This week Show Technology’s managing director Emmanuel Ziino made a major commitment to the rapidly growing area of architectural lighting by appointing Jonathan Ciddor as architectural products manager. Ciddor has been involved in the lighting business for over 30 years, the last 15 specializing in taking entertainment lighting to architectural and theming applications to create interesting lighting solutions. This wealth of knowledge will now be used to develop Show Technology’s position as one of the leaders in innovative architectural lighting in Australia.
Jonathan’s own experience on large scale architectural and theming projects is vast and he has worked on a wide range of projects. He is currently working on the permanent location of the Olympic Cauldron at Homebush Bay involving over 20 Clay Paky Goldenscans. The installation of this project is by Beyond Audi
Thommy Hall who has joined California-based Mobolazer to manage the sales department. Hall is well known throughout the lighting industry and was previously in New York City as northeast region sales manager for High End Systems. He also spent two years in Hawaii as sales manager for Hawaii Stage and Lighting and was also lighting director of the highly acclaimed production of Ulalena at the Maui Myth and Magic Theater.
A documentary team are planning to do a report on what they believe is Europe’s oldest working lightbulb. The star subject has reportedly been working perfectly well in the garage of a family based in Cetinje, Yugoslavia, since it was first installed in 1910.
However, the Yugoslavian bulb has some way to go before it catches up with a feisty old lightbulb still serving duty in a fire station in the US city of Livermore. The 4W bulb recently celebrated its centenary.
During our time at the recent TiLE show at the Business Design Centre in Islington, we took time out to call in on Lighting Technology’s newly established office on the second levelof the Design Centre.
Dave Cartwright and Richard Reed, both on temporary secondment from the Group’s Park Royal HQ, were more than happy to show us round. The new base, which features both a sales office and showroom area, is championing the promotion of Lighting Technology Projects’ specialist architectural lighting products portfolio, which incorporates product lines from manufacturers around the world, including Color Kinetics, ETC Irideon, TIR LightPipe, Astralux, Derksen and Phoenix - as well as numerous other architectural lighting and control products. Graham White, recently recruited from Absolute Action, heads up the new office with Clive Tallent and Sarah Davis joining him from P
PLASA 2001 sees Avolites also launch the Art2000-US 20 Amp digital dimmer, specifically designed for America.
The Full Mains Patching, virtually silent operation and 100% duty cycle, 20 Amp channels will satisfy America’s sharply growing demand for portable, high density touring dimming systems.The Avolites Art-2000 dimmer is an established and proven design, and the American system utilises the flexible Dimming or Mains Distribution modular design that has made the Avolites Art dimmer popular around the world.
The system features a Mains Patch with four sockets per dimmer channel (total 192) to 162 Patch Cords connected to 25 Socapex and 12 Stagepin outlets. All patch cords are numbered, colour coded and utilise the 32 Amp rated ‘Multi-lam’ contacts. Mains connection is via 5 wire Camloc inputs complete with Camloc loop outlets. The Rack system is supplied with Vol
Just two years ago the PRG group of lighting companies added Midnight Design and the Spot Co to their UK operation. At the time PRG's stated aim was consolidation of the two companies with the recently-established UK branch of Production Arts, and at the same time to forge a working relationship with LSD in Birmingham. Indeed, well known lighting industry executive Alan Thomson was appointed specifically for that task, "and", he was happy to announce last week, "it's a task we've just completed. The final shipment of equipment from the inventory of Production Arts has already been unloaded into our facility here in Croydon."
The integration of these three well-regarded companies into one cohesive unit has produced many changes besides the amalgamation of resources and inventory. The combination of experience and know-how has allowed expansion into new markets, not l
The heart of downtown Montreal is racing with excitement since the May 2001 opening of NewTown, a spectacular four-storey complex which includes a bar, restaurant, lounge, and terrace, and is owned by Quebec-born F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve and associates. NewTown is dream project which has taken several years to plan and build. From a huge demolition process to an outstanding rebirth, NewTown has become a modern structure while preserving its rich historical and architectural roots. The club on the bottom floor is where much of the action takes place, beneath 24 Titanium MiniMac profiles from Martin Professional, supplied by Canadian dealer Solotech. Lighting designer for the venue was Francois Roupignant, product specialist was Paul Pelletier
The 2001-2 Learning On Screen Annual Production Awards were again a huge success, with a record 165 people attending the presentation dinner, promoted by the charity, The Society for Screen-Based Learning. Strand Lighting sponsored the Best Lighting Award - which this year went to Supernova for their training video, e.asywriter. The video is set inside a PC, and Supernova’s Vincent Thompson describes e.asywriter as encouraging the effective use of e-mail. According to Thompson: "Everyone needs to know how to use e-mail properly - just as they need telephone and business writing skills. We wanted to create a fun story that would make practical points about using email effectively. We came up with the idea of inventing an email control room - a mix of high-tech and old-fashioned post room, using Chromakey to show the user ‘looking in’. The lighting was instrumental i
DHA Lighting is continuing its international expansion with the announcement of the appointment of Clearlight Shows Pty Ltd as its new Australian dealer for the DHA range of moving effects and image projectors. Clearlight Shows is one of the longest-established theatrical lighting hire companies in Australia, and its lighting equipment range includes everything from profiles, moving light systems and colour scrollers to smoke machines, special effects, disco lighting effects and drapes. The company has developed an excellent reputation in the Australian marketplace and is relied upon by corporations, major theatres, television stations and schools throughout the country. The appointment follows a meeting between the two companies at PLASA 2000, and together the two companies will be concentrating on the architectural market.
Los Angeles-based DJ equipment supplier American DJ recently completed a major expansion at its newly-acquired distribution centre in Miami, Florida. Encompassing nearly 20,000sq.ft of warehouse space, the enlarged Florida facility will now service all ADJ dealers located east of the Mississippi, as well as the company's growing customer base in Central and South America.
Establishing a base in Miami will allow American DJ to provide Eastern dealers with faster turnaround on orders, while keeping shipping costs down, explained ADJ general manager Scott Davies. "Our company's success has been built on providing dealers with unsurpassed service and the most affordable prices on lighting and audio gear, and we want to be able to continue to deliver these things, even as our business grows," Davies commented.
Among the improvements made at the Florida facility was the installat
Stagetec (UK) Ltd has recently won three major contracts covering a diverse selection of production industry areas. In the theatre market, the company is supplying and installing a complete new sound system at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford. The theatre 3D-modelled the auditorium to ensure optimum coverage and intelligibility, and were demonstrated several systems. They chose a Nexo system, supplied by Stagetec, consisting of eight PS15 mid/high speakers, four LS1200 sub-bass cabinets, plus three PS8 speakers for delays, all driven from Crown Macro-Tech amplifiers. The whole system is controlled via a Crown USM810 digital processor and three Sabine Graphi-Q digital programmable graphic EQs - the idea being to offer a quick, easy and very flexible system catering for the wide range of productions. Stagetec also supplied a Soundcraft K2 mixer, a range of outboard equipment and a Sennheise
Irish lighting design and technical consultancy LDPS Ltd has moved into new offices in central Cork as part of an on-going expansion and recruitment programme. The new address and contact details are: LDPS Ltd, Studio Office 11, Fareham House, 26/27 MacCurtain St, Cork, Ireland. Tel: + 353 21 450 8162, fax: + 353 21 450 8168.
The LDPS team has also been strengthened with the appointment of Bertie Buckley as company administrator. Buckley previously worked as assistant to the director of Cork Opera House, and his experience and knowledge will be a great asset to LDPS. The recent move to the larger, centrally located premises is significant, and is designed to integrate all aspects of the growing LDPS team into one creative and administrative space.
LDPS was formed by Grant Collie (pictured) in 1998 to offer consultancy, lighting design and project management services and solutions to
Vari-Lite Inc has announced that Bob Schacherl has joined the company as vice-president of sales and marketing. Schacherl will lead Vari-Lite's worldwide sales and marketing efforts for the new line of Vari*Lite luminaires and consoles. "We're excited to have Bob as part of the Vari-Lite team," said Clay Powers, president and chief operating officer at Vari-Lite. “Bob's knowledge and experience will be instrumental in helping us to achieve our goal of making Vari*Lite the preferred brand in automated lighting technology."
Schacherl joins Vari-Lite with over 20 years’ experience in the automated lighting and entertainment marketplace, and a successful track record in building effective worldwide sales organizations. He is a founder and former president of High End Systems, from which he resigned at the start of this year.
Last November Selecon dealer Stage Electrics added 50 1200 High Performance Fresnels to its hire stock. To date the staff have been overwhelmed with the response to these popular luminaires which provide high light output, excellent beam control and are the perfect principal luminaire for the medium to large stage. The constant high demand for the units has prompted the decision to further boost the hire stocks by adding another 100 units this summer. Adding further spice to its hire stocks Stage Electrics has also introduced 40 new Selecon Acclaim Axial 18/34 Profile luminaires. Having been designed for applications requiring precise beam control, this versatile luminaire delivers for short or longer throws, pattern projection or accurate area illumination - fantastic for use within both the corporate and education markets.
INTEL is the international electronics fair sponsored by ANIE (National Federation of Electrotechnical and Electronic Firms) which stages the World Light Show, an exhibition of lighting technology products. At this year’s event, Clay Paky displayed a full range of products for the architectural lighting sector. INTEL also held ‘Experiencing Light’, organised by Assi (National Association of Lighting Manufacturers), where lighting designers, architects, art historians and philosophers tackled the theme ‘light’ in general, with a focus on architectural lighting. During this show, prizes were awarded to the Lighting Designers who took part in the competition ‘Illuminated Monuments’.
This competition involved the lighting of some of Milan’s most well-known monuments. The event had a number of aims: to enhance frequently-overlooked monuments,
Show Presentation Services (SPS), the leading equipment rental and staging specialist, has announced that it increased its turnover from £8m to £13m over 2000, and achieved a 58% increase in pre-tax profits for the same period, as a direct result of its integrated event services strategy. The results reinforce SPS’s position as a leading independent AV rental and staging business. High business growth rates were achieved by the scenic construction and lighting rental departments in particular, of 241% and 148% respectively. SPS’s investment in a Barco D-Lite7 Modular LED screen was validated by the turnover generated with the successful launch of its LED rental business. A part-year contribution from the Earls Court and Olympia AV contract that commenced its five-year term also boosted SPS’s increase.
"This year has seen more challenging business conditions,&qu
Intertec, organizers of the annual LDI exhibition in the United States, have announced that this year’s show (2-4 November, Orlando, Florida) will incorporate Expolatina 2001, the exhibition aimed at the Latin-American marketplace. The move, say Intertec, has been made to accommodate Latin American visitors who want to be able to attend both events. Nine workshops at LDI will be presented in Spanish-only, and will include presentations by Sarah Sidman on lighting and the use of colour, Meyer Sound on line array systems, Andres Mayo of Mr. Master in Buenos Aires with a detailed look at DVD authoring, and a panel of international lighting experts moderated by Sergio Alvarado of Strand Lighting. In addition there will be an entire programme offered in English.
The Swiss city of Berne is having the lighting system in its municipal theatre modernized by the Transtechnik Group at a cost of around 425,000 Euros. Due to be completed at the end of this month, the project will bring state-of-the-art lighting technology to this famous theatre. The new system includes two lighting control consoles - a Focus NT and a Prisma NT - each of which is fitted with a moving light controller and connected to the digital auxiliary console via a Transtechnik DMX-Gate protocol converter. The converter converts the DMX signals from the lighting consoles to the Profibus signals for the auxiliary console (and vice versa) to allow the devices to exchange data. The Profibus standard requires only a thin, two-wire cable for transmitting control signals, which means that there is no need for thick bundles of cables to the auxiliary console. Profibus also permits bi-direct
PLASA has worked in co-operation with some of London’s leading entertainment venues to offer an exclusive insight into the workings of some of the city’s most famous venues; this exclusive backstage tour immediately follows the close of the PLASA Show in London this September. Theatrical London delegates will visit the world-renowned Royal Albert Hall for a night at the Proms; the Apollo Victoria Theatre to see the upgraded Starlight Express; Tussaud’s Group Studios for an exclusive technical tour, and the Donmar Warehouse for a ‘Divas at the Donmar’ performance. To top it off, you can step back in time at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre . . .
Wednesday 12th September: The experience begins with A night at The Proms, The Royal Albert Hall, featuring Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Pre-show drinks will be served in the foyer. Performance starts at 7.30pm.
Stagetec has recently completed the installation of a complete stage management, stage communications, sound and video system into the new, purpose-built DH Lawrence Pavilion Theatre on the campus of Nottingham University - one of the UK’s leading universities. The building is designed as a contemporary 250-seat theatre, an exhibition gallery and performance space, and is named after a former University student - David Herbert Lawrence - who became one of the most controversial and popular exponents of 20th century literature. The equipment installed by Stagetec was specified by ACT Consultant Services. The three-zone paging and show relay system runs throughout the building, including a Sennheiser infra-red hard-of-hearing system for the main auditorium, plus Stage Manager’s desk and full cue light system. Stagetec also supplied and installed a flexible, dynamic video and co
Nu-Light Systems of Warrington have been awarded with the Warrington & Cheshire Research and Innovation Award for their work on the newly-released laser animator system and its potential markets in signage and the Airoamer, for improving environments. They then went on to receive the overall Award for Warrington & Cheshire Business of the Year 2001. Debbie Clayton, managing director, comments: "We were delighted to receive the Awards, due to the calibre of businesses we were up against, from telecommunications companies to national retail outlets. It is important to us as a team for our work to be recognised outside of the industry. It has further confirmed we are moving in the right direction."
Mike Wake, technical director, added: "Receiving the first Award surpassed our expectations, but Business of the Year is amazing, a real team morale booster. It’s the first
AC Lighting Inc has announced a complete redesign and restructuring of its website and web policy. By taking the site under their own direct and local control, the website will become more responsive and able to more easily reflect changes in products and services. "By analyzing exactly what our customers wanted the website to achieve, we have radically changed how information is accessed on line with regards to the products that we handle," said Bob Gordon, president and CEO of AC Lighting Inc. Goprdon continued: "People want potentially three things from our website: they want information on a product that we sell, information about us, or they want to quickly and easily download something. Click on a manufacturer’s logo on our home page and you find information on everything that manufacturer sells as well as being able to access manuals, prices, and software abou
David Plail has joined MCL London as head of project management, bringing with him 28 years of industry experience. David comes to MCL from FrameSet Products, a company that he founded over 10 years ago, dedicated to the design, build and supply of diverse conference staging products. "Some people may think it a strange decision," said Plail, "to move away from FrameSet when it is such a successful company. But MCL is a young company with incredible backing from Avesco and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. In the end it was an easy choice to make. It puts me right back into the industry mainstream and will draw heavily on what I have learnt over the years. I am looking forward to the challenge."
In his new role, Plail will be drawing together all existing elements of project management at MCL London and will fine-tune current practices to ensure the
As you would expect, there’s an air of mystery about the new headquarters of the Magic Circle. Those wizards of trickery have spent seven years and £2 million rebuilding and refurbishing to create a new permanent base. At its heart sits an intimate 162-seat theatre, the first theatre to be built in this area of London since the Barbican. Here members of the Magic Circle, and the public, can marvel at the latest prestidigitations. This is no mean box of tricks: the theatre is technically well planned and equipped with the latest technology to cope with both Magic Circle shows, and for special events and corporate hire.
Gradav Sales of London chose a variety of Selecon products to provide the necessary lighting for a wide range of events. Selecon Pacific lanterns were used for front-of-house - the acclaimed optics of these luminaires make them ideal for gobo projection. Behind the