Who:
Apollo Design Technology, Inc.
What:
Manufacturer and distributor of gobos, dichroics, gels and other lighting effect products and accessories for the entertainment industry.
Where:
Fort Wayne, Ind.
When:
Founded in 1992, Apollo is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Full time employees:
80
Number of products in catalog:
Apollo’s 68-page catalog contains more than 1,100 gobo designs and dichroic options, 140-plus gels, and 125 other products, including the Right Arm moving yoke, Smart Color scrollers, Smart Move rotators, cable, power supplies, tape and pattern holders.
Recent projects:
Barbra Streisand and Christina Aguilera concert tours; the 2007 NBA All-Star Game; NBC TV’s Deal or No Deal; Broadway’s Wicked and The Lion King; The Church at Pinnacle Hills in Springdale, Ark.; and The Orenburg Theatre in Orenburg, Russia.
Recent company highlight:
Apollo recently completed a building expansion that provides additional office, production and warehouse space.
Claim to fame:
Apollo has received the ESTA Dealer’s Choice Award for Outstanding Customer Service for eight consecutive years.
People might be surprised to know:
The company was named after a real horse, who is now 22 years old. Company president Joel Nichols answers the after-hours/weekend emergency telephone.
Fun Facts:
With no industry experience, Nichols started Apollo while working in a steel mill.
