Business

Details
UK - The PLASA Show will open its doors this weekend (16-18 September) at London Olympia. The trade show will feature hundreds of brands across the show floor as it prepares to welcome thousands of entertainment technology professionals.
Audio heavyweights L-Acoustics, Bose and Yamaha, and lighting pioneers Robe, DTS, ETC and Philips will all be present on the show floor and the seminar programme promises to deliver in-depth sessions across a wide range of topics.
Product highlights
Elation will be showcasing the Smarty Hybrid, their new LED lighting fixture. MA Lighting is showcasing its grandMA3 lighting console. Robe is launching a new product as well as showing its RoboSpot Multi Device Control. Robert Juliat will reveal new additions to its Dalis range. Prolight Concepts is bringing the all-weather Endura and Evora series from elu

Details
Dutch rental company Ampco Flashlight Rentals has invested in Ayrton Ghibli and Ayrton MagicPanelFX fixtures for its rental stock to meet the rising demands of its customers. This is the first time the company has purchased Ayrton fixtures for its inventory.
“Ampco Flashlight works in the live performance, theatre, broadcast and corporate markets and these Ayrton fixtures fit well into any of these environments,” says Ampco Flashlight CEO & CCO, Dennis van der Haagen. “Their versatile features and adaptability mean they also complement our existing rental portfolio well.”
Ghibli is Ayrton’s first factory-equipped fixture with a 100% framing system, and an impressive 23,000 lumen output from a 600W source, with an incredible 80% efficiency that makes it powerful enough for large scale arenas.

Details
USA - E1.33 - 201x, Entertainment Technology -- (RDMnet) -- Message Transport and Device Management of ANSI E1.20 (RDM) over IP Networks: This standard defines a method for carrying E1.20 (RDM) messages over IP networks. It also defines a scalable architecture for RDM message transmission that allows multi-controller environments with tens of thousands of RDM Responders. Additionally, a minimal protocol is defined for carrying non-RDM data over the same architecture.
BSR E1.37-7, Additional Message Sets for ANSI E1.20 (RDM) - Gateway & Splitter Messages: This document provides additional Get/Set Parameter Messages for use with the ANSI E1.20 Remote Device Management protocol. This document contains messages relating to configuring managed splitters, proxy devices, and RDMnet Devices.
These standards will be in public review until 5 November. Those th

Details
UK - Martin Audio will once again throw open its UK HQ for a series of demonstrations and presentations on its latest audio offerings, including many new products to be showcased for the very first time.
Taking place between 18-20 September, this is an opportunity for rental companies, sound engineers, system integrators and installation specialists to get in-depth understanding and lots of listening time in relaxed surroundings. Factory tours and refreshments are also part of the experience making for a memorable morning or afternoon.
The demonstrations will include Sound Adventures - a 3D immersive audio experience - with its partner, Astro Spatial Audio; optimised line arrays including O-Line and Wavefront Precision; its new high-power performance TH Series; and the newly announced ADORN on-wall commercial loudspeaker series.
James King, marketing dire

Details
UAE - Event design and technical production specialist Maestra has launched a new scenic department in Dubai. It will operate from a dedicated facility close to their HQ in Investment Park.
Maestra has been providing its clients with creative scenic services for the past few years in both London and Dubai, so this consolidates the business model, and brings a key division of the contractor services portfolio in-house.
Already delivering lighting, audio, video, rigging as well as scenic elements including the fabrication of set and staging, it was a “totally logical step” confirmed Maestra Dubai’s managing director Tom Clements.
The new department will be headed up by Jurgens Potgieter, who brings over 10 years of practical experience in the region, working for several leading fabrication contractors. Before then, he cut his ‘production teeth’ in the sam

Details
Germany - Prolyte Group has announced the opening of their new International Training Centre (ITC) at Rheiner Strasse 125, D 48282 in Emsdetten, Germany. The new ITC state-of-art facility will provide a venue for Prolyte events and Prolyte partners to introduce Prolyte products to customers and prospective clients.
The training centre includes 500 sq.m of meeting space and is comprised of a main conference area that can host up to 100 guests and five additional breakout rooms. The building was originally constructed pre-war as a textile manufacturing warehouse.
ITC’s facilities will include a lounge and bistro area, arrange of high-end technical equipment including a digital projector and screen, video conferencing equipment, and a wide screen television.
“It’s important that we provide the right tools and environment to help our partners experience the Prolyt

Details
Europe - A document has been published explaining what the latest draft of the Ecodesign regulations released by the European Commission could mean for the entertainment technology industry.
Written by PLASA's Ecodesign task group representative Adam Bennette of ETC, the eight-page document (available in full here - PDF) lays out his views and interpretations of the contents of the second draft.
The Professional Entertainment Lighting Products Ecodesign task group - the body that represented the industry during the public consultation - said the situation was "far more positive" following the Commission's

Details
Visual Horizon Communications (VHC), a St. Paul, Minnesota-based boutique staging company, has taken delivery of Claypaky Axcor Spot 300 fixtures. One of the first in the US to acquire Axcor Spots, part of Claypaky’s new Axcor 300 family of moving LED fixtures, VHC has been looking to replace older spots in the company’s lighting inventory.
“We needed to replace some ageing spots, and our last two purchases had been Claypaky equipment,” says lighting designer Bob Wynsteker. “We really like the quality we’re seeing from Claypaky. Their fixtures are built to last.”
When VHC decided to invest in new spots the company staged a shoot-out with other LED fixtures of comparable size to the Axcor Spot. “The Axcor’s brightness, compared to our current spots, was right up there,” says Wynsteker. “Stacked up against the other units, the Axcor consumed less power and

Details
UK - Phoenix Audio has confirmed Tukans as its UK distributor. Tukans will offer all Phoenix Audio Technologies’ solutions including the Spider series, the Condor Microphone Beamforming Array, and the Stingray DSP Mixer.
“We are very excited to add Phoenix Audio to our portfolio and look forward to working with them to expand their business in the UK. We are seeing an increase in demand for collaboration accessories, that enhance the experience when using PC based conferencing,” comments Yvonne Womersley, managing director at Tukans. “People are looking for professional level audio and video, that offers the true plug-and-play experience for whatever the room size. With the addition of Phoenix, we are confident that we are able to cover a vast majority of all customers unified collaboration and conferencing needs.”
“We are thrilled to further expand our par

Details
Singapore - Adam Hall Asia hosted an APAC distributor summit at the company's showroom in Singapore on 23-24 August.
Just the second summit of its kind for Adam Hall Asia - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adam Hall GmbH Germany - the event welcomed more than 20 partner companies from 16 countries, with distributors from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Republic of Fiji attending for the first time. Members of the product managers and business development teams from Germany, alongside Adam Hall Group COO Markus Jahnel, were also in attendance.
Jahnel comments: “I would like to emphasise how important the partners who attended this meeting are for the international growth and success of the Adam Hall Group."
Chandan Mahtani, managing director of Adam Hall Asia, adds: “The whole meeting was characterised by a fantastic team spirit. It was evident how essential

Details
Slovakia - SRS Group, lighting rigging and power distribution specialist, has recently moved its production and offices into a larger facility.
The new base, in Rybnicna 38/B, 83107 Bratislava, is just across the street from the company’s old location. The larger premises will enable SRS to hold a larger stock of products, have more space for the R&D department, assembly and metal-work production. The building also features its own 600A transformer that gives an opportunity for PDU testing under full load.
SRS Group believes their customers will benefit from this step ahead by having better delivery times, more organised production and even more developed R&D.
Customers are advised that despite the move, SRS Group’s billing address has remained unchanged.
(Jim Evans)

Details
Belgium - Apart held its bi-annual Apart distributor seminar on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 August.
Company representatives and distributors gathered in the Felix Pakhuis in Antwerp, with over 100 people from 42 countries worldwide in attendance.
On day one, main topics were future marketing and product plans. Visitors also received a preview of several Apart products yet to be released. A dinner and casino night followed and highlight of the evening was the Apart awards ceremony.
On the second day of the event, the complete distribution team moved to the Central European office in Schoten, Belgium for several break-out groups. The event ended in the typical Apart way being amongst friends / installers with a Belgian style BBQ.
Kris Vermuyten, sales & marketing director, comments: “I am very happy with this fantastic week and experience. The Apart c

Details
Russia - Astera has announced Martin Rus LLC as its new exclusive distributor for Russia.
Martin Rus will be distributing and servicing the German brand’s battery powered entertainment and film lighting, the X-series. The enterprise includes management team, regular stock of different brands in Moscow and the service-centre authorized by international manufacturers.
“We are very happy to start cooperation with Astera and become the first company who will bring these terrific solutions to the Russian market,” comments Mikhail Kuznetsov, CEO of Martin Rus.
“We met at PL+S in Frankfurt this year and have been greatly impressed by Astera products offering so many interesting possibilities. As a company, Astera has already proved to be highly customer-oriented and they have an absolutely correct business approach. They have a very big potential and we are lo

Details
India - On 1 August, Shure Incorporated opened a sales and marketing office in Bengaluru.
The new location is expected to strengthen the company’s position in South Asia, where Shure also has offices in Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan. Chicco Hiranandani, country director (pictured), will spearhead the Bengaluru office, with market development manager Devraj Panicker overseeing corporate end-customer engagements, with a focus on Integrated Systems solutions. In the long term, Hiranandani will work closely with channel partners on a growth plan for South Asia.
Mark Humrichouser, vice-president of global sales at Shure, comments: “India has experienced exponential business growth during the past few years and has become a hub for Fortune 500 companies and AV manufacturers alike. The new office presents an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to this

Details
UK - Over three days in early August, 22 volunteers from event production specialists Light Fantastic Production Services transformed the outdoor space at Somers Court, a supported home in Edgware, North London.
Managed by Norwood, Somers Court provides assisted living to help children and adults maximise their potential at home, at school and throughout their lives.
Taking a break from their ‘day job’ supplying production services and equipment to the event industry, the LFPS team endured the August heatwave plus severe torrential downpours to create a bright and inspiring garden for residents to enjoy. Handling every aspect of design, build and installation, LFPS also covered the full cost of both time and materials to ensure delivery of the completed project.
Inspired and functional, the revamped gardens now include accessible high-level planters, a shade

Details
UK - Sound system distributor 2B Heard (see company profile in LSi September) has centralised its warehousing and head office at a new site in Shefford, Bedfordshire thanks to a six-figure commercial mortgage from HSBC UK.
The business, which was set up in 2015, is the exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland for K-Array. The new warehouse and head office has enabled 2B Heard to bring all warehousing facilities in-house and increase its stocking capacity, saving the business eight per cent in yearly spend. 2B Heard previously used a third-party warehouse to stock its products, limiting the company’s ability to grow.
Dave Wooster, director at 2B Heard, comments: “Our new warehouse and expanded range o

Details
Europe - J&C Joel has announced an expansion of its operations in Europe, with the opening of a new office in Romania and establishing J&C Joel Europa.
The UK-based company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of flame retardant fabrics, drapery and stage engineering solutions and exports to over 80 countries worldwide.
After implementing channel model of dealers and distributors throughout Europe and Russia, the company is looking to further develop its presence across the continent by making this major investment into its infrastructure.
Roland Rizk, J&C Joel’s regional manager for Europe and Russia, comments: “We are very excited to grow the business into Romania and to provide better strategic support for our clients and partners across Europe and Russia. Their efforts and commitment to market and sell our brand have facilitated the e

Details
Italy/USA - Loud Audio, a Transom Capital Group company, has sold Eastern Acoustics Works (EAW) to Italian pro audio specialist RCF Group.
The deal is said to be the final divestiture by Transom, which will now see Loud focus on its Mackie brand after also parting ways with Martin Audio in July.
Ty Schultz, managing partner at Transom Capital Group, comments: “Simplifying the Loud business to focus on high quality audio delivery from consumers to professionals has always been the focus of our thesis. We are very happy to have found a great new owner for the EAW brand and wish everyone involved much success going forward.”
Alex Nelson, Mackie’s president, adds: “While I have truly enjoyed working with all of the brands in the LOUD legacy, now it’s time for us to turn the page and to be entirely focused on building the Mackie brand. Our companies have lon

Details
Voices Off - U2 frontman Bono says he expects to be "back to full voice" for the rest of the band's tour a day after a Berlin show was cancelled over a vocal issue. "I've seen a great doctor," the singer said in a statement, adding that he was "happy and relieved that anything serious has been ruled out".
In his statement on Sunday, the singer said his "relief" at being able to return to performing was "tempered by the knowledge that the Berlin audience were so inconvenienced".
"There was an amazing atmosphere in the house, it was going to be one of those unforgettable nights but not for this reason. We can't wait to get back there on 13 November," the statement added. It was the second night of the European leg of U2's Experience + Innocence tour, which had kicked off at the same venue on Friday night.
Zero Tolerance - Kevin Hart has split opinion

Details
UK - Hawthorn has been newly appointed as the in-house technical production partner at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester’s historic landmark venue.
As part of a long-term partnership agreement that started on 1 September 2018, Hawthorn will provide exclusive in-house rigging services and will be the preferred technical production supplier for corporate events across Victoria Warehouse’s diverse event spaces.
Renowned for its highly flexible event spaces with an industrial vibe and situated in the heart of Manchester, Victoria Warehouse offers event spaces for a huge range of corporate events, from conferences and exhibitions, to gala dinners, award ceremonies, brand activations and parties.
James Cohen, owner of Victoria Warehouse, comments: “I’m delighted to welcome Hawthorn to the team. Victoria Warehouse is a unique, iconic and carefully restored industri

Details
UK - Studioforce, a new company specialising in the provision of production and technical freelancers to the film and TV industry, launched on Monday, 3 September.
The London business is spearheaded by former ITV Studios head of scenic and lighting, Dave Stevens. It offers a network of personnel for the broadcast and production sector, including gaffers, lighting electricians, camera operators, scenic supervisors, sound engineers, studio engineers and lighting console operators. Studioforce is also offering a service to facilitate and administer payroll contracts and handle recruitment for any clients who are looking to outsource certain roles, easing the process to make it more time and cost efficient.
Stevens comments: “When the recent changes at ITV Studios were announced [the broadcaster is closing its London studios], I needed to look for a new opportunity. I’

Details
Europe - Architectural LED lighting manufacturer Anolis and real-time visual processing technology provider ArKaos have announced a collaboration which will see the two brands team up on several product developments.
Anolis’s LED lighting, pixel-based fixtures and other hardware will feature ArKaos’ cloud-based communications protocol An-Ki, which enables remote control of digital content projected on LED mappable surfaces from anywhere in the world.
The deal will also involve “a fluid bi-directional commercial relationship” between the two companies, where ArKaos products will be distributed by Anolis, and Anolis fixtures will share sales resources with ArKaos.
ArKaos’ MD Agnes Wojewoda comments: “This will add huge value to installation designers working in all fields. It offers the possibility of fully flexible and stable control which will be add

Details
UK - JHS has reopened the HK Audio Demo Theatre at the company's headquarters in Garforth, Leeds.
The newly refurbished demo theatre is home to the entire HK Audio range of live sound reinforcement systems.
The Demo Theatre is appointed with complete systems, cabling and accessories from the many HK Audio series. Visitors can also benefit from the technical advice of in-house pro audio specialist Chris Walton.
(Jim Evans)

Details
UK - Technical production event specialist Saville AV has re-branded its conference and live event division to Sparq and its AV/IT wing, to Visavvi. Both brands will sit under Saville Group, the parent organisation.
The move is part of a wider investment strategy to “future-proof the business and ensure it continues to effectively evolve its technical event production service offering for clients in the UK, Europe and the USA”.
Sparq offers a full production service, from creative design and staging to technical crew and kit hire.
Visavvi delivers all aspects of IT/AV project for business customers - from consultation through to design and install and maintenance and support.
Colin Nixey, joint MD of Saville Group, comments: “Saville has been a familiar face in the live events industry for over 40 years. However, we recognised it was time for a change
  1. Audio-Technica appoints South African distributor
  2. Gamma Illumination opens office in Dubai
  3. London’s Troxy goes mobile to combat touts
  4. Linea Research expands into Russia
  5. Zero 88 supports Leisuretec’s training
  6. ESTA posts four documents for public review
Page 249 of 1813

Latest Issue. . .