When planning an automation package, one of the first decisions producers face is whether to rent or purchase the required equipment. In fact this has become such a commonly faced conundrum that we thought we would detail the benefits. While both approaches can be valid, the realities of modern theatre mean that a rental-led approach is often the most flexible, cost effective and future proof option.
At Absolute Motion Control, our systems are intentionally designed, engineered and delivered with rental in mind. Below we outline why renting automation equipment is frequently the preferred choice.
Production runs are often limited or not fully defined at the outset. Purchasing automation equipment in these circumstances can tie up significant capital in systems that may only be used for a short period.
Renting allows productions to:
Avoid large upfront
capital expenditure
Align costs directly with
the run of the show
Scale the system as requirements evolve
Crucially, rental also allows productions to achieve a higher overall production value. By avoiding large capital purchases, the same budget can optionally be directed towards delivering more ambitious automation, greater scale, and more impressive creative effects, rather than being constrained by ownership costs. This enables creative teams to push further, safe in the knowledge that the technical infrastructure can scale to support the artistic intent.
Our product suite is designed from the ground up for rental deployment. A modular, distributed architecture allows a wide range of functionality to be included as standard, whether or not it is required on day one.
This means additional features such as an emergency stop, safe edge or an enable handle can be added easily as a production evolves, without redesigning core hardware.
By contrast, traditional sales based systems are often specified tightly to an initial brief. Any functionality not identified at the outset may require new hardware, redesign or compromise, and can introduce significant additional cost once manufacture or installation has begun. This is something we are keen to avoid as much as any client is, as unforeseen costs and ‘extras’ bills benefit no-one.
We continually refine our equipment based on real world use. Operating a rental fleet allows improvements from one production to become standard on the next.
When renting, productions benefit from:
Ongoing mechanical, electrical and software improvements
Features becoming standard rather than optional
Continually improved reliability and usability
Purchased systems are typically fixed at the point of delivery. Any subsequent improvements, upgrades or additional feature requests are often treated as new, chargeable deliverables, which can result in significant upgrade costs over the lifetime of the system.
Automation technology evolves rapidly. Renting ensures access to current-generation hardware and software, avoiding longterm ownership of equipment that may become outdated, unsupported or incompatible with modern workflows. In some cases, purchased systems can be effectively out of date the moment they are delivered, particularly where development cycles, changing standards or project timelines move faster than procurement and manufacture.
Creative intent often evolves during rehearsals and previews. Rental allows systems to grow in complexity – adding axes, features or re-purposing effects, without locking decisions too early or requiring re-engineering.
A rental approach provides:
Familiar hardware and software across productions
Reduced training
time for
operators
Preventative maintenance,
stocked spares and rapid
replacement if required
With purchased systems, these responsibilities typically fall to the owner.
At the end of a production, rental equipment simply returns to stock. There is no requirement to manage storage, resale or depreciation of specialist equipment with limited future use.
While purchasing automation equipment can be appropriate for long-term fixed installations, the demands of contemporary theatre – finite runs, touring schedules and evolving creative intent, mean that renting is often the most practical and adaptable solution.
Our rental model ensures productions benefit from continual development, proven reliability and full technical support, without compromising on capability or creative ambition.