All eyes were on ELLA at ISE 2020

When Integrated Systems Europe filled the halls of Amsterdam’s RAI for the final time before its move to Barcelona to 2021, it found itself pitted against two enormous challenges that may have derailed a lesser exhibition.

First, the global alarm regarding the spread of corona virus hung heavy over the show before it even opened, with a number of high profile exhibitors having to cancel in the face of travel restrictions. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, in the days immediately preceding the show, vicious storms blew across Europe, leaving flights grounded, travel plans in disarray and thousands of would-be visitors stranded.

It says a great deal about ISE that even when it was faced with these difficulties, the exhibition still managed to deliver crowded aisles. The official number of attendees may have dropped significantly from 2019’s 81,268 to 2020’s approximated 52,000, but for TWAUDiO the event delivered a constantly busy booth, with ELLA taking pride of place as the main attraction.

Situated in the heart of Hall 7 – the home of audio at ISE in Amsterdam – the TWAUDiO booth offered a warm welcome including strong coffee, TWAUDiO branded beer and a stylish sofa on which our guests could give their feet a rest whilst snapping a selfie with ELLA or VERA20.

Meanwhile, across town, TWAUDiO also took up residence at the Q-Factory – a sprawling space described as the biggest music-making centre in Europe. Boasting rehearsal rooms, no fewer than three live music venues, recording facilities and even its own hotel, the complex was home to full-throated, daily demonstrations of systems including ELLA, a B14 cardioid configuration, the much-loved PA-SYS-ONE in a special cardioid setup with B18 (see tech. details here) and VERA20 alongside cardioid S32 subwoofers.

In addition, the Q-Factory filled with TWAUDiO’s extended global family as it played host to the annual distributor dinner and awards.

By the end of ISE 2020, thoughts were already turning to the exhibition’s new home in Barcelona and the many changes that the move will bring. While no one can predict precisely what to expect from Integrated Systems Europe 2021, there’s no doubt that even in the most difficult of circumstances, Amsterdam’s RAI once again proved why it has made such a fine home for Europe’s largest AV trade show.

Thank you to everyone who visited us this year – we’ll see you in Barcelona next year!