Business

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UK - SSE Audio Group has purchased the installation operations of North London audio specialists Green-i. This acquisition follows the recent procurement of Green-i's hire inventory. Both additional activities will be amalgamated into SSE London - SSE's audio installations and contract hire division based in Hayes, West London.

Green-i director Ian Woodall (Woody) will initially work alongside SSE London's operations director Emma Barwell, to ensure that existing contracts and relationships are supported and fully maintained.

Woodall commented: "I'm delighted with this deal because it means our existing clients will benefit greatly from the strength of SSE Audio Group and the wide range of audio services they offer. It also means in future I can take a less hands-on role, in the knowledge that all our clients are being looked after and the relationships we have built up o

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China - Its designers proclaim it as the world's largest LED Skydome, and with 20 million ultra-bright LEDs covering 500 by 32m,, the LED Skydome at Harmony Times Square in Suzhou Industrial Park near Shanghai is the heart of an ambitious audio-visual installation.

A 3D-capable Renkus-Heinz ceiling loudspeaker system with Camco amplification tracks the action on the 350,000sq.m Sky Mall's overhead LED screen through 106 three-way synchronised loudspeakers and 160 amplifiers. Controllability and directivity, rather than sheer power, lies behind a specification that reads like an arena or major auditorium system.

Harmony Times Square's designers were determined to break records on several fronts - and succeeded. Until late 2008, Beijing's World Trade Centre held the title for China's largest LED Skydome, while Las Vegas' Fremont Street held the title for the world's largest LED

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UK - Void Acoustics reports that multiple systems incorporating its loudspeakers and amplifiers have been installed in Sally's of Omagh, Northern Ireland, contributing to the venue's accolade of being awarded Best Overall Venue 2009 and Best Regional Club 2009 at the FATE Awards '09. The Void systems at Sally's include Mycro, Basys, Impulse and Stasys loudspeaker models, and form part of a complete audio-visual and lighting installation by Total Lite and Sound. Void's Infinite range of power amplifiers have been installed throughout.

John O'Neil, of Omagh-based Total Lite and Sound, commented: "The success of Sally's in the FATE Awards acknowledges its position as mid-Ulster's largest and most important entertainment complex. Sally's has a constant mix of live acts and DJ nights - often at the same time - and we had to install sound and lighting

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Panama - New Nexo system owner Boris Allara of Jobo Productions has deployed his Geo T inventory for two very different events, demonstrating the versatility of the system to more than 100,000 people in Panama City.

The first-ever showcase of Formula DRIFT took place in Panama City, with some of the top Formula D drivers taking their cars south for the demo. Formula DRIFT is a high-powered motor sport where drivers intentionally manoeuvre their cars into well-executed, controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on execution and style, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time, Drifting is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and is often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

Jobo Productions had to face considerable challenges for this event; with the racetrack positioned between the stage (and sound system) and th

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UK - Simon Phillips, GE Lighting's European commercial director has announced that GE is ready for the phase out of incandescent lamps under the European Union Energy-using-Products (EuP) Directive.

In accordance with the European Union Directive to improve the efficiency of some energy-using products, incandescent lamps will be phased out across Europe between 2009 and 2012, and replaced with more energy efficient alternatives. With the first stage in the implementation of the Directive on 1 September 2009, GE says it is confident it has the range and capacity to provide sufficient energy saving alternatives to meet demand.

Speaking about the phase out, Simon Phillips says: "GE's technology and product development have been driven by our GE Ecomagination business initiative, which was designed to help meet customers' demand for more energy-efficient products. Thro

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Russia - Christie reports that its projectors have been deployed at the 31st Moscow Film Festival (MIFF). Christie worked with Moscow based Kinoproekt - the largest cinema equipment integrator in Russia, the exclusive supplier to the MIFF.

Four of Moscow's key cinema theatres were used for the Festival's screenings including, the multiplex October and Pushkinsky cinema (Karo Film network), the Khudozhestvenny cinema and the Kinocenter.

The 11-screen October film complex, which opened in 2007, is Moscow's biggest multi-screen complex and one of Russia's first cinemas to opt for a digital solution. Its premiere hall, a 1,500 seat auditorium, features Christie's CP2000-S digital projector, which was deployed throughout the MIFF and integrated with Cine IPM 2K, allowing connection of alternative sources and outputting sound and picture via digital projector. Whilst in its Hall #2,

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Russia - Co-organisers Integrated Systems Events and MidExpo have announced a string of new attractions for Integrated Systems Russia which opens its doors on Tuesday, 8 December.

Among the new attractions will be special pavillions for Russian manufacturers and for conferencing; an enhanced Digital Education area featuring real-world room AV solutions; and a ProIntegration Awards programme for the Russian and CIS markets, to celebrate best practice in regional systems design and integration.

Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events, comments: "After a productive and successful meeting of the IS Russia Advisory Board last month, we agreed to develop the show in a number of directions in order to maximise value for our exhibitors, visitors and supporting associations. The innovations we are now announcing will reinforce IS Russia's position

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UK - grandPA has kicked off a busy summer with the arrival of its latest investment - an MA2 Lite. This new arrival to the fleet was whisked away on the same day it arrived by lighting company Siyan for a four week tour with the Killers starting at Hyde Park.

The company also reports that it has added a further grandMA series 1 full-size and a grandMA lite to the hire inventory for this busy summer period.

"Demand for MA consoles is at a peak this summer and we have tried to invest where possible even under this stormy financial period, we are proud to have consoles currently on tour with Madonna, The Killers and down on the ever-running Big Brother," says Tim Routledge co-founder of grandpa.

The company's agency wing, grandPA - Programming Associates, is also busy this summer with its programmers working on shows including the Take That Circus Live D

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UK - The great cathedrals of the world can still prove challenging in terms of sightlines for those in the congregation or audience. Salisbury Cathedral has been using Maltbury Metrodeck for many years.

Technical manager Dene Turner, who originally chose the system more than eight years ago, is still delighted with what Metrodeck offers him both for services and concerts in different parts of the Cathedral.

"We use the very versatile Metrodecks regularly in the Cathedral itself and also outside in the Cathedral Close for choral and orchestral concerts. I also use them for temporary liturgical focus such as Nave Altar platforms and Nativity/Easter dramas" says Turner.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Sennheiser microphones, in-ear monitoring, personnel and NET 1 frequency management system were all at the heart of Capital Radio's Summertime Ball held recently at the Emirates Stadium in London.

With Sennheiser's support team of Mark Saunders, Dave Hawker and Phil Cummings on hand to support sound company, Wigwam, a total of 70 presenters and performers used Sennheiser as they entertained the sell-out crowd.

As far as in-ear monitoring was concerned, all IEMs used by performers were Sennheiser's G2 300 series. In addition, all presenter mics were Sennheiser SKM 5200s, the same model chosen by headliner, Leona Lewis.

Other performers, including Saturdays, Daniel Merriweather, Mark Ronson and Shontelle all performed with Sennheiser SKM 935 mics.

Katie Walker, RF Manager at Wigwam comments, "With 12 IEM systems, 22 receiver packs and 70 performers sharing t

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UK - The Rigging Partnership were approached to provide the automated solutions to the performer flying elements of the Circus Tour for Take That. Playing to 1m people over 20 dates the sell out tour was bigger than anything the band had done before.

TRP worked with the band for their Come to Town Christmas TV Special which previewed the tour's circus theme. After rehearsals at 3 Mills Studios the TV show was shot at Granada Studios in Manchester. Given that multiple effects were needed in a tight space, TRP opted to use Navigator software from FTSI (Fisher Technical Services) with their MOD winch system. This allowed the crew to rig multiple effects off individual winches and also to achieve the speed and acceleration required to make the effects look alive and "not like a tired old corporate show".

Once planning on the tour started TRP were brought in

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USA/Canada - ETCP reports that there are 10 new testing centres in Canada. All three exams are now available for computer-based testing in Ontario at Sylvan Learning Centres in the cities of Courtice, Etobicoke, Oakville, Pickering, Scarborough, Vaughn and at three locations in Mississauga.Testing is also available at Robertson College in Winnipeg, MB.

Individuals must meet eligibility requirements to take the exams and applications must be turned in to the ETCP office for approval. Once a candidate is approved, he or she will receive a letter with information on scheduling the exam. The eligibility requirements, candidate handbook and application materials can be found at http://etcp.esta.org.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - High Technology Lighting continues to build on its trading partnership with West Yorkshire-based JCT600, one of the largest privately owned motor retail groups in the UK.

The Middleton Grove, Leeds, company has designed and installed both internal and exterior lighting systems at the new JCT600 VW dealership on Sticker Lane, Bradford.

During its five-year business relationship, High Technology Lighting has also provided lighting solutions at the group's dealerships in Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield and Sheffield, along with JCT600's Tordoff House headquarters in Apperley Bridge, Bradford.

Mark Taylor, group property director with JCT600, said: "We took the decision some years ago to remove the specification of light fittings for our major developments from the main contractor. This has allowed us to work closely with High Technology Lighting, producing economic and ene

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USA - Plunging 132ft at 60mph with its screaming passengers' feet dangling in mid-air, the floorless Bizarro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson has been ranked as one of the scariest rides anywhere. When the New Jersey amusement park's management decided to upgrade and re-theme the coaster (formerly known as Medusa) earlier this year, they were looking to pump up its thrills and chills to a new level.

This goal was accomplished in part with a lighting display using ELAR Exbar BL RGB LED bars from Elation Architectural, the architectural lighting division of Elation Professional. 70 strobing, RGB colour-changing Exbars were installed in a series of five loops that riders race through immediately after surviving Bizarro's first breathless plunge. Along with the visual 'thrills' provided by the lighting, passengers experience more 'chills' in the loops - literal

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Balaeric Islands - A.C. Entertainment Technologies recently supplied event production company Three Media Creative with state-of-the-art sound and projection systems for new show Come Fly with Me at the Gran Casino Theatre in Mallorca. Combining the music of Frank Sinatra with the spectacle of a Broadway show, the production is based around New York in 1959 and features a mix of swing music, acrobatics and dancing.

When the show's producers, Globo Balear, took over the Gran Casino Theatre to host the show, the 1,500-seater custom-built theatre had never been used before for such a technically ambitious production. They therefore appointed broadcast and production specialists Three Media Creative as technology consultants when the show first went into pre-production planning.

James Baker, Three Media Creative Show Technology Consultant and his team had the remit of desig

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USA - The rolling countryside of rural Tennessee is a long way from New Jersey both metaphorically and as the crow flies, but that didn't stop Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band from riveting the audience at this year's Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival. As the Saturday night headliner at the patchouli-saturated festival, The Boss and band performed tirelessly during an epic three-hour set.

Bonnaroo is only the third biggest concert the group has played this year, trailing both the Super Bowl halftime show and President Obama's inauguration. Springsteen's vocals at all three shows have been managed by Shure UHF-R wireless.

(Jim Evans)

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Palestine - The Solomon Pools Convention Centre in Bethlehem is the first of its kind in Palestine. Its dimensions and installations of professional audio, video, simultaneous translation systems and lighting make it suitable for a broad range of events and conventions.

The Solomon Pools Convention Centre construction was financed by the Official Credit Institute of Spain with a FAD credit from the Development Aid Fund. With support and funds from the Spanish authorities, Ecler coordinated the audio, public address, stage, seats, acoustic material, video, lighting, translation systems, CCTV and MATV installation.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Hadlow Down Parish Council and St Marks Church have joined forces to demonstrate a new innovation to provide a series of carbon-free lights on village paths. The new sustainable lights made by Uckfield firm NiteSafe give out a gentle light to guide users along dark paths in the churchyard.

Councillor Michael Lunn, portfolio holder for sustainable development said: "This has been a long term problem especially during winter months. We wanted to find a solution which improved safety but had a zero carbon impact - these small lights do exactly that. Nearly everyone in the village will benefit from this innovation. It's a win for the environment, a win for the church, and a win for our community. This is the first step of Hadlow Down Parish Council leading the way to become more sustainable."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Specialist racecourse technical services company, RaceTech AV, has recently installed Community R-Series and VERIS loudspeakers as part of the development of the Epsom Downs Racecourse. The £38m, three-year project was commissioned by Jockey Club Racecourses and includes the construction of the new 11,000 capacity Duchess Grandstand.

Horse racing takes place at the course on only 14 days of the year, so the facility encompasses full banqueting, conferencing, exhibition and dining facilities to provide its diverse revenue streams.

The heart of the new facilities is the Oaks Hall. To make this facility truly multi-purpose, a highly-specified audio-visual system with flexible digital infrastructure was required. RaceTech AV used a BSS Soundweb to provide a system in which, for most positions within the Hall, the audio image is strongly located at the stage end of the r

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Germany / India - The distribution of HK Audio products in India will now be handled exclusively by Dhanashree Electronics. This firm is part of the well established Toshniwal Group of Companies, a family business which has long been active in the Indian market in several industries. Dhanashree Electronics' primary areas of operation until now have been in the manufacture and marketing of electronic components and industrial lighting; distributing professional audio equipment represents an expansion of their business into new territory.

Abhishek Toshniwal, marketing & business development director of Dhanashree Electronics, comments: "Adding professional audio equipment to our distribution network was our next logical step. We have been having more and more contact with PA rental firms and installation companies, and we've been wanting to expand our product portfolio in ord

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UK - Lighting designer Jon Pollak recommended that Adlib Lighting supplied the equipment and crew for the UK leg of veteran American jazz rockers Steely Dan's current European tour.

Pollak first worked with the Liverpool based company in 2007 when he was lighting folk singer Ray Lamontagne. "They did a fantastic job. I was so impressed with the kit and the personnel that I really wanted to use them again," he states.

Lighting-wise, the UK shows were based on three straight 48ft trusses to cover the 50ft wide performance area.

These were loaded with 21 Martin Professional MAC 2K Washes and 16 MAC 700 Spots. The Washes were utilised for general band and stage washes, primarily an ever evolving series of subtle and straightforward colour combinations, while the spots took the role of providing basic beam-work and effects across the 12-piece band and substantial area t

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UK - Take That's The Circus Live - Summer 2009 tour exceeded everyone's expectations. With concerts throughout the UK and held in the largest stadiums, over 1,000,000 tickets were sold for the flamboyantly themed extravaganzas, based on Take That's latest album 'The Circus'.

With the stage set as the Big Top, a ringmaster welcomed the audience to the show, which included jugglers, unicyclers, clowns and trapeze artists alongside the ultimate showmanship of the boy band themselves.

Creative Technology has been involved in all three tours since Take That reformed, which enables CT to provide the production with experience and knowledge allowing for smooth transit and seamless rig and de rig for each of the stadium stints. Utilising a Barco MiTrix screen for the back screen and two IMAG panels for each side, CT once again worked alongside XL Video who provided the central

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UAE - The upcoming Light Middle East, which was to be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27-29 September has been postponed until autumn 2010.

Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH based in Dubai, UAE, an independent subsidiary of the Messe Frankfurt Group headquartered in Germany, "will continue to strive towards offering a combined and synergised platform for Light Middle East collocated with the ISH Kitchen and Bath Middle East exhibition in the autumn of 2010".

According to Dr. Michael Peters, CEO of the Messe Frankfurt Group: "Dubai remains an important business hub for the Middle East region necessitating a presence by Messe Frankfurt in key industries. Leading companies in the lighting field as well as regional market indicators, confirm the continued need for a regional platform catering to interior, exterior, architectural, urban, a

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UK / Denmark - UK-based Stage One has just completed the construction of a sculptural pavilion showcasing the possibilities that exist in building with sustainable and intelligent materials. Designed by Danish architects 3XN, the Pavilion is part of a 'Green Architecture for the Future' exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Stage One was responsible for both the manufacture and installation of this innovative structure, which follows the shape of a Moebius band and was built using natural fibres - naturally derived resin and cork from sustainable sources. The company has unique experience in working with complex shapes and unusual materials, along with a broad palette of problem solving skills. In this instance well-known synthetic products were substituted with new biological and re-useable materials, many of which had not previously been used

  1. DPA on War of the Worlds tour duty
  2. Knight of Illumination Awards return
  3. Heathrow Express wins Lighting Federation award
  4. Green-I upgrades Lucky Voice to BLU
  5. Yamaha plays key role in Global sessions
  6. English National Ballet invests in Eos
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