Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
PLASA Show 2025 - Banner - June-Aug 2025

Rigging / Staging

Details
UK - LiteStructures, the company that was instrumental in putting together the first set for the revolutionary music programme The Tube, has recently provided the set to the newest music channel, the Musicians Channel, a free-to-air channel aimed at budding musicians.

The Musicians Channel's set designer Shaun Burley wanted a versatile adaptable stage set that could be changed according to the segment being featured. LiteStructures' solution was an effective combination of AstraLite and LiteDeck, both of which are ideal for creating interest in a variety of configurations. Adrian Brooks, managing director of LiteStructures explained: "We used LiteDeck and AstraLite because they are both light enough to manoeuvre easily and flexible enough to set up in a variety of combinations. They are also quick and easy to put together - which is, after all, the point!"

Jonathan M

Details
UK - Four divisions of the Star Events Group delivered a range of staging and rigging solutions across five venues for ClearChannel Entertainments series of Summer Nights concerts. The 2004 series of Summer Nights concerts attracted 187,500 fans to venues including Cardiff Castle, Warwick Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Leeds Castle and Chatsworth House. Cliff Richards, Tom Jones and Donnie Osmond played all of the venues, with Pavarotti playing his farewell UK concert as Leeds Castle as part of the series.

Star Events Group director Pete Holdich liaised with ClearChannel's Emma Hodgetts and production manager Neil McDonald to develop a tailored staging solution for each venue and had to manage the complex logistics as the shows took place simultaneously. Jake Piper was brought in by the group to manage the project on the ground, overseeing the impressive logistics operation including

Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

Details
UK - When White Light's production manager Jon Coventry decided to arrange some rigging training for his production team, he wondered whether the training would also be helpful to others. To that end, he contacted Stuart Graham, technical manager at the New Wimbledon Theatre, the closest venue to White Light's South London base.

After discussing options, Coventry and Graham agreed on a three-day rigging course offered by Chris Higgs at Total Fabrications. This course is often conducted at a client's site, and Coventry and Graham felt a theatre environment would better suit their needs, while Higgs had previously hosted training there for the ENO. Fortunately, the New Wimbledon Theatre was dark for its summer break and so it provided the perfect venue.

The New Wimbledon Theatre is part of the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) - one of the country's foremost theatre producers. It i

Details
USA - It's been a busy season for Total Structures, with the fabrication of a range of aluminium outdoor load-bearing roof structures. Systems have been supplied to a number of clients including Brown United, Stages Northwest, Hughies, Rhino and E-Staging and will be used in a variety of locations from Mexico to Oregon, California to Ohio. Clients continue to be attracted by the modular nature of the Total Structures' roof system that can be readily configured to a variety of sizes, say the company. The roofs are based on a 10ft x 10ft grid to facilitate the suspension of loads above the stage: multiple covers and engineering reports have been supplied with some of these roofs so that they can be configured in a variety of ways using common structural components.

Braced goalpost and rectangular sound wings are also provided with some of these roof systems. The roofs can be used

Details
UK / The Netherlands - LGH Rigging Services, specialist in the hire, sales and service of rigging and associated equipment, has signed a two-year contract with Q-Production, the leading producer of dance-events in Holland. The contract, which has been secured by LGH Rigging Services' Dutch operation, is for the hire and supply of Lodestar motors, control and associated rigging equipment for rigging the lighting, sound and video equipment at over 50 annual dance events held all over Holland and supported by well known DJs such as Tiësto, Paul Van Dyk, Mauro Picotto, Sven Vath, Marco V, Dana and many others.

'Q-Production have until now sourced their rigging equipment through their lighting supplier but realized that it would be more beneficial if they were to come direct to a supplier of rigging materials," explained Frank Kreuk, Dutch manager, LGH Rigging Services. "A

Details
UK - PCM has supplied the Plaisterers Hall, in the heart of the City of London, with Lodestar motors for a challenging installation.

The Plaisterers organization is one of the oldest livery companies in England, with its first charter granted by King Henry VII in 1501. The largest livery hall in London, it remains a focal point for the plastering trade. The current Hall, the result of a new build in 1972, needed a makeover to bring it into the 21st century in terms of an audio-visual, lighting and audio infrastructure. The idea was to provide hanging points for whatever technical production equipment was required in the Hall, according to the format of the event.

PCM was contacted by the main project consultant Plaisterers Hall Ltd, on the recommendation of David Harding from Winchester-based lighting and sound consultancy, Whitwam. They supplied and located 18 double-braked Lodesta

Details
UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout has recently expanded its rigging operation by investing in large quantities of James Thomas SuperLite and SuperTruss, enhancing the company's ability to offer a variety of rigging solutions across the live production industry, and complementing its drapes installation division. The new rigging operation is headed by Ken Nock.

Recently appointed by live brand communications agency Pci:Live, Blackout played a pivotal role in realizing the colossal set for Microsoft's TechEd 2004 Europe. This is the definitive Microsoft conference for building, deploying, securing, and managing connected solutions and the largest conference and exhibition of its kind in Europe. Over 7,700 IT professionals and Microsoft developers attended the four-day event to up-date their knowledge of the latest integrated solutions from the world's largest software d

Details
UK - PCM is highlighting two product ranges at the PLASA 2004 Show - their extensive range of CM Lodestar Motors and the PLASA award winning Unibar system. PCM put the Lodestar brand on the map during the 1990s as far as the European touring and event industry is concerned. The company supplies a wide selection of standard Lodestar electric chain hoists which will be highlighted on the stand at PLASA, together with details of its Motor Schools.

PCM also features the Lodestars to BGV C1 standard, with double brakes, each capable of stopping the full load. They provide double the usual hoist safety factor, with a chain safety factor of 10:1, plus four-position limit switches including emergency switches, 24V control, under/overload electronic protection and a slack chain detection device.

PCM's Award-winning Unibar winch system (PLASA 2003 Product Excellence) allows the quick an

Details
UK - Out Board's CM-Series chain hoist controllers have recently found new customers in the concert touring industry, featuring on the rigging of state-of-the-art line array PA systems for several major acts this summer. London-based Capital Sound have bought a pair of CM6 six-channel controllers with remote handcontrollers, plus a quantity of C-Form splitter boxes to mount on the PA flybars. Specified by Capital's technical manager, Ross Anderson, the CM6s are handling multiple hangs of the company's unique hybrid line array system, comprising Meyer MILO mid-high boxes and Martin Audio W8LS low cabinets, which have been out for most of the summer on Dido's European tour.

Global Rigging's Oz Marsh purchased two CM12 12-channel controllers, also with remote handsets and truss-mounting splitter boxes, to support Concert Sound on recent international tours by Eric Clapton and Lenni

Details
Russia - Currently the chain hoists and chain hoist controllers of ChainMaster of Eilenburg in Saxony are in demand all over the world, the company reports, with further successes in Russia underlining the trend: first it was the Kremlin, where 35 BGV-C1 chain hoists in the 500kg weight category, including encoder-driven way measurement equipment and a network controller (all from ChainMaster) were installed at the behest of the Arlecchino Business Center at the beginning of the year; then, one of Russia's largest festivals, at which the well-known events and entertainment service provider Arsenal Music of Tyumen recently gave its new set of ChainMaster hoists their first outing.

(Lee Baldock)

Details
UK - The Product Excellence Awards at the PLASA Show has been a popular feature of the event for many years, highlighting the significance of the show as a focus for new developments for the industry. To reinforce this role, the PLASA Awards have undergone an important change for the 2004 event (12-15 September), in order to focus on genuine innovation.

For the re-branded PLASA Awards for Innovation, the judges will be looking for products which advance the industry, demonstrate a new style of thinking, represent a key step forward in safety terms, or improve technical practices. There will be eight Awards for Innovation at the judges' disposal and currently over 60 nominations have been received, with just three weeks before the deadline of Friday 3 September. Exhibitors who still wish to nominate a product are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible. Nominees w

Details
UK - James Thomas will show its comprehensive ranges of trussing, tower and ground support systems - including the new Mini Tower trussing system - and theatrical lanterns. The latter include the legendary aluminium PAR can, cyc lights, spot banks and light battens.

The Mini Tower system is a small ground support tower designed to lift loads of up to 1000 kg to a maximum height of 7.5 metres in a three or four tower configuration; 7.5 metres in a goal post (two tower) configuration. JTE is also showing examples of its large range of standard aluminium trussing, ground support and roofing structures. JTE trussing and aluminium products are in clubs and destination venues of all types, large scale festivals, theatres, concert tours, theme parks, visitor attractions and retail environments. The most popular aluminium products include GP (General purpose) trussing, SuperTruss, Super

Details
UK - From the refreshingly new surroundings of their booth, Prolyte Products Group will present a mix of new and existing products at the PLASA. A new system of crowd barriers will be presented, both in aluminium and steel versions. Information on these crowd barriers will be available at the stand. A official launch party on Sunday 12 September will be used to introduce a new product to both press and public. More information on the new product that will be launched will be issued shortly.

Further demo sets of Prolyte high quality truss systems, in several ranges and the successful Stage DEX staging system will be shown. Next to that the ProTrac system, a complete system of which will be installed at the Royal Opera House in London this year, will be demonstrated. Prolyte personnel, engineers as well as sales managers, will be at the stand to assist you and to give explanation

Details
UK - Star Rigging was pivotal in ensuring Wembley arena could play host to four sell-out concerts as part of Madonna's Re-Invention tour. A Madonna concert was always going to be a spectacular production, so when production director Chris Lamb, Madonna and her team planned the 2004 Re-Invention tour, it was no surprise that the result was a complex, physically huge, highly technical production.

Following rehearsals in March and 45 US dates the tour has crossed the 'pond', with promoters Solo selling out 17 European dates in seven venues. Star Rigging's Phil Broad and Steve Armstrong were contracted as tour riggers throughout Europe joining Dano Rowley and Jimmy Vaughn. Phil's role included accommodating the complex rigging into each of the Arena venues.

The production includes 130 rigging points and 160 motors, carrying five moving video screens (the largest of which is seven

Details
UK - Prolyte Products Group will introduce a complete line of electrical hoists for the entertainment market at this years PLASA show. The Prolyft Performance, a brand new hoist which will be exclusively sold by Prolyte and its distributor network, will receive its worldwide premiere with an official press launch on Sunday 12 September.

Prolyte has built a reputation for high quality products and from this background, Prolyte has decided to use its insight in market demands and product expertise to redefine the concept of rigging. The outcome is a sturdy, road proof line of electrical chain hoists with user-friendly features. The range comes with various options and specifications and in addition there is an assortment of controllers is available.

A worldwide network of service points sells the Prolyft Performance hoist. Apart from a regular stock, the service points can provi

Details
UK - Following last year's lead, CM is showing more new products - and a new face - at this year's PLASA exhibition. With the company's largest stand to date, the focus will be on the new range of CM Pro-Commander hoist control products specifically aimed at the high end computerized and BGV-C1 hoist market. The range includes a cost-effective BGV-C1 manual controller, all the way to a Mitsubishi Electrics powered variable-speed system capable of running the new Varistar hoist up to speeds in excess of 30m per minute with a 500kg s.w.l. This system also includes full load-monitoring feedback, which will be regularly demonstrated on the stand.

As well as the control products CM is be showing its new range of BGV-C1 approved Lodestars designed especially for computerized control, including the CM Pro-Commander line. A range of other more standard products is also available for ins

Details
UK - Rigging industry personality John Jones is to launch a new company, LTM - Lift Turn Move, at PLASA 2004: "It's the perfect opportunity - having the whole industry in one place at one time," he says. Based in Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula - at the centre of the current Merseyside regeneration strategy - LTM is a new, independently owned company which will specialize in the sale of Lodestar Motors and other rigging accessories for the professional leisure and entertainment industries.

Jones is joined by co-director David King, and the LTM team is further boosted by Dawn Gerrard, Paul Hadfield and Dave Ward - all skilled and knowledgeable in the world of rigging and show presentation, and all previous colleagues at PCM. The tightly focused operation will concentrate on making life simple and cost-effective for the client.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Details
UK - It's business as usual at PCM, the Wirral-based flying and rigging sales specialists, despite the company's last minute decision against participating at PLASA - due to the current restructuring.

Paul Kelly has now assumed the role of MD, following the recent departure of John Jones. Kelly has been with the company for 12 years and has been general manger since 1997. Everything else carries on as normal - the sales office is still active and operational, headed by Kelly and Tracy Hall. PCM carries a full range of Lodestar motors, extensive spares, motor controllers and accessories.

Kelly comments: "It's a very exciting time for PCM right now. However the timing of all the recent changes, the increased administration plus a very full order book to deal with meant something had to give. After much deliberation, we decided not do PLASA this year, and instead focus all e

Details
UK - Chris Cronin of Total Fabrications Ltd has announced the formation of Total Solutions Group, established to manage a suite of well-known brands associated with trussing in the entertainment industry.

Sitting under the umbrella of the Group will be the brands Total Fabrications, Slick (one of the oldest truss manufacturers in the industry, purchased by Total Fabrications in 2003), T2 (the Award-winning, high-specification safety truss), Total Training (the new rigging training initiative set up by the company) and New Wave (the decorative trussing brand which has won numerous awards). New Wave is marketed by TSG for its US-based sister company Total Structures, which remains separate from the new TSG structure.

Some of the Group's brand names - Total Fabrications, T2 and Slick - are available for manufacture under license in other countries around the world, through technology tr

Details
UK - The 2004 PLASA show will see the worldwide launch of the new InMotion 3D/CyberHoist motion control system by Holland's XLNT Advanced Technologies. The complete system offers a stunning combination of precision movement and user-friendly 3D object-oriented programming and is the most advanced motion control system available for the entertainment industry, say the company.

The system was first seen at the EBU Eurovision Song Contest 2004 and is now on its début world tour with Phil Collins (currently in the USA) through PRG Lighting. Full live demonstrations of the system will be running throughout the show in the Warwick Hall at Earls Court 1, in association with Vertigo Rigging. The system has its worldwide Press Premiere on Sunday September 12 at 2pm in the Warwick Room (access via the lift at the back of the Warwick Road entrance foyer).

XLNT Advanced Technologies, bas

Details
UK - Out Board has launched the all-new DM Series of chain hoist rigging motor controllers, configured in 4- and 8-channel versions to manage Direct Control hoists such as Verlinde, Chainmaster and the new Columbus McKinnon direct control hoists.

As with the company's established CM-Series Low Voltage controllers, the DM4 and DM8 are each packaged in rugged, compact (3U) rackmount chassis, ideal for touring, theatre, corporate, festival or installation applications. Like the CM-Series, both controllers are automation-ready for integration with intelligent rigging control systems such as the IBEXtm Programmable Hoist Controller.

Direction control is available via front panel switches or by optional remote handset, plus remote and linkable GO and E-stop functions. The DM4 four-channel unit has Cee-type output connectors and the DM8 has Socapex-type connectors; truss-mounting spl

Details
UK - The much-vaunted InMotion 3D / CyberHoist motion control system was unveiled at PLASA at the start of four days of demonstrations in the Warwick Hall at Earls Court. The complete system offers a unique combination of precision movement and user-friendly programming and its creators, Holland's XLNT Advanced Technologies, claims it is the most advanced motion control system available for the entertainment industry. It was first seen at the EBU Eurovision Song Contest 2004 and is now on its début world tour with Phil Collins in the USA through PRG Europe.

A complete InMotion 3D / CyberHoist system consists of InMotion 3D object-oriented software, an unlimited number of 1/2-tonne Verlinde CyberHoist motors, an Ethernet network (DataMotion), a dedicated power distribution system (PowerMotion) and the human element - a programmer/operator.

It is designed specifically for mov

Details
The DGS Counterweight Drive System has been designed using the latest steel band technology to simplify the arduous process of operating counterweight systems in the entertainment industry. Faster fit-up times, significant reductions in running costs and a greatly improved safety and operational capability are among the benefits offered by Hall Stage, in conjunction with ASM Steuerungstechnik GmbH, for the movement and control of scenery and stage equipment. The system won the ABTT's Rigging & Engineering Product of the Year award in the summer, and has added to its haul with a PLASA Award.

Loading and unloading cradles is an inherently dangerous process: DGS reduces the potential for conflicts with safe working practices legislation and future health issues as well as future claims for injury and long-term back problems - by doing away with the manual aspects of the process.

Operat

Details
Described by the judges as 'a leap forward in chain hoist control with an elegant solution in control and planning aspects of the production process', the much-vaunted InMotion 3D / CyberHoist motion control system was unveiled at PLASA at the start of four days of on-site demonstrations. The system offers a combination of precision movement and user-friendly programming and its creators, Dutch company XLNT Advanced Technologies, claims it is the most advanced motion control system available for the entertainment industry.

It was first seen at this year's Eurovision Song Contest (L&SI June 2004) and is now on its début world tour with Phil Collins (L&SI August 2004) via PRG Europe. A complete system consists of InMotion 3D object-oriented software, an unlimited number of half-tonne Verlinde CyberHoist motors, an Ethernet network (DataMotion), a dedicated power distribution system (Pow

  1. PLASA Awards for Innovation - Winners for 2004
  2. Successful PLASA for Prolyte
  3. Hall Stage adds to Awards haul
  4. Star Rigging Tickled Pink
  5. ChainMaster strengthens Russian support
  6. LiteStructures on the Tour of Britain
Page 92 of 234
Astera - Large MPU - June 2025
Sennheiser - MPU - June 2025

Latest Issue. . .