MediaMation is a nearly thirty year old design and manufacturing firm based in Torrance, CA which has provided motion and immersive amusement rides, and through its MX4D brand, installs to cinemas around the world. Drake Finance Group of Miami, Fl is an international trade finance specialty lender whose mandate and mission is to finance customer purchases from an eclectic group of U.S. manufacturers. All manufacturers must be selling their products to business end users located outside the country.
With loans guaranteed by the U.S. government’s Export-Import Bank, Richard Lopez and the principals of Drake Finance Group have created an important niche credit business that benefits the U.S. economy by preserving jobs and the balance of trade.
If one were to visit the MediaMation offices and factory in Torrance they would see programmers working on special synchronized effects for major Hollywood films. The MX4D effects include full seat motion, ticklers and rumblers, water, scent, atmospheric auditorium-based fog, rain, lights, and snow. All are meant to enhance a film’s presentation and further differentiate the theatrical experience from anything you can get at home. The studios all provide their jealously guarded intellectual property, as they see this as a creative spin for action adventure, kid movies, horror and comedy.
One would also see an entire floor with factory assembly going on and construction of plush benches with pneumatic air systems, careful installation of sterilized tubes for water and scents running under the seat, computer racks for seamless effects, experimental moving platforms, seats and PODs and VR based games.
While the 4D cinema technology is slowly rolling out in the United States, the appetite in emerging markets such as India, Colombia and Eastern Europe is huge. MediaMation has a manufacturing plant in China for its installs there, but the preservation of the Torrance based facility is a key factor for Founder and current Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Dan Jamele. He remarked, “We have great and creative ride and motion products that must be safe and relatively maintenance free for our business customers and their patrons. We want to continue to manufacture in our hometown and underscore the need to preserve U.S. based manufacturing jobs.”
When Howard Kiedaisch, CEO of MediaMation met Richard Lopez, the ability to keep up with demand, find a key and creative financing partner and preserve American jobs seemed perfect. “In a very short period of time, Drake’s team provided Media Mation with a creative win-win financing solution for our exhibitor partners. We aspire to expand our footprint from our current 365 worldwide installs to perhaps thousands.”
Richard H.Lopez Esq., Managing Principal of Drake Finance stated, “We have financed and assisted many businesses through the years, but none more diverse and fun than MediaMation. Movies are such an important form of entertainment and escapism and I really love that we can help their overseas customers as they present great films in completely new and unique ways.”
About Drake Finance Group
Founded in 2000, Drake Finance was originally created to facilitate international trade for U.S. companies. Our mission was to help U.S.-based businesses grow by providing the necessary liquidity for them to provide their international customers with financing. Since then, our company has grown to include a broad range of products and services aimed at helping U.S. companies succeed locally and in the global marketplace. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Drake Finance serves U.S. companies nationwide and provides its clients from all over the world with innovative and accessible financial solutions. Since 2000, Drake Finance has financed over USD 300 million in U.S. exports worldwide. Drake Finance is an approved lender of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank). Drake Finance holds an Ex-Im Bank Master Guarantee Agreement for multi-year international equipment financing. Drake Finance is among select Originators nationwide providing U.S. companies with Ex-Im Bank’s Global Credit Express loans. Drake Finance is a member of the PEFCO’s Small Business Lender Council. Drake Finance supports the efforts of Ex-Im Bank, the SBA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in helping small-business U.S. companies succeed.
About MediaMation, Inc.
MediaMation, Inc. has provides innovative technological solutions to the Cinema and Themed Entertainment and Amusements market and expanded to the esports and VR industry in recent years. MediaMation is a worldwide supplier and manufacturer of patented technology for 4D Motion EFX theatres and seats andEFX technology, with over 375 installations worldwide. MediaMation also designs and implements turnkey creative solutions for complex shows, rides, exhibits, fountain shows, etc. for theme parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, cinemas and FECs.