Laser Projection Dominates: Epson Debuts at ENTECH, Panasonic Powers Qatar Museum
High-brightness laser projection is stepping into the spotlight on both sides of the globe, with Epson preparing a headline turn at the Australia-New Zealand AV roadshow and Panasonic completing a sweeping museum modernization in the Middle East. Together, the two developments underscore how ultra-lumen output is becoming the default choice for demanding professional environments, from live events to cultural heritage spaces.
Epson is set to demonstrate its latest professional and commercial display portfolio at ENTECH NZ 2026, the trade roadshow serving integrators, production firms, consultants and end-users across Australia and New Zealand. The company's booth will show how the industry's converging display needs can be met by a single versatile hardware lineup. Front and center will be the EB-PQ2220B, an ultra-high-brightness 3LCD laser model from Epson's flagship PQ series. Attendees will see the unit firing onto a 120-inch screen via the LX02S short-throw lens — a pairing engineered to prove that massive light output can be deployed effectively even when room geometry keeps throw distances tight.
Across the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the National Museum of Qatar in Doha has completed an ambitious upgrade of its immersive galleries. The Jean Nouvel-designed institution, famous for its desert-rose-inspired architecture, now runs 128 Panasonic PT-RQ25K laser projectors supported by more than 170 Hive Media Engines. The revamped setup handles projection mapping and synchronized playback across ten exhibition spaces. By slotting Hive's technology directly into the projectors through the SDM interface, the installation eliminates the need for bulky external media servers, simplifying playback architecture considerably. The deployment was delivered in partnership with Secuoya QFC and BGL Audiovisual.
Brightness gains sit at the heart of the museum's refresh. The new PT-RQ25K units deliver 20,000 lumens — roughly double the output of the outgoing PT-RQ13K models they replace. Panasonic notes the jump brings improved energy efficiency alongside the extra punch, while also extending the overall lifespan of the installation. For a venue that relies on continuous, immersive storytelling, that combination of performance and durability is a decisive factor.
The parallel announcements paint a clear picture of where professional projection is headed: laser technology is now the benchmark, integration is moving into the projector itself, and manufacturers are chasing both sheer luminance and operational efficiency. For integrators weighing their next fleet decision, the choice is no longer about whether to go laser, but how much light — and how smart the media engine behind it — they need.