UK - Lifting, and rigging sales specialists Lift-Turn-Move launches its new Equipchaine electromechanical chain lifting device into the UK at ABTT 2005. The device has been specifically designed for theatrical applications. The Equipchaine is an electromechanical chain lifting device that has been specifically designed for theatrical applications. Each device consists of several modular elements connected together to suit the structural environment. Several chain drop positions are linked by the same drive mechanism that can be used to lift lighting bars, stage sets and curtains of various lengths.
Equipchaine is appreciated by theatre consultants and architects throughout Europe; it has been installed in a diverse range of over 130 theatres and multi purpose spaces. Existing applications range from single to 40-device projects. Using simplifies any structural problems, as it fi
UK - Stage Electrics is promoting new products from Prolyte, Apollo, Teclumen plus its own brand Encore at this week's ABTT show.
In March 2005 Stage Electrics was appointed UK distributor for Prolyte trussing, Stage Dex Staging and Prolyft chain hoists. Both Prolyte H30 and X30 trusses are light to medium duty and offer strength flexibility and compactness.
"The relationship with Prolyte has been a natural development for Stage Electrics. We have made a large investment in inventory but the wide range of products they offer and the quality of their manufacturing meant that it was an easy choice to make." said Adam Blaxill, head of purchasing at Stage Electrics.
Ed Gamble Business development manager Ed Gamble adds, "Customers have been extremely receptive to the Prolyte range, both the durability and the design features of the products make them intuitive to
UK - Theatre Royal Newcastle has been awarded training partner status with Stage Electrics. The award, say Stage Electrics, is in recognition of the Theatre Royal hosting and promoting industry specific training days to entertainment workers from all over the country.
In February this year the Theatre Royal hosted two days of intensive training workshops on behalf of Stage Electrics, which included courses on electricity at work and pyrotechnics safety awareness. As Brian Cleary, business development manager for Stage Electrics explains, support from organisations like the Theatre Royal is key to raising awareness across the industry of important health and safety issues. "We think it is very important to raise the standards within our industry and recognise the skills people have achieved."
He continues: "We have a wide range of courses on offer and it's great
UK - Production manager Steve Rebbeck needed an automation system for the many and complicated scene changes in Billy Elliot the Musical, he turned to AVW Controls. Back in 2002, Rebbeck had specified AVW Controls' Impressario system to provide the automation for the intricate flying manoeuvres on Our House and was sure the system would be right for Billy Elliot. Meanwhile, Patrick Molony was looking for set automation that he could rely on for The Far Pavilions. Having previously used the Impressario system on horoughly Modern Millie, he too turned to AVW.
For The Far Pavilions, award winning set designer Lez Brotherston had to create sets which took the action from the snow-capped Himalayas to the hot and dusty deserts of Rajasthan. A raked triple concentric revolve - the three sections of which can move simultaneously, in different direction
UAE - During the PALME exhibition in Dubai, L&SI was invited to visit the premises of Production Technology LLC - better known as Protec. Protec is a world class event production company and the region's largest supplier of sound, lighting, AV, hydraulic and motor control equipment.
The latter elements are a particular area of Protec's strength, as a tour around its facilities reveals. Everywhere are the remnants of large-scale motorized set pieces, waiting to be called upon. There are set pieces purchased from the selling off of the Millennium Dome's contents; there are large, customized, articulated truss sections, huge spheres and steel and aluminium forms of all kinds of construction; it's like a giant's Meccano kit, with lots of bits that you can't get from the shops. There's enormous potential for creativity here.
Protec is owned by Stephen Lakin, the industry veteran wh
Penn Elcom, S+H Technical Support, Freestyle Music and Metalworx (the manufacturer of Penn trussing) joined forces with Middle East distributor IBS Decor - which also manufactures flightcases in Dubai. S+H has put down roots in the region, having had a Dubai office for 14 months. The company reports plenty of business for its plain drapes in the UAE, as well as for its own starcloth product. Coming soon is S+H's second generation of remote table pinspots, with DMX control capability, which will be of interest to event organizers everywhere.
Dave King of LTM (Lift, Turn, Move) was joined on stand by the industrious Adrian Forbes-Black of Columbus McKinnon, manufacturer of the Lodestar hoists which are a mainstay of LTM's services. Forbes-Black, who began working for Columbus McKinnon in the UK and Europe a little over two years ago, reports that CM has doubled sales of its entertainment hoists in that time. This was the first PALME for LTM, which was formed just last autumn, but King was having a worthwhile time nonetheless.
UK - Vertigo Rigging has supplied the largest InMotion 3D / CyberHoist motion control system yet rigged in the UK, to provide special effects for the 50th anniversary production of the L'Oreal Color Trophy at London's Earls Court 2 arena on 16 May. The L'Oreal Colour Trophy, the most respected awards ceremony in the hair and fashion industry, tours the UK to find regional finalists before culminating in an exhilarating Grand Final in London. To mark its 50th anniversary, the production company that developed the event, Surrey-based CS Media staged a night to remember at Earls Court, with technical production management by MJK Productions.
The event included four hair shows (by hairdressers Charles Worthington, Antoinette Beenders, Trevor Sorbie and Toni & Guy), a three-course dinner, and an after-show party. The action took place on a main stage with an array of mobile and fixed
UK - Mojo Barriers UK supplied all of the stage crowd barriers to the 2005 Download Festival at Donington. 50,000 heavy rock fans descended on Donington to 'rock out' to over 60 bands featuring Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, Slayer, Slipknot, Feeder and Garbage.
Mojo Barriers UK director Jim Gaffney managed the project and liaised with Clear Channel's festival manager John Probyn and site manager Andy Pearson to agree an effective barrier design to create a safe environment for the exuberant fans. Jim explained: "There a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the best barrier configuration for the show. We have done lots of shows at Donington, as has John (Probyn) so it was great working with someone who had some great ideas whilst listening to our advice. The music/audience type and slope of the ground (left to right) were the two over-riding factors in deciding on t
Germany - The V-Motion variable motion controllers from Movecat (distributor: Think Abele of Nufringen) are designed for use with the German manufacturer's VMK hoists, in which combination intelligent and safe variable-speed hoist systems complying with BGV C1 can be created. These versatile controllers can be configured for use with a variety of VMK hoists - the V-Motion 15 for drives rated at up to 1.5 kW and the V-Motion 30 for those rated at up to 3kW.
A large, backlit LCD displays the operating state (including the run direction, run speed, position and other operating parameters) of all the connected hoists. The main and safety processor monitors all functions. All the contactors and safety circuits needed to protect against overload and slack chain are integrated along with work limit switches and emergency shutdown systems. In addition, the execution of, and internal ope
UK - Stardraw.com recently announced that it has incorporated support for WebBrick technology from UK-based home automation products and solutions company O2M8 into its award-winning application, Stardraw Control.
Stardraw Control generates standalone, customized control programs that can manage and monitor any type of addressable equipment from any manufacturer using any protocol over any communications infrastructure. This approach frees systems integrators from closed or proprietary architectures and applications, offering instead the ability to create a single application that can control many different products with as much or as little complexity as the end user needs.
O2M8 Ltd is a UK-based company creating innovative smart home products and solutions using standard technologies and open source software to reduce costs and drive growth in the smart home industry. WebBri
Germany - The new VMK hoists (distributor: Think Abele of Nufringen) conforming to the BGV C1 standard are equipped with two independent noiseless brakes, an integrated realtime load measurement module capable of discerning the real load as well as the values for overload and slack chain, and a thermo sensor that continuously monitors the operating temperature of the motor. A friction clutch is not necessary for VMK hoists because of the principle upon which they operate, which allows uninterrupted closed linkage and a positive fit between the motor and the load.
The VMK hoists are equipped with high resolution incremental encoders that make it possible to position the hoist to within +/- 1 mm (in combination with V-Motion) permitting precise target runs with the highest degree of reproducible accuracy. Combined with the V-Motion controller modules, the VMK hoists can execute va
USA - Tomcat USA is pleased to announce that Swing Wing received the award for Best Truss or Rigging Product at the recent AV Communications Excellence Awards Banquet, one of many events held in conjunction with InfoComm trade show. This is the second product award for Swing Wing since receiving the EDDY Award in 2003, say Tomcat. Tomcat USA CEO, John James said: "We constantly strive to create products that are innovative, but useful to the entertainment industry. This award is a great tribute to that mission. We are honoured."
From a stackable, self-contained transport position to a functional rigging position when flown, Swing Wing Truss is an intelligent pre-rig, say Tomcat. Designed to hold a wide variety of conventional and intelligent fixtures from the X.Spot and VL1000 ERS to the Martin 2000 and Studio Colors, Swing Wing accommodates virtually any fixture. Simi
Uk - Blackout supplied three bespoke fibre-optic starcloths to exhibition expert Silver Knight Events, which are currently being deployed in London's Science Museum for its new pan-galactic interactive visitor experience -the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Exhibition.
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from Arthur Dent's kitchen to the far reaches of outer space. It brings to life the witty and satirical narrative of Douglas Adams' iconic story. Blackout's hire and sales co-ordinator, Nico Beukes, collaborated with Silver Knight's project manager, John Nearn, to ensure that the three bespoke drapes met his exacting specifications.
Designed in a range of sizes, the fibre-optic starcloths, measured 12.2m x 12.2m, four metres by one metre and three metres by four. They played an integral role in the rich set design, which combined over 200 original props, creature
UK - Automation specialists Kinesys has teamed up with cutting-edge product designers, Carallon, to develop a brand new motion control software solution - K2. The product will be officially launched at PLASA 2005, staged in Earls Court, 11 - 14 September. K2 is a ground-breaking motion control technology that is more powerful, logical, easy to operate and accurate than anything seen before say the company.
Kinesys initially approached Carallon to help realize K2 because: "Their pedigree is second to none" explains Dave Weatherhead The Carallon design team has extensive experience producing specialist entertainment industry hardware and software, including iconic products such as the WholeHog range of digital lighting consoles. The team's track record, combined with their energy and enthusiasm for K2, meant Kinesys knew they'd found the right partner with the right skil
UK - Serious Stages supplied a variety of stages, PA towers, roofing and decking elements at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival including to the Pyramid, Other Stage, Jazz World, East and West Dance stages, Roots and the John Peel Stage. Glastonbury 2005 has already been hailed as one of the most memorable, action packed and fun events for entertainment value, despite a violent thunderstorm and torrential rain for three hours on the Friday morning, which also rendered it one of the muddiest!
This year Glastonbury's famous Pyramid stage was flanked by two of Serious's new Goal Post PA towers, enabling SSE's Nexo Geo-T PA to be flown at a height of 60ft. The deck for the towers was two metres above the ground and each tower was ballasted by eight tonnes of concrete. This allowed SSE to angle the PA to throw right back across the hill. Pyramid highlights included headliners the White St
UK - The 25th anniversary of the annual Mersey River Festival in Liverpool - celebrating the life, times and history of the city's river - benefited from additional investment and an injection of new ideas and enhanced production and entertainment elements this year. This included a massive increase in family facilities and children's activities, a fully equipped performance stage located at the Pier head site, which offered a diverse programme of artists throughout the three days and nights, plus large format building projections after dark.
It was the first year that the new events team from Liverpool Culture Company organized this event. "It was the 25th anniversary, 2005 is the 'Year of the Sea' and we wanted to refresh and revamp the event, make it more contemporary and broaden its appeal to a wider public than the traditional River Festival audience. We also wanted to
UK - Stagecraft, one of the UK's leading staging and live events companies, is celebrating a milestone of 25 years in business. The Salisbury-based company, which has achieved massive growth since completing its first year of trading in 1980, has been presented with numerous awards during its 25 years for commitment and dedication to the industry.
Stagecraft produces conferences and exhibitions, as well as providing equipment and technical support for corporate events, festivals, parties and meetings in the UK and abroad. Stagecraft Theatre Services supplies and installs equipment from all leading lighting and sound manufacturers to the educational, amateur and professional entertainment sectors.Managing director, David Goodrich commented: "It is incredible to think that 25 years has passed and I am proud to be part of an exciting and innovative industry . . . the trend has
USA - Tomcat has announced the dates of its 2006 Hoist & Rigging Workshop. The annual school includes workshops pertaining to hoist, rigging, truss, and fall protection taught by leading industry experts. Workshops will run over four days, from 1-4 March 2006, in Midland, Texas.
Making its second appearance after becoming a huge success among participants in the 2005 Workshop will be the Advanced Workshop. This two-day workshop covers a variety of interesting topics on hoist motors and truss design and is meant for those who have already completed Tomcat's four-day workshop and/or those with extensive experience working with motors and truss in the field. The advanced workshop is scheduled to take place from 3-4 March, also in Midland, Texas. Further information is available from the e-mail address below.
UK - Mojo Barriers has supplied the crowd barriers for all of the dates of U2's sold-out Vertigo World tour.
Mojo Barriers MD Patrick Jordan liaised with U2's Jake Berry from its Netherlands head office, to ensure the barrier design integrated into the U2 stage set to create a safe environment for both the band and their audiences. The tour started in San Diego (USA) where the Mojo Barriers US office supplied them with 130m of black powder-coated aluminium Mojo Barriers to go around the 'egg'-shaped walkway and to create a pen inside the 'egg'.
In Europe, Mojo Barriers supplied a total of 300m of its proprietary aluminium stage barriers for the outdoor shows. The U2 Vertigo outdoor stage has two 'bull horn' like thrusts on stage left and stage right and the Mojo Barriers followed the contour of these with its front of stage barrier. The company also provided a large curved sec
UK - Summit Steel is supplying a 45-way Kinesys Elevation 1+ vari-speed automation and control system to the current Oasis stadium tour - as specified by lighting designer Andi Watson. It is the largest ever Kinesys Elevation variable speed chain hoist system used to date.
Lighting contractor PRG Birmingham, and account handler Robin Wain contracted Summit to supply the system which is being used to move 12 lighting 'Quads' customised frames each holding 4 MAC 2000 moving lights and lined with PixelLine LED battens on the top rail and DJ Flash rope. There are two motors per quad, and these glide seamlessly in and out and up and down to create different patterns and configurations - effectively making a constantly moving stage set.
There are four further moving trusses taking up thirteen points, each of varying lengths and containing a total of 12 Syncrolite SX 3KW moving light
UK - Summit Steel kicked off a hectic end of June and early July with SmarTmast mayhem on a huge variety of events and festivals.
SmarTmasts, a Summit designed and constructed product, have become hugely popular with PA companies, production and site managers for their rugged load bearing capacities, easy construction, elegant aesthetics and small footprint.
In Portsmouth for Mice International at the Trafalgar 200 event, Summit supplied eight SmarTmasts used as PA towers for Capital Sound. These were dotted all over the Portsmouth Royal Naval Dockyard site at various performance stages and screen sites.
For the Leeds Castle Summer Concerts in June and July and for Clear Channel 's Summer Nights in July at the same venue, Summit supplied two SmarTmast2s and four SmarTmast1s, for PA companies RG Jones and Major Tom. Summit is also providing Major Tom with a single dela
UK - Specialists in lighting, sound and power provision Pearce Hire was contracted to manage the temporary power requirements for Birmingham's National Day of Commemoration with a spectacular Victory Fireworks Fantasia and a stage set on the lake in Cannon Hill Park. Continuing work with Birmingham City Council, after successfully providing power in recent years for the Jubilee celebrations, New Years Eve events, Diwali and Centenary Square, Pearce Hire has become a regular provider to the City Council.
Over 15,000 people enjoyed the fine weather and music at Cannon Hill Park's Victory Fireworks Fantasia. Chaired by Nick Owen of Midlands Today, a fabulous 1940s-themed afternoon concert starred British favourites Max Bygraves OBE and Joan Regan, while extracts from the Rat Pack Live featured music from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior. Rousing the crowd th
UK - Slingco has installed an 8.6m wide by 18m long CABLEnet tensioned wire grid at 6.4m above the main stage and auditorium of the new Junction 2 Theatre in Cambridge.
With no intermediate members below the grid - it's completely clear to the venue floor - and capable of supporting 250 Kg vertical loads. It's believed to be the largest grid of this type to date in the UK.
Junction 2 is a brand new flexible 220 capacity arts, theatre and education space, with a new technology laboratory aimed at inspiring the next generation of artists, musicians and audiences.
Designed as both a receiving and producing house, it's the first purpose built theatre to open in Cambridge since the 1930s and is operated by Junction CDC. Robin Townley, development director of Junction 2 knew that full flying facilities would not be required for the type of productions they would be staging, so he