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Rigging / Staging

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Tomcat’s first annual Las Vegas Hoist and Truss Workshop swept through the Western Region in mid June with Arizona, California and Nevada being represented. The sold-out event consisted of a full day of motor instruction taught by Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon and a half-day of truss design, use and theory led by Keith Bohn from Tomcat USA. The Vegas Motor School comes hot on the heels of the grand opening of Tomcat’s new office in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas location serves as a distribution centre for the Western Region of the United States and stocks over 200 sections of standard truss products, 50 Columbus McKinnon lodestar motors and various rigging accessories. The next Tomcat Las Vegas Motor School will be held on September 17-18, 2001, whilst the annual Tomcat Hoist and Rigging Workshop will be hosted by Tomcat USA in Midland, Texas, January 30 - February 3, 2002.

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James Thomas Engineering, Inc has announced the construction of a new purpose-built facility for the Knoxville, Tennessee manufacturing company. Phase One of the 60,000sq.ft complex on a 6.28 acre site is underway, specifically designed to house the US manufacturing, administrative, sales, design and production offices. James Thomas’s Mike Garl explained that the move follows a steady increase in business in recent years, and is intended to consolidate, rationalize and further increase the efficiency of their business to their diverse client base.

James Thomas Engineering is a leading manufacturer of structural aluminum trussing, support systems and lighting fixtures for the entertainment industry, and distributes via a world-wide dealer network from its production facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee and Worcester in the UK. The Knoxville operation was founded in 1984 - initially

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Golden Princess, the newest member of the P&O Cruises fleet, left Southampton on May 16th to spend th summer cruising the Mediterranean, before heading off to the Caribbean for the winter. The ship features three separate show lounges, each of which incorporates Blackout Triple E engineering and equipment. Because traditional fittings are often unsuitable, contractor HMS Italia enlisted Blackout Triple E to develop systems for the particular environment of the cruise ship, including its Austrian curtain mechanisms and Unirail and Unitrack systems for installation in the principal and cabaret theatres. Though the tracks are mainly for curtains, the Vista Lounge uses Chaintrack to carry two 300kg rotating scenic panels, and the main lounge features Unibeam tracks to carry lighting ladders on each side of the stage. Blackout Triple E also provided the control for the safety curtain in the m

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Out Board Electronics’ new Ibex programmable hoist controller has made an auspicious debut on two frontline tours with Vari-Lite Europe Ltd. Both the Roxy Music and Robbie Williams shows - currently out on tour - have had their lighting designed by Liz Berry, who has given the new hoist controller the thumbs up. The purchase of a single unit (and rental of a second) had been authorised by VLPS’ Matt Croft, who admitted that he had not heard of the Ibex until he started to prep both tours. "I looked at both jobs and each show had moving truss systems. In the past we would have used hoist commanders - but they involve a lot of hardware and personnel, so we were starting to look around. At the same time Out Board’s Lawrence Heron had contacted our rigging department independently to see if they were interested."

An advantage of the Ibex system, says Matt, is th

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Show Presentation Services (SPS), the leading equipment rental and staging specialist, has announced that it increased its turnover from £8m to £13m over 2000, and achieved a 58% increase in pre-tax profits for the same period, as a direct result of its integrated event services strategy. The results reinforce SPS’s position as a leading independent AV rental and staging business. High business growth rates were achieved by the scenic construction and lighting rental departments in particular, of 241% and 148% respectively. SPS’s investment in a Barco D-Lite7 Modular LED screen was validated by the turnover generated with the successful launch of its LED rental business. A part-year contribution from the Earls Court and Olympia AV contract that commenced its five-year term also boosted SPS’s increase.

"This year has seen more challenging business conditions,&qu

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The US-based Entertainment Services & Technology Association (ESTA) has announced that BSR E1.8, Entertainment Technology - Loudspeaker Enclosures Intended for Overhead Suspension - Classification, Manufacture and Structural Testing, is now available for public review, and will be until 25 September 2001. Loudspeakers suspended overhead should not pull apart and rain debris on people below, and this draft document is an attempt to offer guidance to a manufacturer to make sure such a mishap does not happen. The document describes the structural requirements for loudspeaker enclosures intended for overhead suspension, which include enclosure construction, component part security, enclosure suspension hardware, manufacturing control systems, structural testing, and product representation. The standard is intended to enhance the safety of speaker rigging at popular music concerts and

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PLASA has worked in co-operation with some of London’s leading entertainment venues to offer an exclusive insight into the workings of some of the city’s most famous venues; this exclusive backstage tour immediately follows the close of the PLASA Show in London this September. Theatrical London delegates will visit the world-renowned Royal Albert Hall for a night at the Proms; the Apollo Victoria Theatre to see the upgraded Starlight Express; Tussaud’s Group Studios for an exclusive technical tour, and the Donmar Warehouse for a ‘Divas at the Donmar’ performance. To top it off, you can step back in time at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre . . .

Wednesday 12th September: The experience begins with A night at The Proms, The Royal Albert Hall, featuring Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Pre-show drinks will be served in the foyer. Performance starts at 7.30pm.

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David Plail has joined MCL London as head of project management, bringing with him 28 years of industry experience. David comes to MCL from FrameSet Products, a company that he founded over 10 years ago, dedicated to the design, build and supply of diverse conference staging products. "Some people may think it a strange decision," said Plail, "to move away from FrameSet when it is such a successful company. But MCL is a young company with incredible backing from Avesco and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. In the end it was an easy choice to make. It puts me right back into the industry mainstream and will draw heavily on what I have learnt over the years. I am looking forward to the challenge."

In his new role, Plail will be drawing together all existing elements of project management at MCL London and will fine-tune current practices to ensure the

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This weekend, 250,000 spectators at the 35th British Grand Prix enjoyed a close-up view of racing heroes Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, via two 4.8m by 8.1m jumbo TV screens from Screenco, supported by 16.5m high tower structures provided by ESS, the international staging and structure specialist. The 43 tonne screens were located at key spectator spots on the circuit, namely Copse Corner and Chapel Curve and relayed live TV coverage. So far this year, ESS has provided support structures for Wimbledon, the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot, as well as the one-day international cricket tests at Lords and Edgbaston, as part of the UK tour by Pakistan. In addition, ESS has also supplied screen supports at Twickenham for various national rugby fixtures. This brings the total number of locations where ESS has provided camera and screen supports to eigh

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It’s been a busy couple of months for Tomcat Global’s UK operation. May started with a near £250,000 order to manufacture a custom stage set for German rock group Rammstein. With Leroy Bennett as lighting and set designer, the build included, amongst other items, a custom ‘spiders web’ truss grid, five 1.5m diameter aluminium and plastic surgeon’s lamps and an aluminium and carbon-fibre ‘birthing sack’. Tomcat worked alongside lighting provider Light & Sound Design and scenery specialist Perry Scenic to turn Bennett’s ideas into a reality.

June also proved to be a busy month with the manufacture of a stage set for the present Robbie Williams stadium tour. The set involved the manufacture of a 17m x 5m stage with decks rising from ground level up to a height of 3m. Most tricky was the need to provide a quick-opening deck on the highest le

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Stage Technologies has just been awarded the contract for the supply of rigging systems for the latest of the Grand class ships currently being built for P&O Princess Cruises by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Nagasaki, Japan. Stage Technologies’ scope of supply includes nearly 100 axes of automation, both mechanical and electrical systems, installed in three venues. Rigging systems include 26 flying bars, 4 stage lifts, and 16 curtain tracks. Control systems include the company’s award-winning Acrobat, Juggler and Solo consoles. Mark Ager, Stage Technologies’ managing director commented: "We are very excited to receive this order which confirms Stage Technologies as a major supplier of automation systems to the cruise ship industry."

To date, the company has provided the control systems for eight cruise ships including the original Grand Princess and s

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PCM/Pfaff-silberblau Ltd will launch two important new winch products at PLASA 2001 - the Tau Winch, specifically designed for flying people and aerial performance, and the Delta Winch - for the fast, efficient accurate scenery moving.

With the increasing popularity of aerial theatre and performance, PCM has designed and developed The Tau electric winch - the first winch to be designed and manufactured specifically for this specialist task. It features a host of inherent safety features, including a double brake system - one on the load, one on the motor, double limit switches, encoder feedback for accurate positioning and monitoring of over-speed and electronic overload protection.

The Delta winch is a quiet, very safe, accurate and durable device for flying scenery and set pieces in all performance situations. The near silent operation makes the delta winch ideal for operas and cla

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Booking your tickets to the PLASA Show, the entertainment technology industry’s leading event, running from 9-12 September 2001 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, has never been easier. You can now book in any of the following ways:

By Telephone: The Visitor Hotline is now live! Call +44 (0) 870 429 4472 to make your credit card booking or to request an advance booking form.

Online: Go direct to www.plasa.org/show/register to book online.

There are many advantages to pre-registration. Not only will you save £6 on the cost of entry to the Show (tickets on the door are £12) but you will be sent a personalized badge in advance permitting you fast entry into the show. You will also receive up-to-date information on the Show’s Masterclass Programme and how to book your seat at any of

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Rebecca Lace has joined LeMark Group as sales office manager, bringing with her multi-skill experience in bothelectronic and conventional marketing and sales. Rebecca will also head LeMarks’ continued expansion of custom-printed consumables into the North American and Canadian markets. Rebecca’s background has recently been within the Medical & Scientific equipment manufacturing sector, where she project-managed both the marketing and sales promotion of a new equipment range to clients throughout the world. A lover of theatre, film and music and in her ‘spare time’ she enjoys the practicality of DIY and Design. Stuart Gibbons, LeMark managing director said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have someone of Rebecca’s calibre and professionalism join the team. Expanding LeMark into the US market has been a big challenge for us all. I feel confident that with

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Summit Steel’s award-winning SmarTmast system will be much in evidence at this year’s 50th Anniversary ‘Music on a Summer Evening’ concerts at Kenwood House, one of the historic properties in the care of English Heritage. Founded in 1951 by Frank Wright after a visit to the Hollywood Bowl, the first concert featured a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra, who are welcomed back this year as part of the celebrations.

A total of five SmarTmasts will be provided by Summit Steel, who invested in an additional five of these versatile rigging towers in order to service the event. One SmarTmast will be positioned either side of the stage to fly the main PA system, while the remaining three will provide delay towers. Interestingly, the two PA SmarTmasts will be firmly anchored in the lake in front of the stage. Adapted to hang the V-dosc sound system provided by

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This July over a million people will have been part of a live audience in front of a stage supplied by Star Hire (Event Services) Limited. Star Hire’s position as the UK’s busiest staging company this summer can be in little doubt, with their stages the first choice of promoters of prestigious events across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Star Hire has operated three large VerTech constructed stage systems simultaneously whilst still managing seven mobile stages at a wide range of events. Star Hire (Event Services) Limited supplied the stages for well over 250,000 live concert goers on each of the first two weekends of July 2001 (with a TV audience of millions).

VerTech stages began the month at the Prince’s Trust ‘Party in the Park’ concert in Hyde Park, London, featuring artists including Geri Halliwell, Ricki Martin and Destiny’s Child; at &

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To complement the exhibition, PLASA has lined up a range of seminars, workshops and clinics that will give an insight into how new technology is creating new opportunities, how individuals have pulled together highly complex projects, why integration is so important and how you can achieve more by picking up tips and techniques from others.

DJs can learn more about MP3 digitally-compressed music files and how this new technology is already creating a platform for a more creative approach. In a programme of seminars sponsored by Installation Europe, audio installation and integration is the theme under which issues of networking, control and the benefits of converging technologies are explored. Tuesday sees a Theme and Leisure Masterclass, presented by Leisure Management, in association with the TEA and TiLE, which focuses on how the leisure industry exploits special effects, lighting a

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The organisers of Entech 2002 have released preliminary details relating to next year’s event, which takes place from February 4-6 at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The visitor programme includes keynote summits for audio, vision and lighting practitioners on 4 February. The summits will cap the opening day’s educational programme set to feature new format seminars held in the lecture facilities within the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Center. Day One features a Venue Design Forum, an afternoon session with leading lighting designers, two pro audio seminars and a vision/video seminar.

Additional events on Day One include a rigging workshop, an opening day reception on the rooftop at closing time and Mark Cunningham’s famous pop quiz at sundown. A complete programme of events, including the sixth and largest Entech Awards Dinner, will be released ahead of an extensive

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LGH Group has amalgamated its Customer Training operation with its Lifting Equipment Training Institute (LETI). Working across all industries, the Institute aims to promote the cause of safe lifting in the workplace. The institute has found that most companies are aware of the new LOLER and PUWER legislation, yet struggle to answer how they are complying with the new regulations.

LETI is seeking to help bridge this gap and is keen to offer help to companies to ensure their compliance with the legislation. A large part of this initiative is the provision of Lifting Operation Audits. These will serve to provide managers with a complete report, detailing all the measures the company would need to undertake to assure themselves they are compliant with the new regulations and lifting operations. In addition, LETI is also offering comprehensive training to companies in all industries in the

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This month, Ground Zero BV, the Dutch system integrator and show-control specialist has opened a branch office in Germany. Show-control specialist Franziskus Scharpff will represent Ground Zero Berlin. Scharpff has over 15 years experience as a lighting technician and operator. He travelled the world with various artists and has programmed more than 200 moving lights on his Whole Hog console for numerous live TV Shows and the Gold-Medal-Lightshows. But his key interest is show control systems and the network environment. At the Hannover World Expo 2000 he programmed the show control for the Planet-M pavilion (Bertelsman), Planet of Visions pavilion (IBM) and the Mediaversum pavilion (Siemens).

"I’m very pleased with this opportunity to build Ground Zero Berlin to be as successful as I expect it to be," says Franziskus during one of the first formation meetings with Rut

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James Thomas Engineering has completed the design-and-build of an ambitious new concert stage for Leeds-based production and rental facility 3D Productions. The stylish, streamlined structure, based on a series of four arches, was designed, engineered and project-managed by James Thomas’s Paul Young who worked in conjunction with JTE’s regular structural engineers The Broadhurst Partnership.

The four arches form bays 4.8 metres apart and are built from standard 52 cm Thomas SuperTruss - eight pieces per arch - which fit at the base onto an integral stage decking system giving a full area 19.2 metres wide and 16.8 metres deep, complete with thrust plinth along the downstage edge. Headroom is an impressive 10 metres at the apex of the arches. The front edge of the stage also features an elegant cantilevered ‘eyebrow’ protruding five metres over the thrust at the t

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Tomcat has recruited two new members to its US sales team. Trent Stoker will be handling the South East region and Mike Regan will be handling the North East region of the United States. Stoker, originally from El Paso, attended the University of Texas in Austin obtaining a BS in Advertising. He previously served as sales rep for a software company, Vignette. Regan, residing in Evergreen, Colorado for the past few years, has been in the industry for over 30 years touring with dozens of bands. He also spent time with FM Productions, Feld Entertainment and worked as a grip for Miami Vice. More recently, he owned his own company, Regan Design Associates, and traveled all over the world coordinating events and productions.

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Vertigo Rigging has completed a demanding project at the fantastic new high-tech factory of premier Spanish tile company Porcelanosa. Porcelanosa is renowned throughout Spain as a manufacturer of the most stylish, top quality natural stone products. Vertigo were brought in as rigging consultants by Fisher Productions, who produced a special celebration dinner event in the factory space - marking the acquisition of the new building. The creative brief was to transform the factory from its everyday working state to a comfortable, stimulating, chic and slightly magical environment for the occasion . . . which was attended by dignitaries and VIPS.

Sets and environments were designed by Johnny Roxborough, and for Fisher Productions by Nigel Prabhavalkar. This involved large areas of the factory being draped off to create new and interesting spaces, with Vertigo supplying the rigging infrast

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James Thomas Engineering will launch its new Exterior MR16 fixture at PLASA 2001 and also feature the new Image Plus focussing device for the MR16 lantern. JTE is also highlighting examples of its large, versatile range of standard aluminium trussing, ground support and roofing structures and theatrical lanterns - applicable and popular in all areas of the entertainment industry, from clubs and destination venues of all types to large scale festivals, theatres, concert tours, theme parks, visitor attractions and retail environments. The Par 16 Outdoor lantern is IP65-rated and developed for use in all types of weather conditions. This highly durable fixture’s body is made from corrosive resistant, robust, cast Aluminium.

James Thomas Engineering is also introducing the latest evolution for the Par 16 lantern - the Image Plus 3. This is a simple and cost-effective focussing device

  1. Blackout Triple E at Hard Rock Café
  2. 51st PCM Motor School
  3. Virtual Tour Now Online
  4. Guidance Notes for PLASA Members
  5. ESTA Launches New Standards Projects
  6. L&SI Sponsors New Technology Gallery
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