The Fog Machine Industry has grown at a staggering rate with modern advancements in technology. From streaming videos to interactive gaming experiences, the variety and sophistication of venues is more than many could have imagined just a few years ago. As this industry develops, it becomes important for people to be aware that there are different levels of quality when it comes to designing and operating fog machines. How to clean a fog machine? This blog post discusses some of the reasons for this dichotomy and what you can do about it if you don’t want your venue’s authenticity undermined due to subpar equipment.
1. The amount of money spent on Fog machines has increased dramatically since the installation of a CPU (central processor). The cost of a CPU has risen steadily from $2500 to over $3500. This is an increase in 28-30% annual growth. The cost of heaters has also risen at a similar rate, with their price increasing by 27-52%. Although this may seem high, if the fog machine is not specifically built for a venue, it’s possible to have them custom built for half the price. Even if you elect to go with a commercial grade compact machine, you can easily find one for less than $1,000. The reason for this is that the cost of the CPU and heater are over 50% of the total cost. Without these components, building a fog machine is relatively inexpensive. There are a range of compact machine options available for under $200. Even with this economical option, you won’t be getting nearly as much output as you would with a machine built specifically to your venue’s specifications.
2. The flexibility that comes with being able to adjust temperatures in a CPU has always been one of the main benefits of buying commercial grade equipment. However, this convenience has become a hindrance for many. For example, if you want to ensure low fog levels during the day, you can easily control the temperature differential between the hot and cool side of the machine. However, if you’re planning on running fog continuously throughout your venue’s hours of operation (a practice which should be avoided), then it becomes more of a challenge to accurately control the temperature differential. A hobbyist would generally have better luck with such applications than a commercial manufacturer would.
3. The ability to customize most commercial grade machines is another advantage that many don’t realize they have with their investment choice. On the CPU, the number of fog options available is limited, with a few coming from each manufacturer. Most people expect that they’ll be operating a commercial grade machine with no special programming requirements or custom options. However, this is not necessarily the case. Each vendor seems to provide more options than the others and makes it easy to have your machine tailor-made for your specific needs and capabilities. For example, if you need to run more fog in a night club scenario and have a machine built specifically for such purposes, some of their features can be adjusted on your machine without having it custom programmed by an engineer at their office. This allows you to get more out of your investment while saving time and money in the process.
4. When it comes to technology, the fog machine industry has been notorious for being one step behind. While the commercial grade vendors have been offering new and improved products for years, many smaller companies seem to follow in their wake rather than push the envelope themselves. This can be easily seen with their machines as well. When you see someone at a venue utilizing a commercial grade machine, you would expect that they would be getting top-of-the-line performance out of their unit, but this is often not the case.
5. Another area that hobbyist have an edge over hobbyists is on safety and compliance standards. Being able to operate fog machines in venues where they are not normally allowed is one of the reasons why this industry has grown so rapidly. Although there are some regulations behind fog machines, they are not nearly as strict as those with pyrotechnics or flame effects. This is what scares people away from fog machines, but if you do your research on companies that manufacture them, you will see that the safety precautions taken by their engineers and the overall construction of their equipment is top-notch. Many times this is a deciding factor when choosing a machine and shouldn’t be overlooked during your decision making process.
6. The overall quality of a commercial grade machine can be evaluated by looking at its features and entry-level price point. A lot of times, you’ll find that smaller companies who are trying to move into the market will offer a machine that is similar in price to their competitors’ more expensive models. However, when you compare the features, the smaller company’s machine will be lacking in many areas, forcing your to spend more money on upgrades down the road. For example, if you need a machine that has motion detection capabilities, then it’s likely that a hobbyist’s version will not include it. You may be tempted by their lower price point and apparent ease of use with this feature but there is no substitute for actual experience and expertise when it comes to fog machines. The same can be said for several other features as well.
