Lighting

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USA - High End Systems (HES) has announced the release the Hog 3PC application as well as updated software for the Wholehog 3 lighting console. The Hog 3PC software transfers the advanced control technology of the Wholehog 3 console to personal computers as well as to the Hog iPC console. Users may download the free software and enhancement details from the Flying Pig Systems website.

The Wholehog 3 operating system is specified worldwide by leading tours, production companies, theatres and more. Hog 3PC enhances the abilities of the Wholehog 3 suite with a complete line of hardware products allowing users to create their own control solution.

Show files are completely compatible between Hog 3PC, Hog iPC and the Wholehog 3 console, thus providing off-line, backup and networking abilities between the various systems.Customers with existing USB DMX Widgets using Hog 2PC are enco

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Dubai - Visual Terrain has designed lighting for the world's largest Toyota showroom, which recently opened in the Automotive retail park area of Dubai Festival City in Dubai. Toyota marks the first opening of several showrooms designed by Visual Terrain for the multi-dealership facility. Additional showrooms currently in design include Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge, Honda, Lexus and Volvo.

Commenting on the overall design effort, Lisa Passamonte Green, principal-in-charge of the lighting design explains: "We listened carefully to the concerns of the Dubai Festival City Group and the Al-Futtaim Motor Group when developing the designs and incorporated their feedback into our design solutions. We also worked closely with the local representatives of ERCO, Element Labs and TIR Systems to provide product on a very tight time schedule. From design creation to opening day was roughly

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USA - With sales of its award-winning P36 LED and P64 LED color par cans soaring, American DJ say it is building on the products' success by releasing white-light versions. The company has introduced the P36 LED WH and P64 LED WH, two DMX-compatible all-white LED par cans designed for applications where clear white light is desired.

The company believe the products are great for stage, club, corporate, display and architectural use, the P36 LED WH and P64 LED WH produce a true, warm white light. At the same time, they offer all the benefits of LEDs - including energy efficiency, low heat and super-long lamp life.

"Our groundbreaking color LED par cans - the P36 LED and P64 LED - received a great deal of acclaim in the industry, as well as from lighting users, for their superior technical innovation," said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Comp

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USA - New Jersey lighting rental company BML, has purchased 18 Robe ColorSpot and 18 ColorWash 1200 AT fixtures for its hire stock. The units immediately went out on tour with Phil Lesh, on the GM Winter Blast in Detroit and at the Chicago Auto Show.

The decision to invest in Robe was made by BML's CEO Elliot Krowe, who says, "I'm well acquainted with Robe's excellent performance and reliability, so when it came to decide on moving lights for our production inventory, the choice was easy! We specifically like the zoom and gobo facilities and the quality optics for which the brand is renowned."

BML is active in all areas of lighting including concerts and events, film and TV productions, installations and rentals. The company was formed last August when Krowe and Elliot Todd teamed up with industry veteran Shelly Diamond - a sales executive at See Factor for 30 years

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UAE - Studio F is Dubai Media Inc's latest television studio to benefit from a complete technical refurbishment. Accommodating seven sets and often broadcasting up to four live sports shows per day, seven days a week, the studio counts on staff skills and technical infrastructure that are second to none. This makes replacing familiar equipment with new all the more complex and relies on the unwavering back up of the manufacturer and installer in the early stages of transition.

Continuing its trend to provide state of the art dimming and networked lighting control systems to TV studios around the world, ETC, via its UAE distributor Oasis Enterprises L.L.C, has provided a fully networked dimming and control system for Studio F, along with suitable training and support for the studio staff concerned.

Basel Al Aref, manager of professional projects division at Oasis Enterprises, d

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UK - ELDA+ (European Lighting Designers' Association) has held its first workshop in the UK in Birmingham, enabled by BDP's director of lighting Martin Lupton.

Martin Lupton, worked with Birmingham City Council to make possible the success of this year's workshop, titled 'Eastside Story' and held in the city's industrial Eastside area. The purpose of the workshops is to educate students and professionals as well as private and public agencies and the public, about lighting design and how it can contribute positively to the environment and enhance people's sense of safety.

As technical coordinator of the February 2006 event, attended by 47 students from 24 different countries, Martin Lupton reported that this was the most gritty, urban and industrial of all ELDA+ workshops to date. He said of the project: "Students had the opportunity to work on sites of a uniquely urban s

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UK - This is the second X Factor tour, and builds on the success of last year with a greatly expanded itinerary featuring a full month of sold-out UK arenas. Bandit's project manager Lester Cobrin comments: "The TV show pulled in over 10 million viewers each week, so it was no surprise that the demand for tickets on this tour would exceed last year - hence the 100% increase in the number of shows."

In designing the show, lighting director and programmer Arturo Ollandini collaborated closely with lighting and set designer Peter Barnes and show producer Tim Byrne. This year, the tour features the exceptionally strong line-up of the final eight contestants - including winner Shayne Ward and runners-up Andy Abraham and Journey South. A troupe of dancers adds a further dynamic to the production.

The overhead rig is dominated by a large, gently raked, X-shaped truss skelet

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UK - Zero 88's Chilli Pro dimmers continue to make their mark in the multi-purpose venue installations, having been chosen for another new facility - the purpose-built theatre at the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, which is the National Grammar School for profoundly deaf children.

Lancelyn Theatre Supplies, responsible for designing and installing the auditorium lighting system, had specific criteria to adhere to. Project manager Jim Butler explains: "The auditorium needs to be used as a professional theatrical venue, an amateur theatrical venue, a school theatrical venue, a professional conference facility, a school assembly hall and a school exam venue. With this mix taken into consideration, the multi-purpose facility requires various levels of lighting, which has to be fully functional and easily controlled."

Working closely with theatrical consultant Ale

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Ireland - Two hundred and fifty Element Labs VersaTUBES LED fixtures were used for the hugely popular final of You're A Star 2006 - the Irish national TV channel RTE's search for the next generation of pop stars.

You're A Star's lighting was designed by Andrew Leonard and programmed by Peter Canning. Canning also co-ordinated the supply and design of the VersaTUBE feature and the Catalyst system used to run it, via his company Zencorp.

Dublin-based Zencorp specializes in digital media and LED fixtures and control systems. The company purchased a quantity of VersaTUBEs from UK and Irish distributor Projected Image Digital at the end of last year which have been in constant use ever since.

Leonard and Canning came onboard for this - their first - You're A Star series, having worked on a special charity edition of the show last year. For visuals, they broug

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Finland - Technology Centre Teknia Ltd in Kuopio, Finland opened a multipurpose space called Showroom in the basement of its MicroTower high-rise building. The Showroom is part of the WellTeknia concept, which offers an innovative environment for R&D and commercial projects, serving corporations and researchers as well as other users in the area.

The concept offers a range of support services for testing, piloting and commercialization of new products and services. The space can be used in product launches and pre-marketing as well as a tool in product design, etc.

Several key requirements were set as the basis of the design process: usability of the space, ease of maintenance, flexibility, expandability, modularity and innovation. Removable walls allow for easy expandability. The modules also include embedded box-shaped showcases and four electronic information displays are a

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UK - The team at large format projection specialists E//T//C UK expands with the arrival of Andy Joyes as video development manager.

Joyes will head up E//T//C UK's new high power video projection department. One of his immediate tasks will be to help introduce its revolutionary new OnlyView multi-screen control software to the market.

Joyes brings a wealth of technical experience and knowledge in both lighting and visuals to the equation at E//T//C UK. He's worked in the production industry for over 25 years, across every discipline - from theatre, rock 'n' roll and corporate events to festivals and large scale spectaculars - and has also undertaken many shows with E//T//C UK as a freelance engineer and programmer. His touring video exploits include working with pioneering artists such as David Bowie, Madonna, Peter Gabriel and the Stereophonics.

E//T//C UK's Ross Ashton sa

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Greenland - Midas' Danish distributor Ascon Trading has sold a Legend 3000 and a Venice 240 console into one of the most northerly territories on earth, Greenland.

The consoles have been installed into the Katuaq Greenland, the country's primary multipurpose arts centre built in the capital city of Nuuk in 1997 to strengthen cultural life in the country. Having operated with its main console for the nine years since it opened, the venue's technical staff felt the time was right for an upgrade, and following a Midas demo, the Legend 3000 was chosen. A Venice 240 was also selected for use at smaller events at the Katuaq.

"We needed a good replacement board because the venue gets a huge amount of use, with jobs ranging from theatre and dance to conferences and corporate events, which include different complex setups," says the centre's technical manager Kim Larsen. &quo

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UK - Metropolis AV has completed its latest, fully integrated sound, lighting and AV design and installation for the Sports Café brand - in Newcastle. It's Metropolis's fifth complete Sports Café project and is proving one of the busiest venues.

Once again Metropolis has chosen hard wearing good quality brands including HK and JBL audio, Robe moving lights, LightProcessor lighting control and Alcon McBride and Kramer video switching. Project manager Shane Winterbourne says: "Although there are specific elements common to all Sorts Cafes, each building and installation is completely different, and each has its own set of challenges"

Metropolis's Sports Café projects are always technology driven. Immediately guests walk in the entrance doors, eyes are drawn to the wall of twelve 15 inch TFT screens behind the reception desk. Two HK Audio IL 8.2 ful

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Belgium - At the event and entertainment exhibition SIB in Rimini (Italy) Philips has introduced FastFit, a new lamp concept for Philips MSR Gold 700 SA/SE, Philips MSR Gold 1200 SA/SE and Philips Hi-Brite 1200Watt. The rear load lamp base system, developed by Philips and Bender & Wirth, enables easy lamp replacement and adjustments in seconds in difficult stage conditions and reduces the overall lamp considerably.

Philips FastFit for both halogen and HID: Fast replacement and adjustment aren't the only benefits, the overall lamp length, including the lamp holder, can be reduced by more than 25%. This makes more compact and lighter fixture designs possible. Furthermore, the FastFit technology will be used for both HID and Halogen lamps that brings about multi-usage of the fixture.

In close partnership, several leading manufacturers are introducing fixtures suitable for

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USA - Bandit Lites have again been named as the number one entertainment lighting company in the world. On 15 February at the Mandalay Bay Theater in Las Vegas, the music industry recognized its own for excellence in 2005, and Bandit Lites was the unanimous choice as the Pollstar Awards lighting company of the year.

CEO Michael T. Strickland says: "The entire Bandit global team is very proud of the Pollstar Award and considers the award as the voice of the industry. We wish to thank Pollstar, the people in our industry that have allowed us to work with them, and our wonderful clients that made it all possible."

As 2006 unfolds Bandit is involved in a variety of projects globally. The Queen Reunion Tour continues with the US leg starting in March and it carries on into the year as it travels around the world with full service and support from Bandit Lites. The

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UK - Lighting technicians from across the industry are invited to attend a unique training and social event to be held on the 6 May at the Edge venue in Solihull, near Birmingham.

The hosts (Solihull Society of Arts) and organisers (UKSLC.ORG - UK Sound and Lighting Community) have assembled a top team of leading UK console manufacturers to deliver training on the latest lighting desks and entertainment technology throughout the day.

Brand names like Compulite, MA, Chamsys, ETC, Zero 88 and Robe are providing a wide variety of lighting control equipment for attendees to use, and their staff will be on hand to answer questions for console operators at all levels of experience.

The training sessions are designed to cater for everyone from drama pupils wishing to learn about 'real world' performance technology, to freelancers who want to practice on new consoles and seasoned LX

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UK - Leading entertainment lighting specialist White Light continues to enjoy growth in the corporate event lighting field, its success being demonstrated by the company now being an approved supplier to over thirty leading event venues in London and beyond.

Amongst those who welcome and recommend White Light for those looking to light their event are: Kensington Palace, the Science Museum, Shakespeare's Globe, Somerset House, the Imperial War Museum, Kew Gardens, BA London Eye, Guildhall, the Museum of London, the Twickenham Experience and the Theatre Museum, as well as all of the venues in the unique venues of London collection, and the diverse portfolio of English Heritage properties. All of the venues to which White Light is an approved supplier can be found on the newly re-designed White Light website.

"White Light clients receive strong, personal support from our ex

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USA - U.S distributor of professional audio and lighting products, Group One Ltd., has announced at NSCA Expo, Las Vegas, new additions to it team of manufacturer's representatives.

Jack Kelly, Group One Ltd. president, remarked that the new appointments position Group One for ongoing expansion, while assisting the company to provide the highest level of service and support for the distinguished brands it represents.

Hudson Marketing is now responsible for the territory of Upstate New York as well as the New York Metro area, and Michael Chafee Associates has been appointed as the Florida representative for the XTA and MC2 product lines. Warman Marketing's coverage area for XTA products has been expanded to include Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, in addition to Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The Mac West Group will now represent XTA and MC2 in Southern California

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UK- The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has lent its name to a lobbying campaign intended to encourage the Government to rethink its proposals to introduce a 10% tax on all UK hotel bills. The proposal - part of a wider Government tax review conducted by the Lyons Inquiry - recommends that a 10% tax per night is added to the current 17.5% VAT - which means that the UK would effectively become the highest taxed destination in Europe.

PLASA believes that the proposed tourist tax (dubbed the 'bed' tax) will hit this industry from both sides: not only will it put yet another financial burden on businesses in the entertainment, event and installation sectors where business-related travel accounts for a large part of their ongoing overheads, but it will almost certainly affect tourism revenues, which directly influence the financial performance of this industry.

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Italy - At SIB 2006, Rimini - the international reference point for technology, audio, video and lighting for shows and new entertainment - the company showed the new iSpot Extreme. The Coemar stand will also hosted heats of 2006 Bologna Music Festival, a European contest for emerging artists from all over Italy and various other European countries, presented by Guido Mandreoli and Federica Calabrò. Participants fought it out note by note, beneath Coemar's light show and in front of a jury made up of expert musicians, record label executives and members of the national radio and TV broadcast industry. TV coverage by Milan's Cinevideostudio.

The iSpot Extreme is Coemar's ultimate moving yoke projector and was expressly designed for 2006 Winter Olympics' opening ceremony in the Stadium of Turin, where both the iSpot Extreme and other Coemar luminaries played at their best.

It p

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Germany - A.C. Lighting has appointed cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution as its distributor for the Jands Vista lighting console range in Germany. Under the arrangement, the distributor will fulfil all service aspects, including stock supply, demonstration, training, technical support and backup.

Cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution is a leading supplier of professional stage and lighting equipment to theatres, rental companies, TV studios and fair building companies in Germany. The company is a combination of C.Adolph and RST Distribution, who merged last year to strengthen their market position and together share over 120 years industry experience.

A.C. Lighting's international sales director, Cally Bacchus, commented: "We wanted to work with cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution because we felt that the Jands Vista console would be a natural fit with the rest of their high qualit

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UK - Event supplier Pearce Hire has moved its entire operation, of power, distro, sound and lighting equipment, to a new office and warehouse premises to accommodate the company's expansion.

The move keeps Pearce Hire in Peterborough, its home of 15 years, but has taken the company to a newly built facility with improved infrastructure. The Pearce Hire management team have spent over a year planning the move, to find premises suited to their specific growth requirements, in order to improve the levels of service offered to clients and become more efficient.

The new site incorporates carefully organised storage bays, an equipment testing and preparation area all with good access for improved loading ability.

Pearce Hire has expanded steadily over recent years, consolidating relationships with clients ranging from organisers of corporate events, festivals, tours, exhibitions,

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Germany - Le Maitre will be at Prolight in Frankfurt, exhibiting with their German distributor LMP Lichtechnik. Le Maitre's sales director Rick Wilson will be on the LMP stand with a range of products including the Stadium Hazer, the new Fake Flame and the new MVS Hazer.

The Le Maitre Stadium Hazer is the top of the range of hazing machines. It utilizes a proven, patented conversion technique to provide a truly awesome output and is eminently suited for large venues. At the same time, electronic control of the output issue enables its use in smaller areas where rapid atmosphere fills are required, say the company.

The non-toxic fluid used to provide the unique haze form, departs from undesirable oil type use, and can only be converted by the advanced techniques employed. By maintaining a narrow band, cyclic temperature operation, consistent micron sized particles are formed, c

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