The Netherlands - Multi-national rigging and staging equipment specialist Sixty82 has partnered with Dutch distributor Senci. Working with the existing distribution network in the Netherlands, the Dutch company will offer customers optimised access to the full range of Sixty82 products. This partnership will focus on expanding the Sixty82 product line across the Netherlands as well as enabling the company to provide the growing demand for craftsmanship and technical know-how. Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82, comments: “We are excited that we can name Senci as our new distribution partner, as it is a highly regarded player in the industry. They have a dynamic and experienced team, that can deliver the expanding demand for top level support.” Carlos Rego, CEO of Senci, comments: “It is impossible to miss the growing success of Sixty82. With their in-house experience
UK - The BAFTAs welcomed film stars and royalty to London’s Royal Albert Hall in February, as the industry honoured those making waves on the big screen. The all-important red carpet - where the paparazzi anxiously awaited famous faces - was flanked by a rigging and lighting solution designed and delivered by TSL Lighting. The British weather proved to be another well-known guest at the proceedings, with high winds and heavy rain in the run-up to, and on, the big night. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a who’s who of the global film industry for the ceremony, which was broadcast live. TSL's Neil Harvey, worked alongside colleagues Ali Morris and Rory Mackay to realise the challenging and prestigious project, working to a brief from event designer and producer Lucy Smail, of WD&P. The red-carpet arrival area required the construction of 12 TSL custom-des
UK - AED’s Luxibel Expo Tools range makes its UK debut at the AED Customer Night events this week, alongside a spread of new kit covering sound, lighting, rigging, display and accessories. The AED UK Customer Nights will be held on Wednesday, 20 and Thursday, 21 February at the company’s UK office, from 4pm onwards. On both nights, visitors can enjoy the best local brew and curry whilst experiencing Luxibel’s Expo Tools. The Prolyte range, the new Show Lift AED-SL18 - an automated motorised tower lift that can be controlled by DMX - and the AV Stumpfl Pixera range will also be on show. “In this fast-paced industry, it’s important for us to inform our customers about the latest products, technologies and services,” says AED commercial manager, David Baker. “It’s a great occasion for our customers to meet the AED team in person and to discover our A
UK - Attracting over 1000 attendees, the Women in Data conference features addresses from high-profile speakers plus a range of supporting events. Held within the grand surroundings of Central Hall Westminster, London, the event included presentations, development sessions and an exhibition, designed to inspire the WiD community. Technical production specialists LFPS collaborated closely with the client and production manager Dave Parker to design the look and feel of the entire event. Providing a complete production package covering both equipment and logistics, LFPS supplied lighting, audio, video, rigging and staging. Working to precise schedules beginning with a 6pm time slot for overnight load-in and build, the team were ready for rehearsal at 6am, with everything in place ready for doors open at 9am. Commenting on working with LFPS, WiD co-founder Roisin Mc
USA - The Entertainment Technician Certification Programme (ETCP) reports that ETCP Paper and Pencil rigging examinations will be offered in conjunction with the Jay O. Glerum Rigging Masterclasses in San Diego on 3 April. Any qualified rigger over 21 is invited to apply to sit the exams. Applicants should fill out the exam application form at http://etcp.esta.org/riggerapplicationmaterials and submit it to the ETCP office by Monday, 11 March. The Jay O. Glerum Masterclasses now have three tracks of learning: advanced, intermediate and entry level. Held at San Diego State University’s Done Powell Theatre, the entry-level courses will take place from 30-31 March, and the intermediate level will be taught on 1-2 April. All courses carry full ETCP Renewal Credits. To register, please visit
USA - Prolyte’s Verto Truss system was used by Creative Technologies (CT) at three separate stands during the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show in December. During the show, CT installed 3,200 linear feet of black powder-coated Verto truss to create booths for the new Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia automobiles. Prolyte’s Verto truss low self-weight allowed for more creative lighting options and flexibility in designing the stands. The Verto truss quick assembly, silent connection, and low self-weight also translated into a significant savings of at least 50% on drayage and labour costs. In addition to the LA Auto Show, CT also relied on Prolyte’s Verto truss for a Volvo product launch at the new US plant in the Carolinas. CT built a stage inside the warehousing facilities to release a new car model for Volvo’s Worldwide management team. Ian Dobson, project manager/
USA - Rocky Paulson will become the third recipient of the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. The award, which recognises individuals with ‘significant and sustained’ technical contributions to the entertainment industry over at least 25 years, will be presented at the conclusion of the New World Rigging Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Louisville at 5:15pm on 20 March. After being discharged from the Navy and while in college, Paulson worked for the stagehands' union, rigging at the Cow Palace arena in San Francisco and other locations. In 1973, Rocky took a job with the NBC network as a production rigger for Peter Pan and toured the world with them for several years. After returning to the Bay Area, he founded Stage Rigging in 1977. The company went on to become one of the preeminent rigging companies in the world, providing services to such s
Europe - The Litec RL76 double pitch roof is the new version of the RL105 double pitch roof. Designed for high-loading capacity and long spans, but with an eye on your budget, it's an attractive structure that adds a nice touch to your outdoor events, as well as providing increased resistance to high wind loads, says the company. Scalable from 18m x 16m to 21m x 16m, and up to 15m in height, it’s designed for medium-sized outdoor events. Built with rectangular RL76A high load aluminium truss with steel fork connections, it provides high loading capacity on medium-long spans. (Jim Evans)
UK - Unusual Rigging reports that its support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been recognised by Support the Goals. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, or SDGs is a plan to end poverty, extreme inequality and climate change by 2030. Agreed in 2015 by world leaders, these goals can only be achieved with the support of businesses. Unusual Rigging has gained its first star rating; a maximum of four stars can be awarded as the company progresses and communicates its journey to support the goals. Tom Harper, director at Unusual and head of sustainability, comments: "On face value, the goals laid out by the SDGs may feel too broad and interdependent, hence way beyond the scope of an entertainment rigging and engineering company's influence. Yet with headlines such as "Only 12 years to act on climate change" o
UK - East of England Arena Events Centre (EEAEC) has announced a collaboration with Pearce Hire. The EEAEC is one of the UK’s top event venues, hosting over 300 events, conferences and meetings a year. The multi-purpose events complex sboasts over 9,000sq.m of indoor space and over 250 acres of outside space. With significant and ongoing investment in the venue and its infrastructure, the venue has appointed Pearce Hire as a preferred contractor working throughout the complex. “With our HQ based in Peterborough we are ideally placed geographically to offer an outstanding level of service and support to the venue, to the organisers putting on events at the venue, and to the exhibitors at all the major trade and consumer exhibitions which take place here throughout the year,” observes Shaun Pearce, managing director, Pearce Hire. “Having provided services for man
Europe - Sixty82 has expanded its global distribution network with the appointment of Electro Waves Oy as its exclusive distributor for Finland and Sweden. “We are very happy with our newly formed partnership with Electro Waves,” says Sixty82 CEO Fokko Smeding. “It will help strengthen market synergy for Sixty82 as it creates a solid foundation to penetrate the Scandinavian market.” Date Jonkman, Sixty82 executive account manager, continues: “Electro Waves is a highly-regarded and well-renowned distributor in the trussing and staging industry. Their team is well experienced and, with their expertise and support, we are confident that, together, we can create something special.” Miko Nurkki, CEO of Electro Waves, comments: “In order to offer our customers holistic, quality solutions, we have gathered the best partners around us - Sixty82 shares ou
France - Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting, video, rigging, special FX plus a snow-loving crew to various entertainment venues and events associated with the Varsity Trip 2018 in Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in the French Alps at 2,300 metres in the beautiful Tarentaise Valley, Savoie. The Colour Sound team of four was led by Steve Marley and working for Zero Degrees Events who designed and produced a busy series of Varsity Trip events running throughout the week. Marley and their managing director Neil Cranston have collaborated on many previous projects, and with Tom Williams from Zero Degrees running things on the ground, the mission ran like clockwork. The main music venue for the week was the Centre Sportif de Val Thorens, which featured three full-scale DJ performances – including Rudimental’s DJ set - with numerous other smaller venues hostin
Poland - The first Rigging Conference to take place in Poland will be held at the Giliwice Arena from 19-20 February. Attendees can look forward to learning about ICOPER (International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging) and the National Rigging Certificate, the leading industry certification from PLASA. Additionally, PLASA’s managing director Peter Heath will present a keynote talk on the importance of European collaboration. Heath comments: “It’s good to see initiatives such as this encouraging industry standards and safety. I am looking forward to speaking at the conference to play a part in promoting professionalism across the entertainment rigging sector in Poland.” For more information please go to: http://www.riggingconference.pl/ (LSi Online)
Europe - The QL52 double pitch roof from Litec is an evolution of their popular QL40A single pitch roof and is the right choice for your medium-sized outdoor events. Thanks to its double pitch construction, and use of QL52A load-bearing truss with fork connections, it looks great and provides stability you can count on, even when encountering winds that increase loading requirements. Key benefits include: 15 x 12m roof structure (up to 11m’s height); grid constructed from Litec’s QL52A high load, anti-torsion fork connection truss; six Maxitower 40 towers; 7,000 kg UDL; optional PA/LED wall wings; covered technical areas available on request, and eight-hour set-up time with five riggers. (Jim Evans)
Luxembourg - Trussing and staging systems manufacturer SIXTY82 has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Codex Events. With immediate effect, Codex will be SIXTY82´s exclusive partner responsible for the distribution of the full SIXTY82 product range in Luxembourg, which enables, SIXTY82 to guarantee full distribution coverage to its Luxembourgian customers. “We look forward to working with a company of Codex’ standing, and our partnership will help meet increased local demand for technical know-how from experienced people,” says SIXTY82 executive account manager, Date Jonkman. “We believe that Codex is well positioned to further develop our existing customer base and that with their market presence and sales support network, together we can make a real impact,” says SIXTY82 CEO, Fokko Smeding. Patrick Risch, CEO of Codex, comments:
UK - White Light will be returning to London’s VAULT Festival once again this year to supply the complete lighting and rigging solutions. This will mark the seventh consecutive year that the company has worked on the Festival, having supported it from day one. Located inside the Waterloo tunnels, this year it will run from 23 January to 17 March, with more than 400 shows from over 2,000 artists. It features the best new writing in theatre and comedy along with immersive experiences, late night parties and much more. The event is produced by Mat Burt and Andy George of the Heritage Arts Company. Andy, who is also head of production, comments: “When we first started the festival back in 2012, we had no idea it would grow to become what it is today. We initially thought it would be a one-off yet the more people heard about it, the more who wanted to came along and ge
Canada/USA - Christie Lites has made a major commitment to Kinesys automation with the purchase of Elevation Liftket 500kg chain hoists as their flagship automation products going forward – both 200V and 400V systems - for North America and Europe. The initial investment has also included Kinesys LibraCELL load monitoring and Mentor 4 E-Stop aggregators to provide a full Kinesys safety architecture as well as the powerful and flexible Kinesys Vector control. This will be available to clients worldwide throughout all of Christie’s 13 shops. The move coincides with the appointment of Mark ‘The Drifter’ Desloges to head up Christie’s new Automated Motion Control & Rigging division, established to co-ordinate this specialist area of technical production. Extensive specialist Kinesys training will be implemented for all Christie crew working on the
Europe - Eurotruss is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. Martin Kuyper, company founder, states; “I am extremely proud and grateful for all the love and support I received from great people, partners, and users during this incredible Eurotruss journey. Together with all of them, we have built a world leading brand representing not only high-quality truss and stages but also an amazing team of dynamic people who, on a daily base, do great work for our users and partners. “It all started in a small barn in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. Today our truss finds its way into 97 countries, represented by 40 distributors, three Eurotruss sales offices and three factories including Total Structures, leading brand in the USA. A lot happened since that 17th of January 1994, but it flew by and the journey has been full of energy, joy, and happiness. I feel blessed. “
The Netherlands - Blumano, engineering consultancy for design and safety in the entertainment Industry is expanding its operation with the announcement of Blumano Netherlands. This prime west European base will work in close collaboration with the existing offices of Blumano in the UK and in Italy. Michiel van der Zijde is joining the ever-expanding organisation, who in addition to his extensive knowledge of stage machinery, brings a background in project management to the dynamic equation. He is an industry professional and has an impressive track record in production design and product development spanning over 20 years with experience working as a technical producer with industry leading brands. “We share the same core values - a commitment to excellence, a passion for what we do and a dedication to making our industry a safe working environment. It’s the art o
UK - Lighting and visuals rental specialist HSL supplied lighting equipment to 32 Qdos pantomime productions across the UK for their 2018-19 season, together with a full rigging – truss and motors package – plus Kinesys automation for Cinderella at Glasgow’s SEC. Lighting the colourful fantasy environments that characterise this genre of comedic melodrama is huge fun for lighting designers, and this year HSL worked with 17 LDs and liaised with 25 production LX’s who made it happen on the various sites which included Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. HSL’s 2018 panto team was led by Jordan Hanson, assisted by Emma Turner, and included account handlers Sean McGlone and Mark Shakeshaft, all well-known for their multi-tasking and number-crunching abilities. Jordan comments: “Fluid communication, having a cool head for logistics and being orga
The Netherlands - Prolyte Group has made a number of appointments as it continues its international expansion. Eddie Slotboom has been appointed projects director, responsible for determining the strategy on large structures and seeking cooperation with global event organisations. Slotboom has previously worked at Stageco for over 21 years. Lambert Bouwmeester, CEO of Prolyte Group, comments: “Eddie shares the same vision as Prolyte in terms of safety and professionalising the business. I’m convinced that his role will be instrumental to the ambitions of Prolyte.” Meanwhile, Ralph Stockley will move on from his position as chief commercial officer to chief business development officer. Stockley will be tasked with realising business opportunities in new areas for the Group whilst also supporting sales director North America Juan Kopinsky in further strength
Europe/Asia - Two teams will take part in the 2019 Mongol Rally to raise money for technical entertainment charity Backup. The rally, which takes place in July and spans 10,000 miles from the Czech Republic to Ulan Ude in Russia, requires participants to ride a very small vehicle, with no support or set route to the finish line, which must be crossed in four to eight weeks. Team Backup, comprising Salvador Avila, Ethan Forde and Duncan McLean, are aiming to raise £50,000 for the charity, with team The Nomadic Numpties of ‘Turbo’ Anthony Hall and ‘Henri’ Abby Cooper targeting
USA - The Crosby Group has completed the acquisition of Straightpoint UK (SP), a manufacturer of load cells and force measurement equipment. The acquisition, effective 2 January, includes SP’s Hampshire-based manufacturing facility and headquarters, which will become Crosby’s 'centre of excellence for load monitoring and measurement'. David Ayling, formerly CEO at SP, will step into a new role overseeing sales, marketing, and product development functions for all load monitoring equipment. He will report to Robert Desel, chief commercial officer at Crosby. Ayling comments: “SP has built a very strong team focused on innovation and high service levels and we wanted to ensure we could maintain and capitalise on these important features of the company. Crosby’s brand, its channel strength, global reach, and management team will enable us to build on our st
UK - Def Leppard continued their 2018-19 Hysteria tour in UK and Irish arenas just before Christmas, celebrating 31 years since the release of their seminal Hysteria album, which was played in its entirety in track order. HSL supplied lighting equipment plus rigging, with over 100 motors including a 25-way Kinesys automation system, to the tour which features a striking lighting design by Kenji Ohashi, who has lit the band for 17 years. The lighting and rigging - which also included supplying motors for video and PA - was co-ordinated for HSL by Jordan Hanson, who comments that they “were delighted to be back working alongside production manager Chris Adamson and ‘universal’ lighting crew chief Kevin Cassidy again. It was really interesting to see Kenji’s work and the vitality and energy his lighting brought to a great looking and sounding product
