Jands Electronics has launched the new Hog 500 lighting console, a lower-budget version of the Echelon 1K, which was first shown at Entech 1998 in Sydney and has since been selling well worldwide. Features such as auto-menus and palettes for beam, colour, position and groups make initial programming of the Hog 500 fast and easy, while user-definable fixture libraries and auto-menus make patching and set-up very simple. Any cue can quickly be called from memory. 512 control channels are available, and a MIDI interface allows allows reception of MIDI show control, notes, timecode and command strings. A standard 3.5" floppy disk is available for show storage.
Strand Lighting has appointed Phil O'Donnell to the new position of group sales and marketing director. O'Donnell has spent 25 years in the industry, 20 of them with Strand, and has recently been responsible for Strand's operations in the Americas and Asia. The development is aimed at improving co-ordination across all Strand companies globally, and to provide a closer liaison with R&D in the creation of new product.
Multiform Electronics has added the DMX 424 - a 24-channel DMX decoder - to its range of control products. The mains-powered decoder is designed to provide the 10V DC analogue control signals essential for dimmer packs, colour-changers, effects lighting, smoke machines and special effects in systems using the DMX 512 control protocol. The 24 output channels can be set to provide control signals of 0 to +10 volts, or from 0 to -10 volts DC.The unit will decode a block of consecutively numbered channels and the BCD switches select the number of the first DMX channel. Other features include Watchdog and Rx data monitors, test programme and user back-up memory.
The new Jazz Hotel and Casino opened recently in New Orleans, with Lumenyte fibre optics playing a large part in the design. The lighting design for the building is by The Elwyn Gee Group of Novato, California, who specified the 42ft runs of BRB-LEF and LEF510M fibre optics as a safety feature inside the handrails on the steps and escalators. This method of lighting was chosen because downlights would have been too intrusive on the themed environment. In another application, Lumenyte was used to detail three of the four entrances of the Terrazzo stone steps.
PLASA EXCLUSIVE: PLASA Publishing has learnt that Philip Norfolk is to leave Lighting Technology after 12 years with the company. He is relocating to Chicago to take up a position with Tech Lighting, who manufacture low voltage and display lighting. Norfolk will join a team of 120 people and will run their national specification sales and special products.
The spectacular Millennium celebrations in Newcastle-upon-Tyne centred round the backdrop of the Tyne Bridge - the prototype of the larger Sydney Harbour Bridge, itself the backdrop to spectacular Millennium celebrations. The bridge was lit using City Color architectural luminaires, with design by Illuminatum. Newcastle-based power distribution specialists Innovation supplied six tonnes of cabling to provide one megawatt of power on and around the bridge. The stroke of midnight saw a fireworks display by Walk The Plank, including a stunning 150ft waterfall effect from bridge to river. The majority of the installation was carried out during normal daily activities, until the site became a vehicle exclusion zone on the morning of the 31st. Unfortunately, this also meant that all the production vehicles were ticketed by an over-excited traffic warden!
PLASA Publishing has learnt that VLPS (Europe) is to be sold to a European-based consortium. Although the move has not been officially confirmed by parent company Vari-Lite International Inc, VLPS Europe is understood to have all but completed the paperwork for a management buy-out backed by a venture capital company based in Sweden. A letter of intent is in place and confirmation of the deal is expected in the next few weeks. Vari-Lite Europe, together with Theatre Projects/Concert Productions and Brilliant Stages, became part of the Vari-Lite Inc Group in 1994 when the Samuelson Group sold off the companies. It later merged with Theatre Projects to form VLPS London.
Strand Lighting has introduced the ParkNet lighting management and control system. A veteran of theme park lighting tasks with projects recently completed for Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida, several Cruise ships and a host of themed attractions, Strand has developed a sophisticated central control system that offers simple point and click access for the control of a wide range of facilities. The new ParkNet system incorporates control for up to 18,000 DMX devices whilst the systems graphic user interface accommodates scheduling of events and includes an astronomical time clock that precisely calculates sunrise and sunset, and can execute events related to those times.
At the recent AGM of the Society of Television Lighting Designers (STLD), the Society honoured the support it had received over the past 25 years from Strand Lighting. Bernie Davies, secretary of the STLD, presented a special award to Alan Luxford, Strand's long-serving sales manager, who was present at the very first meeting of the STLD which was held at Strand Electric's King Street showroom in Covent Garden, and has supported the society ever since.
Bruce Jordahl has left High End Systems to become the editor of a new magazine - Pro Light and Staging News. The monthly title will address the touring and concert industries and will focus its editorial coverage principally on the US and Canadian markets.
Color Kinetics Incorporated, manufacturers of full spectrum digital lighting, has announced the completion of its third round of equity financing, with Deutsche Bank as the lead investor. This round featured significant participation from the company's existing investors as well as from several new investors, and has raised over $13 million for the company. This latest round of capital will enable Color Kinetics to extend the digital technologies in its growing patent portfolio into new markets. It will broaden its product range based on its LED-based Chromacore technology, which has recently been awarded a US Patent - the first issued in its field. The patent covers standalone and network control of multiple LEDs for illumination and display. According to industry analysts, the worldwide LED market is estimated at $1.8 billion, with strong forecasts for rapid growth.
The recent Sports Awards of the Century gala evening at the Vienna State Opera House, with live performances from Eros Ramazotti and Sir Cliff Richard among others, was lit by a large automated rig supplied by Vari-Lite Austria. The rig included 18 VL5, eight VL6, 16 VL6B and 20 VL7 luminaires, programmed and operated by lighting designer Norbert Wolfsberger. The production company for the event was Cataclysm.
VLPS London has started off the New Year supplying equipment to a string of high profile motor industry events across Europe. For Volvo's launch of the new V70 in Brussels, lighting designer Glyn Peregrine used ETC Source Fours, Minuette and Cantata fresnels an Arri desk and Avolites dimmers; in Seville, Ford launched the new Transit, with lighting designed by Mike Sobotnicki, incorporating 12 VL5Arc and 16 VL6B luminaires, along with ETC Source Fours and Par 64s, all controlled via a Wholehog II. Other projects for Ford included the company's exhibition stands at the Brussels Motor Show (lighting design by Andy Offin) and the Amsterdam Motor Show (lighting design by Ross Corbett).
London-based Lighting Technology has announced major developments in its reporting and organisational structure including the promotion of senior personnel within the Group. Garry Nelsson is now group sales and marketing director and Bruce Kirk Group projects director. They have between them ultimate responsibility for the total sales of the Group. Reporting to Nelsson, Ron Knell now takes on the role of export sales manager, Dave Short becomes sales office manager and Rob Williamson field sales manager. Andy Dodd is now Manchester branch manager, enabling Graham Bassett to join the sales force and handle the task of developing the North East of England for LTG products, following the acquisition of Sound Electronics. This branch will officially be known as Lighting Technology Newcastle from 1st March.Strategic restructuring of Lighting Technology Projects has resulted in the creation of
Following a major refurbishment programme in 1998/9, the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, has recently upgraded its technical systems to include over 90 Selecon luminaires. The theatre has taken possession of new lighting equipment for the main house and foyer areas. Lighting Technology Group (Manchester) supplied the Selecon kit comprising 24 special front-of-house profiles in a gold and cream finish to match the decor in the foyer, 30 high performance Fresnels, six 2.5k Arena fresnels, five 4-way cyc lights and 30 Aurora units. In addition to the Selecon kit, Lighting Technology supplied 15 James Thomas Engineering lighting bars, each with six Thomas Par 64 lanterns and an additional 40 colour-changer Par cans. All luminaires were supplied with the new Trigger Clamp from Doughty Engineering. The theatre also purchased an Avolites console and dimming for the venue.
AC Lighting has appointed Sebastian Williams to its team of technical support. Williams recently gained a degree in Theatre Design, part of which included his final paper on computerised lighting design, from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Before joining AC Lighting, he worked on a number of projects, including running a series of trade shows for Virgin Cola.
Triflite Cases, a division of Trifibre Containers International Ltd, has introduced new lightweight shock mounted 19" rack flight cases to its range. The cases incorporate a new lightweight aluminium floating frame suspended by eight rubber suspension mounts. Vertical rack mounting strips on the front and rear of the units allow standard 19" rackmounted equipment to be fixed in any position.
Transtechnik has installed an automated lighting control system in two Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation) television studios in Munich. The company used three Voyager systems to control the overhead equipment in the studios, two Focus lighting control systems, around 180 lighting hoists and 40 scenery hoists. In a studio where two production control rooms are shared between four television studios, the new system allows complex cues to be reset at the touch of a button. The network has been designed for redundancy and utilises Ethernet hubs and fibre optic cables, but the conventional method of DMX patching by switching over DMX connections also has its place, making unintentional access to one of the remotely-controlled studios practically impossible.
Lighting manufacturer Osram Sylvania and Motorola Inc. have signed a definitive agreement which will see Osram Sylvania acquiring the assets of Motorola Lighting who manufacture electronic ballasts for the lighting industry. The sale, which is expected to be finalised in April, would see the Motorola Lighting business becoming part of Osram Sylvania's Electronic Control Systems business.
Attempting to live up to its name slightly too literally, The Moving Light Company - and its entire stock of moving lights - has moved. But not far - the company can now be found at Unit 8 Parsons Green Depot, just a few metres further along and on the opposite side of the depot from its old base. Formed in 1994 to handle the increasing demand for automated lighting technology, The Moving Light Company has since provided equipment to a huge range of theatrical productions, concerts, trade shows, films and even a performance at Buckingham Palace! The company's growing stock levels necessitated its move to larger premises.
The Martin Group is introducing two new products for the American market. The MAC 500SP and MAC 600NT will replace two of the products that continue to be affected by the injunction placed on them by Vari-Lite Inc which prevents their sale in the USA. Martin's own engineers have developed a completely new patented colour mixing system for the MAC 600NT and both products lie outside of the American patent, which is the basis of the litigation. The Federal Appeals Court in Washington DC is expected to hear the appeal some time in February. Regardless of the decision in the case, Martin can sell the new products in the American market.
White Light has released a new, safe and fully rated solution to a standard lighting problem: rigging sidelighting on a lighting ladder. Until now, adjustable lighting ladders have generally been adjustable frameworks constructed from scaffolding. However, the advent of the new Lifting Of Loads and Equipment Regulations (LOLER), which came into force during 1998, means that this solution is no longer acceptable. Under the guidance of Richard Wilson, the company has designed a new adjustable ladder system, christened the LOLER Ladder. It consists of 2m vertical tube sections with spigots to accept cross-pieces at spacings suitable for commonly used conventional and moving lights. Cross pieces are fitted onto and then bolted to these spigots to form ladders with the desired rung spacing and, since standard diameter pipe is used throughout, lanterns can then be hung on the ladder using thei
Loren Haas has left Vari-Lite Inc. Haas has been with the company many years, most recently as executive vice-president working out of the Dallas office. His departure comes at a time of restructuring for the company, which recently announced that it was, for the first time in its history, manufacturing products specifically for sale.
The second Pulsar Student Lighting Designers Competition is to commence shortly with the first heat taking place in Melton Mowbray Colleges' technical studio. Contestants will able to use the latest technology recently installed by Pulsar Light which includes two Clay Paky Stage Color 300s and two Stage Light 300s, controlled by Pulsar's Masterpiece 216. Students from the performing arts department of De Montfort University, based at Melton Mowbray, are already queuing up to participate in the competition. Training will be offered by Pulsar at its Cambridge headquarters and the brief for the designers will be to come up with a design that complements a short piece of contemporary music. Two heats per month will see a number of students battling it out and the winners will then be invited to the finals in July where they will be asked to light a short piece of theatre specifically commiss
