-release mounting brackets that attach to
wall studs using included hardware.

Models
VF2012 and VF2022 feature ProSet technology, which offers a full inch of
post-installation height adjustment and leveling; cable management, and two
height-adjustable, tempered-glass shelves to fit any size component.

The VF2012
features two cable-management channels and two shelves, each which holds one
components up to 50 pounds on each shelf. The VF2022 features four
cable-management channels and two shelves that hold two components each up to
75 pounds per shelf.

Both
models are available in black. The VF2012 retails for $169, and the VF2022
retails for $299.

“A lot of people mount their TVs and speakers on the wall; now
with the Vertical-series products, components can match the low-profile
aesthetic of a wall-mounted TV,” said Dominic Grey, product development
manager. “The Vertical series is a practical solution that supplements
traditional furniture and complements any home decor.”

In addition, Sanus has expanded to include such new categories as
the Super Slim line of low-profile mounts, with clearances starting at 0.55
inches from the wall; the Sanus HDpro series, a hand-picked selection of
products designed specifically for custom-installation professionals; new A/V
equipment racks; and the Sanus Elements line of 1.3b HDMI cables.

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