422 Manchester has invested around£400,000 on high-definition products to stop big-budget local clients from heading south for post-production work.
422 Manchester has invested around £400,000 on high-definition products to stop big-budget local clients from heading south for post-production work.

In its first major investment since a management buyout last year, the Manchester-based post house - which has recently posted Hit Entertainment's Bob the Builder and Living TV's Most Haunted - has bought a Smoke, upgraded its Flame, both on Tezro and HD compatible, and has built a further Pro-Tools audio suite. The spending spree comes as 422 Manchester sees the beginnings of a demand for HD services.

Managing director Martin Dixon said: 'Three or four months ago there was little call for HD post here but I have seen that begin to change recently. I can see that there'll be a need for HD masters for both worldwide appeal and distribution, and for shelf-life and future-proofing.'

Production director Richard Wallwork said: 'Our first audio suite has been up and running for two-and-a-half years now and we have had to turn work away too many times, which obviously no one wants to do. These developments give us the firepower to meet the future head on. Our aim is to stop companies from flying down to London as soon as they get a substantial budget.'

A three-strong management team, Dixon and directors Damien Lynch and Richard Wallwork, purchased the company from Barcud Derwen towards the end of last year for an undisclosed amount.

422 intends to have completed the refurbishment of its main online suite by the end of August. The fully specced suite will house the Discreet Smoke system.

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