Even so, he maintains that every new product and innovation represents an important milestone, from the 2008 launch of the IPAL Integrated Powered Adaptive Loudspeaker in cooperation with B&C Speakers and the 2010 release of Armonia remote control and monitoring software, to the most recent offering, the M Series, in 2011.
The apartment workshop gave way to a larger production space in 2002, and to their current complex shortly thereafter.
Now, in addition to the administration and engineering facilities in Florance, Powersoft runs dedicated manufacturing plants in Bologna and Gorizia, employing roughly 100 people in total.
A third building is currently under construction in Florence to serve as a main demo facility and provide warehouse space, and earlier this year, the company set up a dedicated U.S. office and service center in Southern California under the direction of pro audio veteran Ken Blecher.
Future Look
At the time Powersoft came into being, “green” products, generally speaking, were not prevalent. “My perception is that people don’t understand what kind of impact a specific product can have. For instance, some will argue about whether or not an efficient amplifier will have a measurable environmental benefit, but the same person would never think of opening the window during the winter with the heat on.” For Lastrucci, the equation is simple: “If it’s green, it’s better.”
As much as that perspective is informed by his explorations of uncharted territory as a technologist, it is also rooted firmly in a deep-seated fascination with nature. It often leads he and his family to explore decidedly less traveled regions far removed from the cultured environment of Florence – trekking and diving, for example, in Africa, Indonesia and South America. “We go on long, often complex trips,” he says. “And in very harsh conditions, let’s say.”
This passion continues to drive Powersoft’s creation of new products like the Deva 1S, a solar powered, wireless A/V communications device for audio distribution and surveillance in public spaces ranging from theme parks, to transport hubs, to live venues. While not necessarily representative of their core business, finding compact, energy-efficient solutions for a variety of applications is part of the DNA of the company, Lastrucci says.
“If you desire to do a lot of things you can find time to do everything,” Lastrucci concludes, a philosophy informed in part by the fact that he and his wife of 12 years recently welcomed a new addition to their family. “With two boys and a baby girl, there’s a lot to do,” he adds, laughing.
Based in Toronto, Kevin Young is a freelance music and tech writer, professional musician and composer.