Pinewood-based facilities company Axis plans to set up a digital lab that will store media and create a reusable digital workflow for clients.

The lab will deal with the complexity of tapeless workflows, thereby making tapeless a better option for clients wanting to future-proof their content.

The service will be competitive and help clients avoid unanticipated rendering and other costs in post for tapeless productions, which several commercials clients have faced recently, according to Axis.

The company said the service will be like a photographic lab in that its customers will be able to tick a box requesting the equivalent of a certain size or type of output and leave the rest to the experts.

It is likely to be up and running in around six months and will also store media for its clients. The service will be a bundled offering with camera hire or stand-alone and will be available for long-form and commercial projects.

Axis Films research and development specialist James Eggleton said: “Clients will tell us what deliverables they want and we will offer them those. We'll create a usable file such as a DPX that we can send to the post house of their choice.”

The company will provide the service for uncompressed files from all cameras, including its hire stock, comprising the Red One and Thomson Viper.

Axis Films managing director Paul Carter said: “With Panasonic's statement that it will produce no more tape-based cameras and Sony's push of the EX range, the companies choosing to shoot using data are those with the most foresight. They are future-proofing their products, this service will make their lives a lot easier.”

Axis is currently in conversations with technology partners, and will purchase encoding equipment and storage solutions in addition to creating some integrative software in due course.