With more than 25 years of experience, Sommer Cable has established itself as a reference in professional cabling solutions. In this interview, its CEO and co-founder, Rainer Blanck, looks at the company’s evolution, the challenges facing the sector, and the trends that will shape the future of the market.
Your company has a long track record in the professional cable industry. Could you briefly describe how it began and how the company has evolved over the years?
Sommer Cable was founded in 1999 by Rainer Blanck and Friedhelm Sommer together with a small team of musicians, audio engineers, and cable specialists. From day one, our goal was to develop cabling and connection solutions that offer exceptional signal quality and long-term reliability. What began with a range of high-quality bulk cables grew into a complete portfolio including connectors, ready-made cables, multicore solutions, and modular infrastructure systems. Today, more than 25 years later, we operate internationally and have established ourselves as a global supplier of professional cabling and connection technology.
What are the main product families and cable solutions you manufacture today?
Our portfolio spans several key categories. We produce a wide range of bulk cables for audio, video, data, fiber, and hybrid applications. We also manufacture pre-assembled connection cables. In addition, we offer our own HICON® connector series, multicore and hybrid systems, and a modular infrastructure platform called SYSBOXX®. Custom assemblies and OEM solutions are also a fundamental part of our business.
Which markets and professional segments do you currently serve, and which are showing the strongest growth?
We supply a wide range of markets: live sound and touring, studio and broadcast, AV installation and integration, multimedia, professional audio retail, electrical wholesalers, and even specialized industrial or medical applications. In terms of growth, we see strong development in the broadcast and media sectors, where high transmission quality and reliability are essential. The installation and AV market is also growing rapidly, especially as regulations and building standards become more demanding.
What innovative products or developments has your company introduced in recent years in the field of cables and passive components?
We offer CPR-certified installation cables that are fully compliant with the EU Construction Products Regulation, ensuring safety and reliability for critical installations. Our HICON® connector lines provide robust and cost-effective alternatives to existing market standards, addressing the diverse needs of professional users. We have also developed specialty outdoor, weather-resistant, and high-durability cables designed to withstand extreme environments, maritime applications, and the demands of mobile production. In addition, our SYSBOXX® modular system family delivers flexible and scalable infrastructure solutions, enabling efficient and adaptable setups for broadcast, installation, and event applications.
As a specialized manufacturer, what are the main challenges you face today in terms of design, production, or supply-chain management for professional cables?
The main challenge is combining a growing demand for customization with efficient production processes. Customers require specific lengths, colors, labeling, or connector configurations, and it is essential to provide this flexibility without compromising quality or delivery times. This is compounded by the difficulty of securing high-quality raw materials—especially copper and specialized insulation compounds—in an unstable global market. Finally, compliance with increasingly stringent safety and building regulations adds complexity, while also opening up important opportunities for innovation.
What key factors differentiate your cable solutions in terms of materials, performance, durability, and overall reliability compared to other brands?
Everything starts with the use of high-purity OFC copper and carefully engineered stranding techniques to ensure maximum signal integrity and excellent mechanical flexibility. This is complemented by high-quality, durable jacket materials designed to withstand intensive touring use or demanding installation conditions. Every product undergoes strict quality control, and in many ranges we combine electrical measurements with mechanical and acoustic testing. In addition, modularity is one of our key differentiators, allowing customers to choose from a wide range of cable and connector combinations, or to request customized solutions and tailor-made connection systems.
What trends or customer demands are shaping the future of the professional cable market in your main areas of activity?
There is a clear trend toward robust, long-lasting, outdoor-ready solutions, especially for events and mobile productions. Customization has also become a key factor, as customers increasingly demand tailored solutions rather than standard products. At the same time, hybrid cables—combining audio, video, data, or power in compact systems—are gaining importance, particularly in broadcast and installation projects. In addition, regulatory requirements, such as CPR compliance for installation cables, are having a decisive influence on new product development across the industry.
What upcoming developments, new product lines, or strategic steps does the company plan to introduce in the coming months?
In the coming months and years, Sommer Cable plans to strengthen its international presence and continue expanding its custom solutions and assembly services, providing OEMs, installers, and system integrators with tailor-made cable designs that meet their specific needs.
We will continue to invest in technical support, consulting, and engineering services to help customers design complete and efficient system solutions. In addition, we plan to expand the SYSBOXX® modular system platform with new modules and infrastructure elements, offering even greater flexibility and scalability. The range of CPR-certified, installation-focused cables will also be extended to meet evolving building standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring that our products remain at the forefront of quality and compliance in professional installations.
