Lighting

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Czech Republic - Robe Show Lighting announces it's latest Weather Protection products - the LightDome 1200 and 575 and the WeatherShield 1200 and 575 - just in time for the summer festival season to kick off.

With exterior applications a growing trend - in both entertainment and architectural areas, no moving light range is complete without its own weather protection facilities. Robe has spent considerable time researching into the best solutions to protect their fixtures from extreme environments and has come up with the ultimate in weather resistance.

The 1200 and 575 LightDomes are very easy to rig and are designed to encase Robe's popular 1200 and 575 series of luminaires. The luminaire's base is fixed onto the LightDome's luminaire holder by four quick-lock fasteners, and this in turn fixes to the base of the Dome by another four quick-lock fasteners. The cables are run i

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UK - At the end of April, the smash-hit musical Chicago left London's Adelphi Theatre, where it has played since 1997, and moved across town to a new home at the Cambridge Theatre - once again with a lighting rig from White Light.

Lighting designer Ken Billington won a Tony Award for his lighting design for the revival of the classic Kander & Ebb musical when it first opened on Broadway. When the show moved to London, White Light supplied a rig including over three hundred ETC Source Fours plus three Robert Juliat Aramis followspots, and Wybron ColorRam 4" scrollers and an ETC Obsession 2 console, both the scrollers and console making their UK debut on the show.

The show's move to the Cambridge Theatre was to make way for the new production of Evita, soon to open at the Adelphi also using a rig from White Light. But the move was very tightly scheduled, with

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USA - The increased drive current capability of Luxeon K2 LEDs from Philips Lumileds is transforming the market for solid-state lighting technology by enabling development of brighter LED-based lighting applications than ever before. As the first and only LED tested and binned at 1000mA with specified minimum performance and no sacrifice in lumen maintenance, Luxeon K2 allows more light to be extracted from each emitter than any other single-chip LED. This not only delivers a lower cost per lumen but also expands LED lighting design possibilities far beyond the previously standard 350mA LEDs.

"At 1000mA, Luxeon K2 delivers more than twice the light output than can be produced at 350mA while maintaining the lifetime, quality and robustness of the device," noted David Eastley, Luxeon K2 product manager. "This paves the way for an explosion in the quantity and variet

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Australia - Foxtel in Sydney have reconstructed a small studio at their Pyrmont premises as well as building a large studio at their Ryde complex. The larger studio, which measures 300sq.m has been in use since the beginning of May.

Coemar De Sisti Australia were contracted to supply a complete lighting installation including De Sisti hoists, wiring and dimmers resulting in a complete turn-key system. Peter Kemp, CDA's managing director, surveyed the market for a wall mount dimmer suitable for the application.

"We decided that the LSC Lighting EKO was suitable for the requirements we had for the studio. There were a number of features that we favoured; ease of installation including the facilities within the rack for logging and various functions you can set up with the EKO. They were the best dimmer for the job and fitted the need."

Ease of installation is one of

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UK - Headed by Peter Church, the recently formed JI Entertainments has pledged to develop its estate, heavily branded in favour of Idols and Blue.

Church enlisted the expertise of TMC - with whom he first worked during his days at First Leisure - and Paul Smith, a director of the Bradford-based technology specialists, was called in. As a result the former Julie's in Newcastle has now been converted to Blue, and The Square Bar in Swansea to Idols, alongside the technological upgrade of Idols in Newcastle.

TMC have evolved a winning formula when it comes to brand selection, and for their automated lighting they return time after time to Futurelight fixtures (distributed in the UK by DiFuzion, a subsidiary of Fuzion plc).

DiFuzion's Graham Barron has a long relationship with the installers, and aside from the product's inherent reliability, Paul Smith knows he is also guarantee

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UK - PLASA's AGM and Members Lunch is fast approaching but, if you haven't already done so, there's still time for members to reserve a place. With nearly 200 confirmed attendees, it promises to be a really good networking event as well as the ideal opportunity to find out more about the work PLASA has been doing over the last year and its plans for the future.

Guest speaker, Alasdair Jeffrey, has some strong views about business and anyone that has seen him in action in the BBC's The Ferocious Mr Fixit will know that he delivers as a business trouble-shooter.

If you would like to join us at the Hurlingham Club on Tuesday 6 June, get in touch with PLASA today on 01323 410335 or via the e-mail address below.

(Chris Henry)

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UK - Tryka L.E.D. Ltd is the lighting sponsor of the Design Talks at this year's bar show. The seminar area hosts a series of talks from high-profile figures taking place under the watchful gaze of Tryka luminaires, which provide the sole illumination in a stunning wash of colours to bring the forums to life and provide eye-catching, colour-changing surroundings for speakers and attendees alike.

The new MR16 Module 3 and Module 6, as well as the latest Module 12 - all featuring the unique Easy-Link System for simple installation and control - are applied to great visual impact. All units feature 25° optics and RGB LEDs, with optics being interchangeable in the MR16 fixtures for adaptability to different application needs.

Several Strip Modules - fitted with oval optics for wall-wash effect - illuminate the interior walls with a glow of ever changing hues to complete the st

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USA - Leading Internet Equipment broker, GearSource, has created a new Online project that promises similar rapid growth and success. LED Source (www.LEDsource.com) promises to deliver a quality range of LED products from leading manufacturers through their innovative and simple to navigate e-commerce Internet site. In fact, LED Source are 100% exclusively dedicated to the LED market and will always try to offer a unique product mix.

Founder and president Marcel Fairbairn says: "LEDs have obviously become a leading component of today's lighting market. Although we've never really been driven to establish a site for sales of 'new' gear, the market for LED sales is so fragmented and confused right now. We saw an opportunity to step up and establish a sales entity online where we would could provide quality LED products to both dealers and end-users."

LED Source has cre

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USA - Color Kinetics Incorporated and iLight Technologies Inc have announced an agreement through which iLight will license Color Kinetics' patent portfolio to add colour-changing offerings to its LED-based product lines. This includes the Plexineon RGB Series, introduced this week at Lightfair International, as well as future products.

"We are very pleased to offer dynamic colour control together with our award-winning Plexineon profile," said Mark Cleaver, chairman of iLight Technologies. "Our agreement with Color Kinetics makes this exciting opportunity possible, and reflects our commitment to the growing market for intelligently controlled LED lighting."

"We believe that LEDs offer the best method for lighting with colour today, and we're pleased to help companies like iLight take advantage of this accelerating market shift," said Bill Sims, P

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UK - Eclipse Lighting and Sound have designed and installed an integrated sound, lighting and vision package for Live Leisure's new £3m Opus complex in Manchester. Situated in the high-profile Printworks, it has presented them with one of their most prestigious contracts yet.

Opus will accommodate up to 1,200 people across four floors, which contain four rooms, with two restaurants and five bars. But it was the multipurpose Live Room that provided Eclipse director John Fearon with his biggest challenge. "We had to build a versatile lighting rig that would accommodate comedy acts, live bands, corporate nights and a full-on nightclub - as well as general ambience," he said.

While this would require some generic stage lighting he knew he could depend on the recommendation of DiFuzion's Graham Barron for all his automated requirements.

"I have known Graham f

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UK - Three leading UK rental operations have invested in Robe moving lights in the last two months - London-based Colour Sound Experiment and Halo, and GLS from Southampton.

Colour Sound Experiment has purchased 17 ColorSpot and 17 ColorWash 575 ATs - its first Robe fixtures. CSE's Haydn Cruickshank says they made the purchase because "people want to use them", adding that they also have a place in CSE's hire stock as a "well specified, good value, mid-range" moving light. Their first show was the legendary Southport All Weekender, where they received a good caning! They will also be out on the Ascot Charity Ball, Hi Fi North and South festivals and the Metal Hammer Awards plus numerous dry hires to other companies.

16 ColorSpot 1200 ATs are the first Robe's bought by GLS, although they already have another order placed with Robe UK. The purchase followed b

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New Zealand / UK -Selecon will unveil its latest developments in followspot technology at the forthcoming ABTT show in London, with products which the company claims will set new standards in followspot performance. The Selecon Performer Series, which the company says is developed from market and operator demands, features light output that is 2-3 times that of current 1.2kW and 2.5kW MSR/HMI followspots, an extensive control suite, full length body guide rails and is cool to operate. The unit is powered from a domestic socket. The range includes the Tahi followspot (18°-24°: 18° = 1000lux at 43m; 24° = 1000lux at 30m) and the Rua followspot (9°-16°: 9° = 1000lux at 56m; 16° = 1000lux at 34m).

Also new from Selecon and on display at ABTT will be the new Rama range of Fresnels and PCs which, the company says, "deliver precision focus saving t

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Switzerland - Bandit Lites continued its ongoing relationship with Lotus Cars at the Geneva Motor Show, supplying lighting design and production for their stand which included the launch of the new Lotus Europa S. The exhibition was held in the massive Palexpo Centre and it was the first automotive trade show at which Bandit UK has worked with Lotus, following on from a steady run of showroom work around the UK.

Lighting designer Mark Powell was asked to make the stand look dynamic, dramatic and cutting edge with the lighting - reflecting the profile of the show and the launch of the new model. The 'essence' of the lighting also had to highlight Lotus's sleek, high value brand image, and reflect the Lotus S's design philosophy of achieving performance through "added lightness".

The stand clean open lines of the stand were designed by Omni's. It featured the main care

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UK - 2006 saw the launch of a brand new large scale music festival in South Wales: held over two days in Ynys Angharad Park in Pontypridd, The Full Ponty featured live performances from top bands such as Feeder, Funeral for a Friend and Goldy Lookin Chain. Freelance lighting designer Tim Routledge was approached by Pop Factory Events to design a contemporary, rich look for this event that was to be not only suitable for a live but also a TV audience as the event was being recorded for broadcast on BBC2 Wales. The stage was also to be turned around for a more theatrical event to celebrate 150 years of the Welsh National anthem for BBC 1 Wales.

"Emyr Afan, the director, and myself really didn't want to wash the stage out and lose the effect of the rock looks onstage especially as we had a great blackout in the huge kayam structure," said Routledge. "In order to achi

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UK - Lighting designer Esteban Caracciolo specified an Avolites Diamond 4 for his latest UK and European tour with the punky energetic US rockers, Fall Out Boy. Caracciolo has always used Avo consoles, and during FOB's latest US shed and arena leg of the tour - just previous to them hitting Europe this time around - he was using two D4 Elites - supplied by Upstaging.

FOB's set can be as random as it is powerful, there is rarely a set list, and much of the show has to be improvisational, 'live' and hands on - making Avolites the ideal choice of console for the environment. "I have everything right there on the faders, ready to grab whenever I need it," he says.

He adds that in the US, the doors are often open at 5.30pm, curtailing the working day and reducing afternoon programming time, so here again, the D4's quick, simple patching and programming functionality is a

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UK - Lighting Partners, the company behind the hugely successful usedlighting.co.uk website will be exhibiting for the first time at this years ABTT Theatre Show in London. The stand, which will be located in the Lindley Hall (Stand 22) will feature a wide selection of the equipment featured on usedlighting.co.uk plus some exciting new budget lines from its sister site stagelighting.co.uk.

Throughout the show the company will be making special offers, including the chance for visitors to buy a wingnut spanner to take away. "The backdrop to our stand, designed for Lighting Partners by South London artist and designer Fuel, features an intergalactic battle you'd never see in Star Wars!" say the company.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Channel Four's new flagship chat show, which takes over from Richard and Judy for six months of the year, is the highly entertaining Paul O'Grady Show. Paul O'Grady is famous for his larger-than-life colourful personality, something that is also reflected in the lighting used on the show.

Dave Davey has been lighting Paul O'Grady for two series now and has chosen to use 900mm Pulsar Chroma Strips to illuminate the 18m x 2m high columns. With 90° beam angle the Chroma Strips provide a multitude of colours, which can be easily controlled with a Chroma Zone. The Chroma Strip is an ideal architectural lighting fixture to use for the columns on the set.

Dave has also chosen to use the Mac 500 for the show. The Mac 500 is a durable and reliable industry standard profile. The silent fan cooling is ideal for a show like Paul O'Grady where the requirement to reduce lighting no

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UK - ESP Lighting, a division of ESP Production, has invested in a Jands Vista T2 lighting console. The company provides a complete production service for a wide range of shows ranging from one-off corporate and music events to theatre tours and concerts: Paul Bellucci, who runs the lighting and staging side of the company, first saw the Vista demonstrated at PLASA. Having been a JANDS owner/user for several years, from an Event through to a Jands Hog 250 and Hog 1000, but for the last year had been looking for something new.

In February, Paul decided to get out of his 'comfort zone' so together with Tom, a younger member of the lighting team, took a day's training at A.C. Lighting and came away with a Vista T2. The console's first outing was for The Nth Fest, a groundbreaking twelve hour Christian Rock Festival featuring over 30 bands.

Prior to the Festival, Paul and Tom fami

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UAE - The Emirates Palace Hotel, recently built on the beach of the Gulf of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, shows off the beauty of Arab culture, combining traditional themes and reflecting the national identity of this affluent country.

Majestic, impressive, covering an area of 1 million square metres and surrounded by a beautiful garden and lawns, the Emirates Palace Hotel has a unique and multi-faceted structure, with façades reproducing the different nuances of colour of the sand in the Arabian desert.

The palace is an architectural marvel and an international landmark, with some 114 domes, all of which are covered with glass mosaic tiles. Designed taking every tiniest detail into consideration, capable of offering an unrivalled quality of service, this building has been created with the aim of whisking its guests away into the world of aristocracy, where every wi

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UK - HSL is supplying full lighting production and crew for the Beautiful South's new Superbi tour, designed and operated by Dave Byars, and currently on its first UK and Irish leg. The tour is being project managed for HSL by Mike Oates who says: "It's great to be working with Dave. He spent three days in our demo room pre-programming elements of the show, and we're honoured that both he and tour manager Simon Foster have trusted a new company to supply the kit."

Byars is renowned for the quirky, skilful blending of imagination and idiosyncrasy in his designs. The starting point for the tour was custom-made set of drapes, consisting of ruched red wine-coloured stage drapes, borders and riser scrims and a grey upstage tab drape. This gives the stage a plush, textured feel that's part theatre and partly a modern ironic take on the classic 1950s Mecca ballroom loo

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UK - PRG Europe provided lighting equipment and crew services for two very distinct productions at the 40th Brighton Festival: Group F's spectacular firework display in Brighton's Preston Park and the world premier of the Lost and Found Orchestra at the Brighton Dome concert hall.

French firework expert Group F has an impressive back catalogue, including the display during the 2006 New Year celebrations at the London Eye, the spectacular show on the Eiffel Tower during the millennium celebrations in Paris and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympics. The Brighton event was no less spectacular.

Overseeing the lighting hire needs for Preston Park was Loz Wilcox, project manager at PRG Europe's Croydon office, who explained: "We were contacted by event production manager Jon Linstrum, via event organiser Zap Art, back in November last year. I contracted one

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UK - Strand Lighting has announced that its new Project office, located in Cambridge, is now operational. "It has been a long road since our June 2005 announcement of our planned consolidation of the multiple UK sites to a single facility, but I am pleased to say that we have now completed the transfer of all UK projects, customer service and accounts functions all under one roof," says David Catterall, European sales director. "I believe this should significantly improve our service levels and the quality of communication over the next months."

"We have retained a strategic store of service parts and a workshop facility in the London area for service support but essentially we are now all operating from one main UK office or from satellite home offices connected to that office".

The Projects office in Cambridge is managed by Ed Twentyman, who has

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France - State Automation dimming and network products will be installed this summer by INEO Media System for a new permanent dimming system at the Grande Halle - the iconic building inside the premier urban cultural park, Parc de la Villette.

Built in 1867 by Jules de Merindol as the old oxen market, and was entirely transformed in 1982 by the architects Bernard Reichen and Philippe Robert to become the place for all sorts of events from theatre shows, creative exhibitions to cultural activities of concert, balls, dances, photo expos and films. The Grande Halle, is undoubtedly the main treasure of the park for its unique identity of "where the most diverse people cross one another."

State Automation was the pioneer in developing the sinewave technology in 1995, won the PLASA Award in 1998 and had the world's first SineWave installation at Sydney Opera House in 1999.

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UAE - Mall of the Emirates in Dubai is one of the largest shopping malls outside of North America. But that is not what makes it unique. Although the Mall features the usual amenities of a large shopping centre, its claim to fame is something altogether new for a desert environment - specifically, a one-of-a-kind indoor ski complex.

Located in the heart of what is deemed 'New Dubai,' the 223,000sq.m centre offers a full range of shopping, leisure, and entertainment activities. Officially opened in November 2005 it is home to over 400 retailers and includes Ski Dubai, the five-star Kempinski Hotel, and Magic Planet, the largest indoor family entertainment centre in the country.

Martin Professional Middle East, already responsible for some of the region's most distinguishing lighting solutions, was called in to provide a dynamic lighting scheme for several key areas. Ski Dubai i

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