The UK’s largest broadcast hire company, Procam, has acquired Leicester-based lens service and manufacturing facility True Lens Services. The move will allow Procam to deliver British lens engineering innovation direct to its client base, the company claims.
Procam has experienced growth since its management buy-out in May 2013 and with the added boost of the acquisition, revenues have doubled from £5 million to £10 million. With plans for further acquisitions and services, Procam predicts its revenues to hit £20 million by 2017.
With this acquisition, Procam hopes to address the demand from UK production companies to create content with the higher production values often associated with films. The 35mm lenses that have always been used in film production are now increasingly being used in TV to create this same look. The cinematic style of shooting is now commonplace within factual productions, documentaries and constructed reality series, including Made in Chelsea (pictured).
John Brennan, group CEO of Procam said, “True Lens Services demonstrates the height of British craftsmanship. Through today’s acquisition and further investment, we will accelerate the introduction of pioneering lens technology in the UK. We know that lenses can make or break a production and the acquisition will allow us to reduce the time it takes for these products to come to market. This is another step we are taking to improve client service and make sure that the whole experience is expertly managed, from booking to broadcast.”
True Lens Services prides itself on lens innovation, and this year created a bespoke digital conversion of the classic 1950’s Cooke Speed Panchro lens for the Oscar-tipped Mr Turner (2014). Its lens engineering capabilities can also be seen in The Bourne Series (2002-2012) and the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006) which both featured the custom designed Morpheus lens.
