Lighting

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UK - A.C. Special Projects has designed, supplied and installed full technical facilities for the Sidney Stringer School's multi-purpose theatre and drama studio. The School has built a reputation as an innovator that encourages experimental teaching practices, and offers a range of BTEC vocational courses including drama & theatre arts, and music, for students aged 11-18.

After losing its original theatre in a fire, the School's head of drama, Michael Collins, approached A.C. Special Projects to provide complete technical facilities for the new installation. Starting with an empty shell and power feed, the company specified the entire lighting, rigging, audio and AV products inventory for the theatre. Also, various equipment was supplied for a separate drama rehearsal space.

The lighting equipment includes an extensive list of ETC, Robe & Chroma-Q conventional, moving light &

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Australia - For 50 years the Great Moscow Circus has been entertaining audiences with acts of skill and agility. Featuring over 50 International performers, from Russia, Brazil, Mongolia, and Australasia, the Circus is again touring the country with a new production.

Brian Anslow, a lecturer in technical production at WAAPA, designed and programmed the lighting for this latest show trusting in a Jands Vista I3 for control. "I recommended that the Circus buys a Jands Vista I3 as I think it is fantastic," said Anslow. "I really think it's the next step forward in technology. We've had one at WAAPA for the past two years and I think the whole control system is very innovative; the whole idea of it, the visual reference - everything."

Anslow pre-programmed the opening of the Great Moscow Circus on his laptop with another screen connected to it so he could run b

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Belgium - Barco has announced its preliminary 2008 trading update, which reveals that while it was affected by the economic downturn, improvements in working capital have led to a better cash position.

Barco says that sales for 4Q 2008 were €208m, while total sales for 2008 were €725m - down 1.5% compared to 2007. Order intake for 4Q 2008 was € 204 m. For FY08 the reduction in order intake was 2.7%.

2008 EBIT was severely hit by the worldwide economic crisis, and will be below €10m, compared with €58.7m in 2007. "Underlying the low profitability for 2008 are the very weak performance of the corporate events business as part of the Media & Entertainment division, the decrease in gross margin, the higher provisions taken for bad debt, foreign exchange and higher cost," the statement said.

Management had originally set out to reduce cost by €30m, but following f

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UK - Production Services Ireland (PSI) has added in an ETC Ion console to its rental stock. Owner Brian Reilly says, "We are frequently asked to supply theatre-style lighting desks to control generic lighting rigs for theatre companies and television and film shoots and although we already have several lighting control desks that could do the job, customers were asking for one with a familiar programming style."

PSI's Ion has already been used as a house desk at Stranmillis University College in Belfast and during this year's Belfast Festival at Queen's University. It was also hired out for the Irish reality TV show Class Acts.

It has been a busy couple of years for ETC and PSI in Northern Ireland, with Sensor dimming being installed at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen, the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn and Belfast's Grand Opera House. PSI is also set to su

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Green Glastonbury - The Glastonbury Festival has sold 90% of tickets for this summer's event, founder Michael Eavis has said. The 137,500 tickets went on sale in October, earlier than ever, after last year failing to sell out in advance. Mr Eavis, who hosts the show on his Somerset farm, revealed he has four headliners lined up for the June event - two English and two from the US.

He was speaking as he picked up an award for environmental work at the Midem music conference in France. "You'll be amazed when you hear the headliners we've got coming this year, and we've already sold 90% of the tickets for this year already," he said. He was honoured with the Green World Award at the Midem music conference for the festival's history of environmental fundraising and ecological initiatives. The festival raises money for Greenpeace, Oxfam and Water Aid, while Mr Eavis' other

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UK - Stage Electrics' first ever Freelancer Day, held at RADA's Gielgud Theatre, was a resounding success, the company reports. The day was attended by over 40 freelancers from sectors across the industry, and a combination of those who had previously freelanced for Stage Electrics and those who were new to freelancing and wanted to learn more.

Paula Birtwistle, who returned to freelancing following a career break and who attended the day commented: "I really enjoyed the day and I felt like every minute was useful to me. I made a last-minute decision to come along and I'm really glad I did! Every part of the day seemed relevant to what I was after and at the level I'm at in my career."

The main objectives of the day were to get closer to freelancers and to provide them with a day designed with their interests in mind. Most importantly though was the opportunity for f

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The Netherlands - Robe moving lights have been installed into the new 80million Euro Muziekkwartier in Enschede, for use in two of the multi-purpose spaces inside.

The theatre replaces a previous building, with the different venues inside run by several companies and including Podium Twente (a big hall), Reisopera (an opera company), a music school and two Pop Podium spaces - Glosch Zaal and Studio Zaal - run by ATAK.

The project was under construction for 18 months, and was officially opened by Queen Beatrix in late November.

The Robes were supplied - along with other lighting kit - via Robe's Benelux distributor Controllux, in a deal project managed by Kuno van Velzen in conjunction with the Theatre's technical manager, Timo Wildschut.

"They needed a flexible system that could be used for a wide variety of shows and events specially those taking place in the Glosch

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USA - City Theatrical has released two new LED products utilising Philips Color Kinetics LED lighting fixtures combined with City Theatrical technology.

The MasterBlast utilises a Philips Color Kinetics ColorBlast 12 TR LED lighting fixture combined with CTI's SHoW DMX wireless DMX technology to create a wireless, battery powered, LED lighting fixture with up to 10 hours of operating time. The MasterBlast's built-in stand alone routines and wireless DMX allow events to be run without a lighting console, external wireless DMX gear, or power and data cables, saving time, space, and money for the event lighting user, says the company.

The MasterBlast's user interface allows any MasterBlast to be configured as either a transmitter or receiver, as well as selecting a variety of stand alone routines and radio settings. The user interface also provides a built in battery gauge.

The

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USA - Jere Harris, chairman and CEO of Production Resource Group, LLC (PRG) has announced that Nick Jackson, senior vice-president of PRG's Concert Touring group would be stepping down from his position at PRG. "We are all saddened by Nick's departure, but we wish him the very best as he moves on to new opportunities," said Harris. "Since joining PRG in 1998, Nick has worked tirelessly to establish our Concert Touring division as the leading provider of entertainment technology solutions for some of the biggest acts in the business. It has been an honour to work with this industry pioneer."

Mickey Curbishley, PRG's president of Concert Touring added: "Nick and I have worked together for many years. I wish him only the very, very best and I look forward to working with him in the future."

"It is with mixed emotions that I leave the PRG family,

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Spain - Design consultants Equipo 63 from Madrid approached Czech-based trussing manufacturers Milos to custom build a large stand for their client at London's World Travel Market exhibition, staged at the ExCel Centre.

Equipo 63 are known for their innovative approach to design and build projects of all types, and are always keen to incorporate cutting edge technology in the process.

They have worked with Milos and used their products on many previous projects. On this occasion, the Equipo 63 team designed the stand, which included a 12 x 12sq.m 'crown' flown above, holding a 10m diameter circular truss 'inside', which was used to hang a series of projection screens making a 360 degree internal panorama.

Equipo 63 then approached Milos with their concept, and asked them to come up with a structural solution and all the required logistics to make it work in situ.

Milos dev

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Italy - Pio Nahum has returned to Italian manufacturer Clay Paky as commercial and marketing director. Nahum has 20 years of experience in the show lighting business; his first job in the industry was at Clay Paky; later he worked for world-leading multinational groups, holding top management positions in various countries around the world. His career has included seven years as marketing director for Martin Professional, and also a period as managing director of Martin's Italian subsidiary.

Pasquale Quadri, president of Clay Paky, said: "I am delighted to welcome Pio back into our team: with the support of his vast experience the company will certainly succeed in achieving new important goals."

Nahum said: "Working for Clay Paky is a fantastic opportunity. I fully share the values of the company: excellence, consistency and innovation. Furthermore, Clay Paky's

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UK - London-based pop band Scouting For Girls (SFG) recently completed a five-week UK tour that saw them play to more than 100,000 fans across the country.

Lighting designer Jon Barker was tasked with delivering the show's visuals. Says Barker: "When I came up with the design concept for the tour, I was after a low-resolution video screen that was in effect see-though and would simply 'disappear' when it was not in use, allowing me to use the fixtures I had placed behind the screens (a selection of four-way Molefay with Colour Scrollers, 2kw Skypans and Strand S Battens with clear globe lamps all rigged at different heights) as a 'hidden layer' that would pop out when illuminated.

"The two main reasons I chose the Stealth over competitive products was first the higher resolution of Stealth which made it much more attractive - smoother, much more 'flowing' video conte

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Ireland - Robert Juliat, has supplied a substantial quantity of its 1K and 1.2K fresnels and PC fixtures to Ireland's first custom-built opera house. Wexford Opera House, in South East Ireland, is concealed behind a re-instated street front in the town's main street.

Occupying 4.5 times the space of the old opera house it replaces, Wexford Opera House has been built to the highest standards with quality and attention to detail given to every aspect of its development and construction. The result is an exciting new multi-purpose performance space capable of offering a varied, year-round programme of opera, theatre and dance.

The specification of Robert Juliat lanterns had been on the cards with the Opera House's design team since the initial conception in 2005. Amongst this team were theatre consultants, Carr & Angier, which was involved throughout in the design of both the mai

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UK - Lighting designer Nathan Wan used over 80 Robe moving lights for the Live Action Arena at the Autosports International 2009 show, staged in the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

It was the first time that Wan has lit the event, for which lighting and audio equipment was supplied by Network Productions. The Live Action Arena was co-ordinated for exhibition organisers Haymarket Events by Waltham Services.

With up to six sold out shows a day watched by 4700 people each time, the Live Action Arena saw some serious seat-clutching speed, smoke and burning rubber from an array of fast vehicle genres, all completing in a series of hair-raising races.

Wan's brief from show director Roger Burlinson was to bring a real flow and continuity to the pacey, highly choreographed show which segued seamlessly from one set of hot-rodded vehicles to another. They zoomed round the trac

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USA - Bandit Lites recently held its annual general meeting for its global staff. Over 150 people were in attendance to hear chairman of the board, Michael T. Strickland speak on the current state of the company. Strickland also presented service and merit awards and discussed several newly implemented additions to Bandit's global growth strategy.

Each AGM, Bandit recognises employees for years of service. Peter Heffernan, who was announced as Bandit's president in 2008, received a plaque for 30 years with the company. Business manager, Lee Anne Cooke (formerly Donaldson) received a plaque for 20 years of service. She also received a Rolex watch, which employees are awarded after 20 years with the company.

Director of educational services, Rick Berry, San Francisco general manager, Dizzy Gosnell and director of logistics and safety, Leonard Cox were all recognised for 15 years

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Austria - Luxury crystal glass brand Swarovski recently graced its headquarter building in Wattens (Tyrol), Austria with a 250m long transparent metal curtain. The fabric, made of 26,250,000 flexible stainless steel rings, rises 10m in height and is dynamically illuminated by 133 Martin Professional Inground 200 colour changers.

The Martin Inground 200 fixtures are embedded in the ground along the inner path of the curtain. The curtain's sleek, sculptural fabric, which defies weather and corrosion, interacts with the sun and passing clouds in a play of light and shadow. At dusk, the light show begins as static colour scenes interact with the shifting shades of the evening sky.

"The main task was to illuminate the stainless steel curtain in the evening and to that end powerful and visually appealing inground luminaires were sought," commented lighting designer Stephan

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Germany - Rosco has provided X24 X-Effects Projectors to give a shimmering and realistic watery effect to a new Aquarium in the German city of Stralsund, with 39 tanks, which are home to rare coral fish and other marine life from around the world.

Inside the Giants of the Sea exhibition, a series of rooms with 20m high ceilings, there are full scale models of a 26m long Blue Whale, a 16m humpback whale accompanied by a baby 5m humpback whale as well as a 10m sword whale. Most spectacular however, is a battle between a 15m sperm whale and a giant squid. The X24 projector gives large scale ripple effects, to help create the sense of habitat.

German engineering agency Walter Bamburger had seen the X24 in use in the Deutches Meeresmuseum, and specified 10 Analogue X24 Projectors for the Giants of the Sea exhibition.

The Giants of the Sea project was organise

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UK - A set of three Compulite Vector Greens ran a complex lighting rig that included moving lights, media servers, LED screens and conventional lights on the recent X Factor live finals. Lighting designer for the finals was Dave Davey, with Bill Peachment, John Ford and Russ Grubiack working as programmers.

Peachment comments: "All 3 Vector systems performed very well on this fast moving show. We used a vector PC to back up the systems but this was never needed. I think that the Vector is a very fast and flexible desk to program on these complex TV shows. "

The lighting rig included: 4 Vari-Lite VL 3500 washes; 18 Vari-Lite VL 2000 washes; 29 Vari-Lite VL 3000 spots; 22 Vari-Lite VL 3000 washes; 2 Nova flowers; 18 Vari-Lite VL6c spots; 36 James Thomas PixelPar 90s; 46 James Thomas Pixel line 1044s; 12 Vari-Lite 1K Tungstens; 3 Chroma 12 RGBs from Pulsar; 20 ACL PAR b

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Singapore - In 1969, on the advice of the Science Council of Singapore, the Government decided to convert the National Museum into an art and historical museum and to build a new institution which would be devoted to scientific and technological education. The Singapore Science Centre is a non-formal educational institution for the promotion of science and technology among students and members of the public.

It has the country's largest collection of educational exhibits devoted to science, and has been acclaimed as one of the top science centres in the world. More than a million visitors come to the Singapore Science Centre every year.

With the advent of multi-media, the Ministry of Education financed video/chroma keying/animation Studios for the teaching of the subject.

Following the tender process and the approval of the consultant engineers, Zero 88's distributor Combine

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USA - Bandit Lites chairman of the board, Michael T. Strickland was recently honoured as the new University of Tennessee College of Business Administration building opened. The UT alumnus is being recognised for his varied contributions by having a classroom in the facility named after him.

Strickland attributes much of the success he's had in business to the education he received at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves on the U.T. Development Council and as a chancellors advisor as well as in many other volunteer roles within the University.

"Each of us has an obligation to put the next generation in the best possible position to succeed," Strickland commented. "Gifts to the College of Business Administration ensures the success of this and future generations in this world. It is a privilege to be able to assist others as we all work together to mak

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UK - 2008 saw Artistic Licence celebrate its 20th Anniversary. It also marked 10 years since the advent of Art-Net, the communication system which allows large amounts of DMX512 data, and multiple DMX universes, to be transmitted over an Ethernet network. Art-Net was originally launched, royalty-free, into the public domain and has since become the industry standard in control protocols.

Technology has continued to developed and advance during these years and, with it, so has Artistic Licence's product range.

"The popularity of Artistic Licence's control solutions is, in part, due to our philosophy of creating products which are demanded by the market and which can be updated as technology develops," says the company.

In line with this, Artistic Licence has recently undertaken a complete redesign of its popular Art-Net products to bring them up-to-date and make the

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USA - Element Labs has announced that it has appointed Bart Van der Beken as sales director EMEA Entertainment. The appointment forms part of Element Labs' continued growth strategy.

Van der Beken brings to Element Labs over 20 years international experience in key commercial roles in different AV industries. Prior to joining Element Labs, Van der Beken spent a substantial part of his career at Barco's Media & Entertainment division, which he joined in 2000, in effect witnessing the emergence of LED technology as a commercially viable large-screen display solution. Van der Beken quickly rose through the ranks at Barco to take on the position of international sales director events EMEA & APAC.

Marc Van Eekeren, vice president of worldwide sales at Element Labs, said: "Element Labs continues to expand its reach and scale worldwide with Bart's appointment in Europe, who will

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Taiwan - LED light manufacturer GlacialLight, a sub-division of the technology manufacturer GlacialTech has strategically placed itself as one of the frontrunners of the emerging energy saving LED lighting technology market.

As a seasoned Taiwan manufacturer of IT power and heatsink products, GlacialTech management decided that their existing experience in manufacturing computer parts suffices for the crucial components of LED lighting. This puts GlacialLight in a position to make superior and cost effective products to bring the LED Company to the fore of current LED manufacturers. In addition GlacialLight is well positioned to enhance its contribution to the global need to save energy to conserve our planet, says the company.

GlacialTech is developing a comprehensive range of products under the GlacialLight brand, stretching from street lighting solutions to all forms of ind

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Russia - Moscow's "MODI", which serves as an Arts Center for the Kuzminki region, recently underwent a major renovation that included new audio and lighting equipment, cabling, power equipment, new seats, complete hall renovations (ceilings and flooring) and more. On 18 December official dignitaries commemorated the opening of the renovated theatre.

LTM Music supplied the lighting and audio equipment for the theatre which houses two venues. The first includes 593 seats in the main hall and a further 191 seats in the balcony area, whilst the second venue has 199 seats.

Compulite lighting equipment included: Vector Red; Vector Blue; 7 CompuDim 96/48 cabinets (244x5kW, 100xRelay 25A); 2 CompuDim 72/36 cabinets (100x3kW, 24xRelay 16A); and 4 MobileDim (40x5kW, 32x3kW).

LTM engineers worked closely with in-house technical management when selecting the lighting consoles

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