Lighting

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UK - The new Mania EFX800 from Martin Professional is a 150W discharge effect light - a broad, sweeping flower effect punched through a rotating glass colour paddle producing a dynamic, ever-changing look and feel, say the company.

The EFX800's light output has a wide 170° spread which rotates and sweeps - wider than any flower effect light in its class, meaning more space can be covered with fewer fixtures. A separate gobo wheel houses 12 gobo designs with fast strobe effects achievable via a separate shutter.

Martin says that the superior quality and ease of servicing of the Mania brand, plus its long-life discharge lamp (6000 hours, included) offers users great savings. Designed primarily for installation use, this versatile effect light includes a number of mounting options yet is durable enough for life on the road. The compact EFX800 is DMX controllable for ultimate

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UK - Now that the dust has settled on this year's PLASA Show, the organisers of next year's show - the newly-formed PLASA Events Ltd - are looking forward to building on this week's hugely successful 2006 event - the last to be organised on PLASA's behalf by Clarion Events.

Exact visitor figures will be released in due course, following the independent ABC Audit of the figures. However, early indications are that PLASA '06 may even have surpassed last year's PLASA Show (which was memorable for its frenetic business activity) with a notable increase in visitor numbers, and a very strong international attendance.

Many of the exhibitors that the PLASA Media team spoke to across during the four days of the show praised both the quality of the customers they had been seeing, and the large numbers of international visitors from all around of the world. Despite a relatively 'quiet' S

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Canada - Pyrotek has welcomed back Gordon Hyndford as project director after a long absence from the company. Hyndford started Pyrotek in 1981 with current owner, Doug Adams, but left the company to explore life on the road. He soon found success touring with rock and roll acts such as The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bon Jovi, and Janet Jackson as well as working with corporate shows like the Pope, American Standard and many others.

Hyndford says: "The knowledge I have gained in lighting, pyro, scaffolding, temporary power, and automation control over the last 23 years has been invaluable and rewarding. However, at some point you have to get off the road. What better place to go then back to where it all started."

Hyndford will be based in the Toronto office, but will also be overseeing some installations in the field for Pyrotek and Laser Design. Adams says: "I am

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UK - This year's PLASA Show saw the release of the new Goboland Steel Collection 2007 catalogue. Just months after its first presentation at PALME in Dubai and at ABTT in London, the new edition was very well received by the PLASA audience, say the company. The new catalogue now contains a thousand designs covering a comprehensive range of break-ups, foliage, multi-lingual greetings and more.

All of Goboland's steel designs are now available on glass: to do this, all of the designs have been recreated with the glass gobo manufacturing process in mind, so all the steel 'bridges' have been removed. Furthermore, a number of designs have been sensitively redesigned for reduced image sizes, allowing the use of these designs in fixtures which take smaller size gobos.

The new catalogue also sees the inclusion of the existing range of gobos from leading lighting filter specialist Lee

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UK - As the originator of transparent imagery in LED lighting and effects, G-LEC remained one step ahead at this year's PLASA show, introducing its new fibre optic based data transfer technology, 100 times faster than existing copper wire cabling.

This new technology, plus upgraded software, has been integrated into the company's PhantomFrame system, the new system being called G-LEC Phantom II.

The technology gives such fine control over the graphics that images are rendered pixel-by-pixel, enabling curves to appear as true curves, instead of being pixellated. For most occasions such accuracy is not necessary, but it is vital for many corporate identities. Graphics such as circular logos - VW, BMW - are represented with crystal clear precision.

The high speed data transfer technology also opens up the way to build much larger systems and special constructions.

Flexibility

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UK - MGC Lamps Ltd, one of the largest global independent specialist lamp distributors, has announced the appointment as David Jackson to export sales manager. Jackson joined the company in 2004 as area manager of export sales for the Far East and Australasia, recently expanding this area to include Middle East. With a wealth of knowledge from his time at Martin Professional and Celestion, he will now manage the continued growth of the company's export division.

MGC has also welcomed Justin Althorpe to its UK sales team. Althorpe will help promote MGC's new entertainment products including Tryka's range of LED lighting solutions.

(Lee Baldock)

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Sweden - ETC has recently completed the refitting of the Malmö Opera and Music Theatre in Sweden with a new IES SineWave dimming system, a Unison lighting control system for worklights and a UDP network with DimSTAT reporting software, plus DMX distribution.

Built in 1944, the renewed theatre opened in February with a production of Verdi's A Masked Ball, complete with 21st century lighting technology illuminating the stage's original 1940s furniture. Since Malmö is only a 20-minute drive from Copenhagen via the new Öresund Bridge, ETC's Danish distributor, BICO, handled the installation, commissioning, training and project management together with ETC regional manager Tim Stokholm and field project manager Jeremy Roberts.

ETC has installed five IES Matrix Mk II dimmer racks for the main stage, four racks for the smaller Intim stage and one rack for the workshop stage

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UK - David Stewart has taken over as business development manager of DiFuzion, the lighting division of Fuzion plc. Formerly with Spirit Design, specialising in corporate lighting design, he also spent two years in the entertainment sector with Stage Electrics as well as working with Martin Professional.

Stewart says that he jumped at the opportunity to take on the position in view of the challenge offered by the Futurelight range, which DiFuzion represents in the UK. "I am looking forward to increasing exposure for the brand in the marketplace," he said. "They have a great range of fixtures, from the 1200W scanners on down, and the fact that they also have products fo the live sector formed part of the attraction."

DiFuzion's new recruit says that his medium-term aim is to grow the lighting and control portfolio into a position where the company an offer a

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Australia - The Dixie Chicks' Accidents and Accusations tour, which will return to North America after a series of dates Down Under, features a lighting package designed by Alex Reardon and consisting of 6 BigLite 4.5's, 30 MAC 2000 Washes, and 8 Atomic Strobes fitted with Atomic Colours, along with other automated fixtures.

Commenting on the production itself, Rearden said, "All too often I hear the euphemism of 'we want to make this show all about the music' when the translation means, 'we want to make it all about the money!' However, in an absolute first, this show really is 'all about the music'. They have a stunning nine piece band whose talent is spectacular."

"This was my first outing with the BigLites," adds Rearden, "and I was very seriously impressed. At full intensity, they have the punch required, but it is the other functions that

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UK - Knight Sound & Light have equipped a large Polish community centre in south London with a new technology infrastructure - built around 24 of Wharfedale's full-range Programme 50's.

Hamilton House in Balham - originally a gift from Lord Nelson to Lady Emma Hamilton and later owned by the Kray Twins, has operated as the White Eagle Club and hosted a wide range of Polish community activities since the 1960's.

While front-of-house operates as a bar/restaurant for the Polish community, the 400-capacity multi-function room is used for additional activities including karaoke nights, discos and live music.

The hall was in a run-down state when Magda Harvey took over the premises last year. The services of freelance consultant/DJ Robert Czekalski were enlisted and on advice from Knight Sound & Light, he opted for a Wharfedale solution. "We had experienced environmental heal

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UK - Robe Show Lighting reports that it enjoyed its busiest PLASA to date - with "a fantastic show that again included another stunning party on the Sunday night, arguably the 'hottest ticket' in town".

The colourful and lively booth situated at the core of the exhibition was designed by Robe UK's Nathan Wan and featured products from across the Robe range, including the latest DigitalSpot 5000DT, StageQube 324 and the new 700 Series of fixtures.

A ring of eight DigitalSpots encircled the top deck of the stand, projecting imagery onto a cylindrical gauze running round the elevated area, which featured a bar, seating area and Robe's famous hospitality.

At the rear of the booth was a massive StageCube 324 video wall showing an array of sources stored on Robe digital media servers, which attracted much interest, as did the new products that Robe launched at the show.<

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Hong Kong - Los Angeles-based UV/FX has recently completed the painting of what is claimed to be the "largest completely invisible scenic attraction ever produced". The Cave scene is a part of the Walking With Buddha Attraction at Hong Kong's newest Visitor destination, Ngong Ping 360.

UV/FX worked directly with Dedica Group, a California-based creative design and management consultancy, who delivered the completed project to their client, Mass Transit Railway Corporation.

The Cave scene is a massive set that literally disappears right before the audience 's eyes. The attraction represents a chapter in the life of Siddhartha, using narrative, theatrical effects and lighting. In an instant the cave magically transforms to reveal contemporary Hong Kong's Nathan Road, a blur of lights and busy people that signifies the relevance and importance of Buddhism in cont

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USA - The AMC Valley View 16 Theatres in the Valley View Mall in Dallas enlisted the services of Illuminating Concepts to increase the visual attraction of the multi screen complex.

"The building has a long range visibility and can be seen from the main expressway," explains Illuminating Concept's Kenneth Klemmer, director of design on the project. "Originally they were looking at a white light illuminated theatre exterior but eventually decided on a concept to illuminate the building in colour with colour sequences, yet still provide the requisite amount of emergency white light."

Approximately 40 IP65 rated Exterior 200 colour changers from Martin Architectural were integrated into the theatre's perimeter balcony handrail to provide virtually unlimited colour choices for the roughly 30 foot high façade walls. The programmable 150W fixtures are mounted on

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USA - Bandit Lites has integrated easyjob software into its rental process as another step forward to ensure positive rental transactions for its clients. Easyjob is made by Protonic, a German-based company. The excel-like programme offers a variety of customisable features and allows users to manage complicated projects that cover multiple events and locations, efficiently schedule staff, prevent inventory deficiency and overbooking, and calculate the profitability of projects, among other features.

Bandit general manager at the Knoxville facility, J.R. Sander comments, "Easyjob has an uncomplicated and informative navigator window. It is easy to enter and modify information for new projects and workshop information. The date flexibility of equipment look-up is also very easy to access, adjust and to use to make decisions."

Bandit director of computer resources Jim

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Hong Kong - Martin Professional Hong Kong has reached agreement with Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) to set up an STA/Martin Technical Training Centre in Eastern China and an STA/Martin Lighting Practice Centre in the near future. Martin will lend further support by providing lighting equipment to facilitate the setting up of an intelligent lighting Laboratory. Martin will also provide a scholarship for STA's Stage Art Institute.

During the negotiations, Mr. Raymond Wong, managing director of Martin Professional Hong Kong, acknowledged Shanghai Theatre Academy's reputation as one of the most popular universities in China thanks to its long history, well-facilitated infrastructure and large number of qualified professionals.

Under the guiding principles of education, and based on mutual benefit and respect, Martin and STA have achieved consensus on lab developments and use of ST

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UK - An audience of 45,000 gathered in London's Hyde Park to see this year's Proms in the Park concert. The lighting for this show was once again designed by Tony Hall, and an MA Lighting grandMA console was used to control his show: "There were eight very full universes of DMX, without the generic channels," says Hall. "The grandMA was an obvious choice, since the channel count is so large and the desk has an excellent 'rock solid' reputation."

During the three intensive evenings of plotting, the desk performed faultlessly, said Hall. "Even better, the desk also performed during the show in the same manner. Essential Lighting's decision to add the grandMA range of consoles to its hire fleet is largely based on its reputation for reliability and this has been proved on this technically demanding event."

Hall insisted on all the lamps being central

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Switzerland - The first TV broadcast from the new media centre of the Federal Houses of Parliament in Bern, Switzerland, has been transmitted. Accommodating the editorial offices of various radio and television stations, as well as production workspaces and radio studios, the media centre is home to the 280sq.m TV studio of the SRG SSR (Swiss Radio and Television Association). Much of the lighting equipment for the new studio was supplied and installed by ETC from their offices in Holzkirchen, Germany.

The new television studio is situated on the third basement level of the building - an impressive feat in itself, considering that no basement levels existed at the beginning of construction. An 18m hole had to be dug under the building which was itself propped on stilts for the duration of construction. The official laying of the foundation stone was in February 2005, and the 55

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USA - Robe America has appointed Tony Magana as business development manager. He will be based in the east coast HQ at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will be co-ordinating with the full Robe America team, covering all areas of the country, the company says.

Magana has nearly 20 years' experience in the professional lighting and production industry, including four years touring as a lighting director, programmer, technician and crew chief for leading international acts and companies. He brings a wealth of hands-on, practical experience to Robe America, coupled with a firm understanding of systems integration and the latest digital technologies. He's also worked in sales for 10 years with a major moving light manufacturer and is well in tune with the needs of specifiers and end-users of all types.

Robe America's president, Michael Carattini, comments: "Tony Magana will add d

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UK - Wicked, winner of fifteen major US awards and recently named the highest grossing Broadway show in history has arrived in London. Prequel to the Wizard of Oz story, Wicked opened for previews in early September at the Apollo Theatre and premiered later in the month. providing the considerable and diverse lighting kit for the show is PRG Europe.

Lighting designer Kenneth Posner has created a dynamic and dramatic atmosphere on stage. He says: "The UK audience is in for an exciting and unique visual experience when they see Wicked. The entire design team spent many hours recreating the Broadway visual elements and embellishing the overall design. The Apollo, with its dramatic height but shallower and narrower stage, made it necessary for us to re-design and re-plot many of the scenes."

PRG Europe project manager for the show, Loz Wilcox

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UK - Entertainment lighting supplier White Light reports that it enjoyed "a phenomenally successful four days at the 2006 PLASA Show". White Light's stand was used as the launching point for a range of new products from the manufacturers represented by the company in the UK, as well as being a showcase for White Light's own products.

The first new product launch was the much-anticipated Lancelot from Robert Juliat, a high-powered effect projector/followspot aimed at the largest productions and venues. "The biggest problem we then had with the Lancelot was stopping people pointing it into the milling crowd," explains White Light's Managing Director, Bryan Raven.

From LSC in Australia, the MaXim desk and E24 touring dimmer rack were on show. White Light's sales director Peter Threadgold and Gary Pritchard from LSC announced that White Light had been appointed

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UK - Leisuretec Distribution has been appointed a dealer for lighting control manufacturers, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC). The move is part of the Bedfordshire-based Company's product portfolio expansion.

"We want to grow our lighting business and to offer our clients a wider choice of high quality luminaries and control products" says Leisuretec's sales development manger Andy Duffield.

Leisuretec's customers are involved with many projects across all aspects of the leisure and entertainment markets, particularly in the educational and schools sector.

Mark White, ETC's regional manager for the UK and Ireland comments, "Having Leisuretec onboard is great for us because of their excellent contacts and reputation in the core leisure and entertainment industry." Other brands distributed by Leisuretec include Vestax, GDS, Pioneer, Denon, Strand, Zero88,

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UK - On 25 July, the government launched the final consultation on implementing the 'producer responsibility' aspects of the WEEE Directive - the EU-led initiative that affects all manufacturers by making them responsible for paying for the treatment and recycling of products at the end of their life.

PLASA - the main body representing the manufacturers in the sector - has been active in the consultation process and is now rallying members for the final time to feedback on the draft regulations before their full implementation in July next year.

Detailed consultation notes have been sent to all PLASA manufacturing members affected, together with guidance on how to participate in the process; PLASA is now urging members to act and feedback before the final deadline of October 17th, warning that this is the last chance to get the detail right. Further notes will be issued to mem

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USA - Arup has announced the appointment of David Taylor, an internationally known consultant for theatres, concert halls and other performing arts venues, to lead Arup's performing arts sector work in the Americas. Taylor, an associate principal based in New York, will be the primary point of contact in the Americas for performing arts clients and the linchpin for Arup's overall work in the sector.

"It's an excellent fit for both Arup and David," said Neill Woodger, principal and leader of the Arup Acoustics practice in the Americas. "He has worked with Arup for more than 20 years on key arts projects around the world. His expertise in theatre planning and design brings an important skill set to our practice, augmenting our existing acoustics, lighting, simulation, venue consulting and engineering disciplines and allowing us to provide a complete and integrated p

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