Barco and AED Strengthen Partnership to Support Rental and Staging Customers in the UK and Ireland

Barco and AED Strengthen Partnership to Support Rental and Staging Customers in the UK and Ireland

(IN BRIEF) Barco has appointed AED UK as a distributor for its professional projection portfolio in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The agreement expands AED’s role beyond rental services and gives customers in the region local access to Barco projection solutions, sales support, technical expertise and improved stock availability. The partnership builds on Barco and AED’s existing collaboration in mainland Europe and follows AED’s earlier expansion of its fleet with 32 Barco QDX projectors. AED UK will also provide customers with access to its large dry-hire projection fleet, supporting event professionals, rental companies and production partners working on live events, immersive experiences and large-scale productions. Barco said the agreement strengthens its partner-first approach in the rental and staging market, while AED UK said the partnership will give customers faster access to Barco’s professional projection technology backed by local service and expertise.

(PRESS RELEASE) KORTRIJK, 13-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Barco has appointed AED UK as a distributor for its professional projection portfolio in the United Kingdom and Ireland, expanding the long-standing relationship between the two companies.

The agreement broadens AED’s role beyond rental services and gives customers in the region local access to Barco’s projection solutions, sales support and technical expertise.

Under the new arrangement, AED UK will act as a local sales and distribution partner for Barco’s projection portfolio. The company will provide increased stock availability, technical support and customer service capabilities across the UK and Ireland.

Customers will also gain access to AED’s dry-hire projection fleet, one of the largest in Europe. This gives event professionals, rental companies and production partners additional flexibility for rental, staging and live production projects of varying scale.

The agreement builds on Barco and AED’s existing collaboration in mainland Europe, where the companies have worked together to support customers with visual solutions for live events, immersive experiences and large-scale productions.

Earlier this relationship was strengthened further when AED expanded its projection fleet with 32 Barco QDX projectors. The QDX platform is Barco’s next-generation 3-chip DLP projection system, designed for high brightness, strong image quality and long-term reliability in demanding rental environments.

Domien De Witte, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Barco, said AED’s expertise, operating capabilities and broad fleet make it a strong partner for bringing Barco projection technology closer to UK customers.

“We’re excited to expand that relationship by welcoming AED UK as an official distributor,” said De Witte, adding that the agreement supports Barco’s partner-first approach in the rental and staging ecosystem.

The partnership comes as the live events and rental markets continue to require dependable projection technology, responsive service and flexible access to equipment. By combining Barco’s laser projection platforms with AED’s logistics expertise and extensive inventory, customers in the UK and Ireland are expected to benefit from shorter lead times, stronger local support and easier access to premium visual technology.

Matthew Hart, Managing Director of AED UK, said the agreement reflects the trust and shared ambition between AED and Barco.

“We are proud to become a distributor of Barco’s professional projection solutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland,” said Hart. “This agreement reflects the deep trust and shared ambition between AED and Barco, ensuring customers in the UK and Ireland have faster access to industry-leading technology backed by strong local expertise and service.”

About Barco

Barco, headquartered in Kortrijk (Belgium), is a global technology company leading in visualization, networking, and collaboration solutions. Its innovative technologies drive advancements in the healthcare, enterprise, and entertainment markets. At the heart of Barco’s success are over 3,000 dedicated ‘visioneers’, each passionately contributing to driving change through technology.

Listed on Euronext (BAR), Reuters (BARBt.BR), and Bloomberg (BAR BB), Barco realized sales of 964 million euro in 2025. For further insights, please visit www.barco.com or connect on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

About AED

AED group is the trusted partner for AV professionals across Europe and the Middle East. With headquarters in Belgium and divisions in the Netherlands, Germany, France, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates, we are the only Total Solution Provider in the AV industry. We offer a wide range of AV business tools within the AED Toolbox, designed to help rental companies, retailers, integrators, and installers grow their business.

AED group caters to the needs of professional AV users by providing a range of light, sound, video, and rigging equipment (including truss and hoists), along with accessories, available for both rental and purchase (new and second-hand).

Additionally, the group offers corresponding repair services and leasing options. AED group is also home to four in-house brands: AED Audio, Luxibel, NEXT Truss, and StageLIFT.

To meet the diverse requirements of its clients, AED group maintains an impressive inventory of high-quality equipment. AED group aims to be a complete, neutral, and reliable partner and one-stop-shop for every AV professional.

Media Contact:

Domien De Witte
Vice President Sales and Marketing
+32476845430
domien.dewitte@barco.com

SOURCE: Barco