Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

LTM's John Jones taught his first South African Motor School in 1999 at Gearhouse and has returned three times since then to do Motor Schools. He says: "I really enjoy the energy of South Africa. The thirst for knowledge here is incredible, and it's great to see such a wide cross section of people wanting to take their technical knowledge and understanding of such an important part of the industry forward."

The motor schools took the standard format of 16 places - with a couple of extras squeezed in. They were presented by LTM's Dave Ward, who did the majority of the technical talk, while Jones

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14 March 2016

The Company was awarded the Business of the Year award at the 2008 Performance Textiles Awards held this month. In presenting the award to Arena Structures managing director Grahame Muir, Colin Bryer, managing editor of Performance Textiles magazine, commended Arena "for showing significant growth and innovative development throughout the year following the management buyout of January '07."

Arena Structures also collected a silver award in the Project of the Year category for its input into the BCIC exhibition at the Sage Centre, Gateshead.

Grahame Muir commented: "These awards reflect the efforts of everyone at Arena Structures, who are continuously looking to improve the service we can deli

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14 March 2016

The new products from Prolyte will include the Mammoth Truss, Rotating Stage, Hybrid coupler, Stage DEX Easy frame C and the PRO-Wheels truss dolly.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Stage Electrics provided crew together with 36 Source 4 lanterns, four MAC 250 Entours, 12 MAC 300s, 10 MAC 500s, six MAC 700s and 14 MAC 600s for the awards held on Sunday 8 March. Lighting design was by Matt Evered, the awards were project managed by Stage Electrics' Andrew Loveday.

Production Manager Andrew Loveday said, "This is Stage Electrics' third night in a row in the Great Room. We provided equipment for Revolution Awards, Variety Club Awards and the Oliviers."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Sales distribution for Germany will be handled by Hagen-based CAST, headed by managing director Heinz Siller.

A new company, CyberHoist Germany GmbH, will become the country's CyberHoist Service Point, responsible for all service and rental support in Germany. The company has been set up by the team from current CyberHoist rental dealer Lightcompany of Neuss, Germany, and is headed by managing director Peter Nellen.

CAST and CyberHoist Germany GmbH will together form the complete team that will support all CyberHoist clients in the fast-growing German market, says the company. Meanwhile, Lightcompany will continue in its existing role as CyberHoist rental dealer, supplying full productions using CyberH

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14 March 2016

Based on the model of the London TEA conferences, produced by Richard Brett in 2002 and 2006, NATEAC promises to bring together many world-leading theatre consultants, architects, engineers, technicians and technical managers. The conference will offer a forum to address issues concerning planning, design, construction and equipping all manner of entertainment venues, from grand opera houses through to school theaters.

Stage Technologies' decision to become platinum sponsor of NATEAC, follows the success of the London TEA 2006 conference, for which it was the sole platinum sponsor.

Kevin Taylor, CEO of Stage Technologies Inc said, "By supporting the conference as

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14 March 2016

Stage Technologies worked with production manager and lighting designer, Alex Wardle, on this project, and provided a simple, easy to use system, capable of flying a small platform carrying two performers. The red, oval-shaped piece of floor is flown to stage level during the show, to bridge a gap in two circular stages. The same oval piece is also flown approximately six feet above the stage and supports the two performers who use the platform as a swing.

Alex Wardle commented: "Part of the reason we chose the system is that the Saxis is simple to programme and operate. Dur

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14 March 2016

The walk through experience was entitled Inspire Life 2008 and was attended by top business executives, MEP's and Government representatives, amongst others. Products from across Hitachi's entire range were exhibited through the area.

"We had several challenges to contend with," said Simon Wood, sales director, Stage One. "Both of which are hardly unique; the first being access and the second, time. However, we worked hard to overcome both and delivered the project on time, on budget and to the high specification required."

The eight different

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14 March 2016

5 Star worked closely with Pioneer's Paul Beardsall on the design of the new case which although identical in size to the 2006 version, includes some additional features.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Following an original concept by Alan MacDonald, it took the Litestructures design team just six weeks to complete the technically advanced structure.

Features within and around the stage's 55 LiteDeck platform modules included a new 3.5m high modular leg lift, constructed using LitePro 4 heavy duty truss. This lift passes through all three tiers. In addition, Litestructures built a 10m 'totem pole', also using LitePro 4, which sits centrally atop the highest tier, and which houses a laser feature.

Rollability for the lower tier was achieved using legframe snap-on bracing. Some 32m of handrails, with per

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14 March 2016

Digital Print Centre - with whom Milos has worked on many previous projects - approached them with a basic brief, explains project manager Milan Kolousek. They had a quick turnaround time and needed a fairly complex design to accommodate various graphics and AV displays along with some sound and lighting equipment. Above all, the client wanted a structure that looked aesthetically stunning.

"This was the challenge" says Kolousek, "Our technical department did a good job to deliver all the drawings from a complete blank piece of paper to the final product in so short a time". The initial design also un

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14 March 2016

The college started with a straightforward package of Metrodeck in standard sizes. Thomas has returned to Maltbury over the years, ordering a few decks every time which slowly added to their collection as the budget allowed. "The great thing is that when I put the older pieces and the new ones together for a show there's no difference between them," he says.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre is a busy venue with a wide variety of performances; many of which are just a few days long or even for one night only. This poses logistical issues for the production staff who must often do the 'get-in', rehearsals, performance and 'get-out' in a single day.

The major refurbishment carried out at the venue over the last few years presented an opportunity to add to the infrastructure to make this process easier an

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14 March 2016

LTM offers an extensive range of lifting and rigging equipment including the Lodestar and Prostar electric chain hoists which are being highlighted at the show.

Also showing will be the compact CM Prostar hoists, with capacities up to 500 kg and speeds up to 10m/min. This higher speed version will lift at 6 or 10 m/min (increased from the industry standard of 4m a minute).

LTM started manufacturing hoist controllers in 2005 and has constructed systems for both direct and low voltage controlled hoists. The past 12 months has seen the range expand from standard units to more bespoke control systems to fit clients' exact and specific requirements.

To highlight this they will be demonstrating their latest custom products - a variable speed controller whi

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14 March 2016

Exhibiting as guests of VenueTech, Green Hippo's training manager, Simon Harris, will be taking the Hippotizer V3 through its paces to demonstrate its full capability to this growing market.

"The increasing number of music tours and rock and roll shows which proliferate in this region make it an area of great potential for the Hippotizer," says Harris. "Many tours are already using Hippotizer and we have found the demand for it across the Middle East is expanding. The theatre and club scene are still small but developing and some our latest technology, due for release later this year, is aimed specifically at the architectural market."

Green Hippo's newest family member, the HippoPortumus, will

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14 March 2016

"The show was very well attended. As well as meeting with our existing distributors, we also experienced much interest from new contacts. The movement of the Rotating Stage proved to be a real show stopper," comments Marina Prak, communications and marketing manager from Prolyte. "Presenting new products is always a challenge, but it is very rewarding to see and hear the response."

The launch of new products has had an immediate effect on sales, says the company. The Rotating Stage has already been sold to several customers including Kimix from Belarus and Prolyte distributor in Russia, JSA, who have both ordered a complete 6m rotating stage.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Working with Scena Projects, Tomcat UK created some larger than life Christmas presents for display on various roundabouts at the award winning shopping destination in Kent. All four presents were finished just in time to set the scene during the 2007 holiday season.

When Scena Projects were asked to build four 'Christmas Presents 20ft high' they turned to designers at Harriman Steel and Tomcat UK for help to achieve this vision. For its part, Tomcat UK manufactured the framework which consisted of a Tomcat One aluminum trussing system with counter weights for each of the presents. To complete

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14 March 2016

A.C. Lighting's rigging sales manager Adam Beaumont comments, "I am delighted to partner with Out Board and be able to work with such a leading brand, whose products fit together perfectly with our existing ranges. We looked at several options, but the products that distinguished themselves as the front runner and the only real contenders for us were those made by Out Board. We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with them."

Out Board director Dave Haydon comments, "We have seen unprecedented growth in our motor controller sales since we re-launched with the new LV-Series and DV-Series just over a year ago, and we greatly value the substanti

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14 March 2016

The user can walk up to plugged in cable ends with the drum in one hand and simultaneously wind the cable onto the drum with Sideguider. This is practical and saves time, says the company. The Sideguider can be used for cables up to a diameter of 18mm.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The Award Winning ChainRunner has been designed to provide a safe, off-the-shelf solution to the cable management problems faced every day within the touring event industry. The ChainRunner is used to manage power, control, audio and data cables associated with moving truss applications and thus eliminating the necessity for very expensive spring driven cable reels and eradicating the home-made gizmos that abound in the industry, say Hoist UK.

The ChainRunner range is available to fit the Verlinde, CM and Liftket chain hoists used in the entertainment industry. It is simple to fix, with no need to remove the chain or hook from the hoi

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14 March 2016

The extra space enables a dramatic increase to the standard stock inventory of trussing and roof systems, ensuring even quicker and more immediate delivery throughout the UK sales network. Milos is renowned for its fast deliveries worldwide in the entertainment business.

The Milos Group portfolio has increased immensely over the past 12-18 months, and "too much space is never enough," says Glen Brown, UK sales and marketing director.

The Open Week will enable customers to visit the new facilities and see a whole range of Milos products close-up, including the latest specification MR1 curved Roof System, the MT1 and MRT1 PA Towers, plus various other products

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14 March 2016

Its special notch-free 'Master Blend' jacket (a PUR jacket with the flexibility of PVC, the company says) is resistant to soiling and easy to clean and is also resistant to cold temperatures down to -40°C, warm temperatures up to +80°C). A thin paired wire insulation made of 'Special-TPE-Hytrel', plus the tight stranding of the 18 x 0.1mm copper litz wires guarantee outstanding audio transmission properties, say Sommer, while the use of oxygen-free or low-oxygen copper also ensures high bending cycles and consistent performance. The paired copper spiral shielding, in conjunction with the tightly-braided overall shielding made of tin-plated copper braiding, also help to prevent

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14 March 2016

Replicating the service in the UK, Unusual says the new office will offer a specialist rigging and engineering service, supported by a comprehensive range of well maintained and up to date equipment. Operating to European standards, all equipment will be stored locally in Dubai.

Alan Jacobi, MD of Unusual, commented: "This is a significant investment and development in the life of Unusual. The decision to open up in the Middle East has been made as a result of numerous requests for comprehensive technical rigging solutions, backed up with a proven track record. The marketplace is expanding so fast that it became a logical decision to take up the challenge."

Presenting th

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14 March 2016

Built in 1971 and seating 980 in a thrust-stage configuration, the theatre has just completed the first phase of its current refurbishment project - to replace the stage with a versatile system that allows the stage level to be easily and safely changed for different functions, including the forthcoming snooker championship.

Theatreplan's Clive Odom says: "The stage system was developed using Steeldeck Easydeck platforms which are the 'industry standard' s