Sennheiser's roots go back much further, to the immediate post-war period in Germany. In 1945 Dr. Fritz Sennheiser founded 'Laboratorium Wennebostel' (Lab W) to manufacture valve voltmeters. The following year the company started manufacturing microphones and, by 1950, was producing pre-amps and mixer amps.
Sennheiser UK joins the story of its parent company in 1990, three years later playing a key role in the launch of the SKM 5000 radio microphone, a wireless classic, while the 1998 launch of the evolution series microphones literally revolutionised the MI market. The wireless evolution range made its debut the following year and had an equally significant impact.
The 21st century has seen Sennheiser UK heavily involved in some of the most innovative projects for the professional sound industry. A tie-in with Crystalroc has seen vocalists able to be more flamboyant than ever before, wielding fully 'blinged-up' microphones that have the quality and ruggedness of the Sennheiser SKM5200 handheld. Meanwhile, products like the G2 and G3 wireless systems ensure that artists have the ultimate in audio quality and flexibility.
In addition, Sennheiser UK distributes a range of other leading brands in the UK, including Neumann, DAS, Konig & Meyer, APart, Rane, K-Array, NetCIRA and Rycote.
The company offers close, personal technical support to all its users and is at the forefront of lobbying Ofcom and the UK government over the move of live entertainment radio frequencies to Channel 38.
This is an issue that is having - and will continue to have - a major effect on the entertainment industry, not just in the UK but for all productions that visit here as well, so Sennheiser UK is determined to keep the issue high on the agenda.
Bringing the public and students closer to the audio industry is another key facet of Sennheiser UK's work. This is being achieved by a wide-ranging sponsorship of the British Music Experience, located close to London's O2 Arena. Running Industry Insider Workshops and contributing to other educational events, the company has also produced the SKM 935 G2 bespoke British Music Experience microphone.
In October, Sennheiser UK is releasing a special video, which celebrates its 20th anniversary and shows that, while fashions and the technical aspects of production have changed, the company continues to develop products that keep it at the leading edge of the industry. Those with fond memories of the Nineties and Noughties will certainly enjoy it - although there's no guarantee that you won't wince at some of the 'cool' fashions on show.
As well as celebrating the past, Sennheiser UK is also looking to the future. 2010 also marks the year in which the industry lost a true pioneer in Dr Fritz Sennheiser himself, who died in January at the age of 98. So the company is very much looking forward and keen to demonstrate how it will be continuing the legacy of its illustrious founder.
This is much in evidence at the PLASA 2010 trade show where Sennheiser UK's stand not only features a display of the company's products from the past two decades, but the very latest developments are also on show .
(Jim Evans)
