Renkus-Heinz

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Renkus-Heinz
IndustryAudio electronics
Founded1979
FoundersHarro K. Heinz, Algis Renkus
HeadquartersFoothill Ranch, California, United States
Key people
President Harro K. Heinz, CEO
ProductsLoudspeakers
Websiterenkus-heinz.com

Renkus-Heinz is a California-based manufacturer of loudspeakers and related professional sound reinforcement equipment specializing in steerable loudspeaker technology. Based in Foothill Ranch, California,[1] the firm has a global presence in permanent installations at auditoriums, transit centers,[2] sports venues,[3] houses of worship[4] and musical performance venues[5] as well as in the concert touring industry.[6]

History[edit]

Renkus-Heinz Founder and CEO Harro Heinz

Renkus-Heinz was founded on April 1, 1979 by Harro K. Heinz and Algis Renkus (1937–1997[7]).[1] Heinz had previously been awarded a patent in 1975 for his work on a "Comprehensive feedback elimination system employing notch filter"[8] that was performed while he was employed at Rauland Borg Corporation, the company he left to found Renkus-Heinz.[9] Algis Renkus was joined in the new enterprise by his father Jonas A. Renkus (b. 1912) who had worked at Altec under industry veteran John Kenneth Hilliard.

While at Renkus-Heinz, Jonas Renkus patented a new triple lamination construction method in 1980.[10] In 1981, the two Renkus men left Renkus-Heinz to assist Emilar, which was having trouble staying in business. Harro Heinz remained president of Renkus-Heinz.

While Jonas and Algis Renkus were at Emilar, they began using the patented triple lamination method which had been assigned to Renkus-Heinz. Heinz sued for damages but dropped the case during the hearing.[11]

In 1989 Harro's son Ralph D. Heinz joined Renkus-Heinz to work with Don B. Keele, Jr. and Gene Patronis and further his knowledge of electro-acoustics and horn loudspeaker design. Ralph Heinz eventually became senior vice-president of R&D[12] and patented a method of arraying loudspeakers for better phase coherency in 1994.[13] In 1996, he patented a multiple driver horn which was promoted as the "CoEntrant" transducer, covering both mid- and high-frequency bands in one horn.[14][15] In 2016, Ralph Heinz was named Chief Technical Officer.[16]

In 1999, Harro's daughter Monika Heinz Smetona joined Renkus-Heinz on the administrative team and was named chief operating officer in 2016.[17] She was then named chief financial officer in 2019.

In May 2019, Matt Czyzewski joined Renkus-Heinz as president.[18] Czyzewski has since moved on to AtlasIED.[19]

Awards[edit]

  • Rental & Staging Systems Best of Show Award for the ICLive X series[20]
  • rAVe [Pubs] The Best of ISE 2019 Award for the DC12/2[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Companies P-Q-R-S Renkus-Heinz". Audioannals.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Renkus-Heinz. Auditorium / Transit
  3. ^ Renkus-Heinz. Sports
  4. ^ Renkus-Heinz. Houses of Worship
  5. ^ Renkus-Heinz. Performing Arts / Theatres
  6. ^ Renkus-Heinz. Tour / Rental
  7. ^ ARX.com. Algis Renkus memoriam
  8. ^ US patent 4088835, Harro K. Heinz, "Comprehensive feedback elimination system employing notch filter", issued 1975-05-09 
  9. ^ Audioannals.com. Biography G–H. Harro Heinz
  10. ^ US patent 4336425, Jonas A. Renkus, "HIGH FREQUENCY COMPRESSION DRIVER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF", issued 1980-05-06 
  11. ^ Audioheritage.org. Robert Grunberg bulletin board entry Jonas Renkus and his Bowtie horn posted December 28, 2006.
  12. ^ AES Los Angeles section. October 2000. A Field Trip to Renkus-Heinz
  13. ^ US patent 5750943, Ralph D. Heinz, "SPEAKER ARRAY WITH IMPROVED PHASE CHARACTERISTICS", issued 1994-02-15 
  14. ^ US patent 5526456, Ralph D. Heinz, "Multiple-driver single horn loud speaker", issued 1996-06-11 
  15. ^ Sound & Video Contractor. April 1, 1999. Ralph Heinz. The Renkus-Heinz CoEntrant transducer
  16. ^ SCN Staff (May 23, 2016). "Renkus-Heinz Announces Reorganization of Leadership". AVNetwork.
  17. ^ Basnicki, Erica (May 22, 2016). "Reorganisation at Renkus-Heinz". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  18. ^ Mullen, Amanda (April 2, 2019). "Matt Czyzewski Appointed President Of Renkus-Heinz". Sound & Communications Media.
  19. ^ "Matt Czyzewski Joins AtlasIED As Executive Vice President". Sound and Communications.
  20. ^ SVC Staff (June 14, 2019). "Rental & Staging Systems announces Best of Show InfoComm 2019 Awards". Future Media.
  21. ^ Kayye, Gary (March 15, 2019). "Here Are the Best of ISE 2019 Awards – AV's Only NOT-Pay-for-Play Awards". THE rAVe Agency.

External links[edit]

External videos
video icon Oral History, Harro Heinz recalls the radio business right after the war. Interview date September 9, 2011, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library
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