Zinc at Fed Square, one of Melbourne’s premier event venues, wanted to elevate its first impression for incoming guests. The venue’s AV manager, Austage Events, sought a way to add visual impact to the foyer without overwhelming the space or appearing too commercial. They needed a digital solution that was sleek, high quality, and easy to integrate into an existing hospitality environment, while also adding value to event clients without deterring them with additional costs.
THE FIX
Austage Events turned to an Absen KLCOB V2 micro LED display with a fine 1.25mm pixel pitch. The high-resolution LED wall was installed behind the foyer bar — a position that commands attention without dominating the room. The KLCOB range includes a black polymer coating that improves contrast and minimises reflections, giving the screen a rich, refined look that suits a high-end function space.
Jeremy Kirk, Austage Events’ Production Manager for Zinc Fed Square, led the integration:
“We’re very familiar with LED for event hire, but this was our first time installing a fine-pitch, fixed LED wall. The installation was surprisingly straightforward — it pretty much slotted together right out of the box.”
Tommy Blum, Technical Sales for Visual Displays at NAS, says, “Given the limited space available and the need for exceptional image and video quality, 1.2mm pixel pitch was an obvious choice, especially with the increasing affordability of Chip-on-Board (COB) technology. Additionally, considering the high-traffic nature of the bar environment, we prioritised impact protection to safeguard against accidental knocks, spills, and close-range interactions. The Absen KLCOB V2 offers both durability and easy cleaning, ensuring long-term performance without compromising visual excellence.”
The lightweight panels, combined with existing wall joists, meant the KLCOB could be safely and securely mounted with minimal disruption. Despite its sophistication, the system runs cool and doesn’t intrude on the ambient conditions of the foyer.
THE RESULT
The Absen KLCOB micro LED display has already become a talking point. It’s often the first thing prospective clients comment on during venue tours — and Austage has chosen to keep pricing accessible to encourage usage.
“Almost every time a new client walks in, they stop and ask about the screen,” says Jeremy. “We’ve priced it so reasonably that no one has pushed back — it’s an easy ‘yes’.”
Currently, the screen is primarily used for branding, logos and title slides for events, enhancing theming and ambience. But the team is already looking ahead.
“It’s early days, but once clients start to understand what’s possible — especially with animated or interactive content — I think we’ll see some really impressive uses. I’d love to explore motion-reactive content that responds as people walk past. That would be a real showstopper.”
With its professional-grade visuals and client-friendly operation, the Absen KLCOB screen has quickly gone from a ‘nice to have’ to a powerful value-adding asset for Zinc and its event clientele.
