HTS Group expands Olympic level sports facilities expertise into Australia

February 26, 2019

Leading New Zealand sports facilities specialist the HTS Group, which has been providing New Zealand with Olympic standard equipment and technology for decades, is expanding to provide the same quality and support benefits to Australian sports centres, clubs, councils, schools and other sporting facilities.

Based in Auckland and Wellington, HTS Group provides Olympic level sports facilities equipment for a huge range of sports and recreational activities, including aquatic centres (pictured) and sports ranging from athletics and cycling to boxing, basketball and water polo.

HTS Group have been providing Swiss Timing, Olympic standard, high accuracy equipment and technology to professional sporting competitions, right through to training grounds and local facilities.

HTS Group Ltd Director, Colin Robson advised “HTS Group and Swiss Timing have a long-term relationship based on quality products, high levels of accuracy and outstanding backup. We’re excited to bring our combined industry knowledge to the thriving Australian market.

“We understand that the Australian and New Zealand markets demand high quality products, and we aim to not only exceed expectations, but to also provide a wider solution range and an industry-leading level of technical support, service and back-up.

“We have all the certifications and back-end taken care of, so competitive facilities can be assured that they are compliant with local and global federations, regulations and standards.”

Sports facilities products now being made available nationally include timing systems, scoreboards, photo finish technology and a broad range of technologies and accessories to optimise timing, scoring and displays within sporting centres.

The partnership’s sports facilities and timing expertise covers a broad range of sports, including aquatics, AFL, athletics, boxing, cycling, multi-sports, wrestling, weightlifting, water polo and wood chopping.

Robson not only sees potential in these sports but in basketball and rowing, where participation rates are rising.

He adds “it’s natural for sports to fluctuate in participation rates in line with national trends, and the ones that are on the rise often need new equipment and facilities to keep up with increased demand. We often work with architects in the design stage, to make sure the facilities are prepared for the high accuracy and highly technical equipment professional sports require.

“Specifying the right specialised equipment at the design stage can often help reduce the overall costs, compared with retrofitting it into spaces that the equipment was not designed for. Additionally, it will look more aesthetically pleasing to have a facility where all the equipment was specified at the design stage.”

HTS Group Ltd initially expanded into Australia in 2011 with the expansion of the Swiss Timing relationship where it trades as Australasia Sports Timing – a wholly owned subsidiary of HTS Group Ltd. This partnership supports major facilities locally and in the Pacific Islands.

HTS Group is now extending a large sports facilities range to Australia, building on the established successes of the Sports Timing partnership. It is bringing a wider range of products and increased technical support locally, in line with the company’s broader expansion in Australia.

Robson adds “through recent further expansion of sports offerings for all levels and the latest release of an LED pace lighting system for the nations ‘Beep Test’ for school aged children, HTS Group is demonstrating its commitment to providing solutions to every level.”

Facilities expertise
As the demand for technology, digital presentation of results, information and access control increase, HTS Group leverages its other strong business channels to offer complimentary solutions.

In addition to its broad range of sports-related equipment, HTS Group also has complementary products, technologies and solutions relevant to facilities including systems for digital media, perimeter and entry control as well as and expansion of core sports timing, training and scoring appropriate for all levels and price points

Perimeter and Entry Control
Ranging from pedestrian turnstiles typically used by local clubs and schools, right through to higher security options more common on Olympic or professional sports facilities, perimeter and entry control technologies are an essential way to keep track of who is entering the building, and ensuring the wrong people are not given access.

Robson adds “it’s easy to see how an Olympic facility might need some form of entrance security, but even local clubs often need some form of barrier to prevent those trying to avoid paying entry fees, or trying to cause harm.”

Digital Media
Robson sees that as the world embraces digitalisation, the need for more advanced digital media displays is increasing with sports facilities are now seeking larger format scoreboards that display a wider range of digital information

He advised “through HTS Group’s partnerships with Betvis and Big Screen Video, we can supply high quality digital scoreboards in larger sizes that are highly customisable, and ideal for displaying video or advertising. They can even be designed and branded with the customer’s branding, to suit their unique facility.”

Extensive range
HTS Group partners with organisations that share a focus on quality and safety, in order to extend the company’s ranges further into complementary areas of business, so that several related technologies can be sourced from the one place.

Robson concludes “our partnerships, like Swiss Timing and Stramatel in the sports facilities sector and Betvis and Big Screen Video in the Digital Media sector are great ways for HTS Group to provide our customers with added value and save them time. They know that each partnership we have established has been based on the rigorous quality and safety standards that HTS Group prides itself on.”

Click here to contact HTS Group via their entry in Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Click here to contact Australasia Sports Timing via their entry in Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images show Australasia Sports Timing installations at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

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