In 2009, in the heart of Europe—more precisely in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg—Kalei was born: the first company specializing in long-term rental of lighting equipment for television and cinema. Going against the trend at a time when companies in the entertainment industry were expanding into multiple sectors, Kalei Luxembourg distinguished itself by offering ultra-specialized technical and engineering consultancy within its field.
In 2011, Elegos was founded as a branch of Kalei Luxembourg. This time, the specialization focused on stage automation and telecommunications/data networks, which had become essential for major film events, corporate productions, and large-scale television and concert productions.
By 2015, Kalei Luxembourg expanded its operations to include musical instruments and stage equipment. In 2017, to better meet demand, a technical branch was established in northern Italy.
At the end of 2020, Kalei entered a partnership with CRES, an organization that has been operating in the healthcare sector for over 40 years. During that period, as one of the few companies in Europe capable of meeting the massive demand for COVID-19 testing—processing over 5,000 tests per hour—Kalei then consolidated its presence by providing medical services for events. These services included specialist doctors accompanying artists and production teams, priority medical transport, and medical, analytical, and nursing support.
In 2022, the instrument rental service evolved into a complete backline service to meet the demand for multilingual backliners supporting major productions. In partnership with Altovolume—an organization that has trained the best backliners operating in the UK and Northern Europe with expertise acquired over years of experience—Kalei Italy was founded in April, with headquarters in Syracuse and Catania. This expansion extended Kalei’s coverage beyond Northern and extra-European markets to include the entire Mediterranean region.
Kalei now offers a full backline service, including instrument rental, amplifiers, high-level assistance, and much more: a unique selection of historic products from the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, alongside contemporary equipment. The company maintains a climate-controlled warehouse to preserve special products and rare pieces, two automated storage facilities, and a historical paper archive of vintage amplifier schematics, available to a technical team dedicated to preserving and maintaining equipment in full compliance with their original form.
We take great pride in our 1950s and 1960s products, comparable to brand new thanks to reserves of NOS components, including vacuum tubes and oil-paper capacitors, tested with state-of-the-art digital tube testers. Our electronics lab, equipped with advanced simulation and digital control systems, allows us to work even at the microelectronics level. Our equipment is supported by high-end cabling and custom-commissioned filters from U.S. and Japanese manufacturers. Except for unique pieces, all products are available in multiple units to ensure backup during events. Complementing our services are a luthiery workshop for wood maintenance, integrated logistics systems, and, most importantly, our personnel.
The high level of staff qualification—achieved through continuous in-service training—not only ensures the protection of unique products from tampering or damage but also demonstrates our respect for clients. Customers can rely on expert backliners, conservatory graduates, or professionals with technical studies, all possessing excellent linguistic and behavioral skills.
High quality, expertise, and efficiency are the values that Kalei brings to its most demanding clients.