Lucasfilm THX has announced that Brussels-based Kinepolis Group has become Europe's first multiplex operator to adopt THX certification in every cinema screen, including its last remaining 30 non-THX screens.

To promote its 'Total-THX' status, the two companies will adopt a co-branding campaign featuring both of their corporate logos.

"We want to position Kinepolis as the theatre that never compromises on quality," said Bob Claeys, international projection and sound director. "Research shows that our customers appreciate this quality difference, and there's no more powerful quality statement than THX certification. Linking our two brands reinforces our no-compromise position," said Jan Huyghe, Kinepolis group international marketing & sales director.

The last two Kinepolis sites to be THX-certified were the 14-screen Kinepolis Hasselt and 16-screen Kinepolis Liege, both in Belgium - bringing the Kinepolis Group's total screen count to 276 at 18 sites in Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Digital Theater Systems (DTS) has appointed Anders Uggelberg as director of cinema products, Europe, and Manel Carreras as manager, European cinema sales and business development.

In the role of director of cinema products, Europe, Anders create a comprehensive training program for the DTS dealer network and European exhibitors. He will also be working closely with DTS Europe's customer service and repair departments to refine service centre infrastructure.

As manager of cinema sales and development, Manel Carreras will maintain and expand sales and technical support provided to the DTS' dealer network, as well as working with the exhibitors to expand DTS cinema installations throughout Europe.