Iola’s CinemaNext USA, formerly known as Sonic Equipment, along with Kneisley Manufacturing, have been acquired by Strong Technical Services of Omaha, Neb.
The purchase was announced April 13.
CinemaNext USA’s building at 900 W. Miller will be put up for sale June 17, said Ric Sanjurjo, Strong’s Director of Operations Engineering & Distribution. He said the Kneisley Manufacturing facility at 503 W. Lincoln will remain online.
Sonic employees who are not already working remotely will soon do so, Sanjurjo said. The company may later rent office space in Iola, but Sanjuro said they could also utilize unused space in the Kneisley building.
Strong Technical Services operates out of locations in Omaha, Shawnee, and now Iola, Sanjurjo told the Register. The company did not believe two locations in Iola were necessary, he said.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome the CinemaNext U.S., Sonic, and Kneisley teams into the STS family,” said Blake Titman, President and CEO of Strong Technical Services in the company’s press release. “Our customers will benefit from a deeper pool of expertise, faster response times, and a continued commitment to the high-touch service they’ve come to expect from both organizations.”
Strong Technical Services noted that the addition of Kneisley Manufacturing improves the company’s “ability to provide specialized hardware and parts, ensuring a more integrated supply chain for its partners.” The company employs more than 100 people, according to its website.
Ron Hageman, former chief executive officer of CinemaNext USA, left the company May 29. Hageman had been with Sonic Equipment since 2006; he was named executive director in 2015 and became CEO in 2021.
In a separate press release, CinemaNext said the sale would allow the company to “sharpen its focus on European market leadership.”
“This transaction is a forward-looking step that allows us to concentrate our resources and talent where our competitive advantages are most pronounced,” said Donald McGarva, Group CEO of CinemaNext.
THE CHANGE in ownership is the latest in a series of turns for the local cinema equipment supplier.
In 2023, Sonic Equipment was purchased by CinemaNext, a juggernaut cinema company based in Belgium with offices in 23 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Sonic Equipment was its first U.S. venture.
At the time, CinemaNext CEO Georges Garic showed excitement about the acquisition, saying, “This marks a pivotal moment for CinemaNext as we broaden our footprint in North America.”
That effort proved short-lived.
Sonic Equipment’s roots in Iola run deep. The company took shape in the 1970s as Sonic Signs under the guidance of Sterling Bagby. He moved his operations to Iola in 1982 when he took over the local cinema. Iola’s Sterling Six Cinema was a project he put in motion. He died in 2000, a year before the movie theatre opened in Nov. 2001. It was named in his honor.
In 2018, B&B Theatres sold the company to Stan Hays, Mike Clement and Keith Watanbe. Hays died in late 2020.
