New Zealand-based Fusion Entertainment Ltd. is recognised as a leading innovator of audio solutions and marine entertainment systems. Designed and engineered in New Zealand, Fusion products are installed by some of the industry's most prestigious boatbuilders and designers on a wide range of boats around the world - from trailer boats to large luxury cruisers. Fusion is owned by Garmin Ltd, with a global network of support offices around the world.



Fusion Entertainment


Raising the bar: How this Kiwi firm is taking onboard-entertainment to another level

The ability to think outside the box, coupled with a deep understanding of technology, product requirements, industry trends and passionate people, is helping this Kiwi firm revolutionise the market for entertainment onboard.

Apollo – the industry's most awarded marine stereo – has proved a game-changer, transforming the concept of onboard entertainment. Standout features include its built-in Wi-Fi audio streaming for higher quality audio with a faster data transfer rate than Blutooth®; Digital Signal Processing to deliver distortion free audio, system protection and a technically superior listening experience; Apple AirPlay 2® enabling the user to stream seamlessly high-quality audio to multiple Apollo Series stereos, and control the volume individually or globally, PartyBus™ mode to connect multiple Apollo Series stereos to play in sync, with the option to Party Mode or Personal Mode, over-the-air software updates, Fusion-Link integration, and a host of other features providing unrivalled functionality in a package that looks great on the dashboard too.

Fusion's Apollo-770

Fusion’s Apollo RA770

Little wonder it’s had a big impact, picking up a host of innovation awards since its launch in 2018, including the Pittman Innovation Award, NMEA Product of Excellence Award, NMMA Innovation Award, IBEX Innovation Award, and an honourable mention in the DAME Design Award. But for Apollo’s creator, Fusion, the journey of bringing the Apollo dream to reality has been revolutionary too, testing its engineers and designers to the limit and raising the Kiwi firm and its aspirations to another level.

Revolution road

In essence, the Apollo journey began 14 years ago when the Auckland firm that started life back in 1998 as a home-grown car audio brand decided to take the market for onboard marine entertainment seriously. “There is no question that we realised customers were going to demand more of their onboard entertainment before anyone else did,” says Fusion’s Managing Director, Peter Edwards. “The OEMs that we proudly work with today are switched on to what their customers are now expecting as ‘standard’."

”The R&D process actually starts in the field… getting to know your customers, OEMs, and seeing first-hand what their problems are.”

Peter Edwards, Managing Director, Fusion

Since those early days, Fusion and now its parent, Garmin, has spent millions of dollars on product development, engineering, testing, manufacturing and marketing. Fusion may be in the entertainment business, but sweating the details and putting in serious legwork to understand the needs and desires of clients is fundamental to the company ethos.

“The R&D process actually starts in the field. I believe that is why we continue to design great products that sell well and win awards. Getting to know your customers, OEMs, and seeing first-hand what their problems are, helps enormously when we sit down to design and engineer our products.”

Fusion’s ability to join the dots and come up with something truly innovative when it comes to user experience may in part be down, Edwards believes, to geography. “New Zealanders and people that move to New Zealand seem to have a different view on the world and can think outside the box,” he says. In the end, says Edwards, “you need brilliant people to be successful in our market. We give our teams plenty of rope and luckily most times they don’t strangle themselves but excel!”

They also have that knack for knowing how to enjoy themselves, a trait not to be underestimated in the entertainment business. Fusion employees put themselves and their experiences into the product – Apollo bears testimony to that.

Learning curves

Interestingly, where automotive trends might inform much of what marine does and aspires to, Fusion says it takes little influence from that sector – before Fusion, ‘marine audio’ often simply meant marinising car sound systems. “To be honest, we try to not take notice of that market. People that go boating are doing this because it is a sport, passion or for just plainly having a good time. This is why marine entertainment is so important for our customers and why we are always busy at boat shows. People want to get on the water and forget their day-to-day stresses and problems. What better way is there than just enjoying your favourite music out on the water?”

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There have been learning curves too. “Speed to market is still the most frustrating area of our business, but Garmin has added a much more stringent testing regime,” Edwards admits, “that has added another level to our products and this ultimately is the right thing to do.”

The future with Fusion

Fusion may have a laser-focus on marine, but the leap the company has made with Apollo has not gone unnoticed in other sectors. The Kiwi firm is already making plenty of noise in the RV market – and there’s more to come. A whole new range of products is in the pipeline for launch at METSTRADE 2020. Can it raise the bar again? Given the journey it’s already been on, you wouldn’t bet against it.

COMPANY PROFILE

  • Founded in 1998 as a home-grown car audio brand
  • Based in Auckland, New Zealand
  • Acquired by Garmin in June 2014
  • 82 employees globally
  • Sector coverage: trailer boats to large luxury cruisers; distributed via OEM and aftermarket channels
  • Product lines:
    • Stereo systems and audio solutions for boats
    • Apollo Series marine entertainment systems
    • Speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers, wired & wireless remote controls
    • Signature Series speakers, amplifiers & subwoofers
    • Fusion-Link - the industry standard for entertainment integration | MFD integration | Free smart device app | Garmin watch widget
  • Main markets: Europe, United States, Asia-Pacific