Robe - Leaderboard - 27 Aug25 - Jan26
ISE 2026 - Banner - Oct 2025
Area 4 - Banner - Sept, Dec 2025
Doughty - Banner - Sept 2025

Rigging / Staging

Details
UK - Unusual Rigging will be demonstrating the Kinesys K2 software, a product that combines aspects of existing programming methodologies with some new concepts.
Speaking ahead of the show, director and head of sustainability at Unusual, Tom Harper explains: "K2 is Kinesys' motion control console. It employs an intuitive approach to automation programming. We at Unusual are extremely excited by the potential that this system enables, having recently used it for a concert for Swedish House Mafia - allowing us to expand the scope of rigging and engineering solutions for all our clients' creative ideas."
Visitors to stand P1 will have the chance to talk through their project needs with the Unusual team, as well as viewing a stunning visual show-reel of the company's 'best bits' of the last year.
Harper continues: "Our annual show-reel has become something of an at

Details
UK - Doughty Engineering is set to bring its two latest Boom Arms to this year's ABTT. The Heavy Duty Boom Arm and the Scaff Boom Arm will make their first ABTT outing, following a successful launch earlier this year.
Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty, says: "Both our Scaff Boom Arm and Heavy Duty Boom arm have got people talking since we launched them this spring. The Scaff Boom Arm has been designed in response to customer demand - we see it as a 'get out of jail item' which will allow a rigger to fashion their own boom arm out of materials they have to hand and simply cut it down to size. It will take 48mm aluminium barrel or scaff tube and from feedback we've received so far, we're told it's a perfect addition to any tool kit."
While Doughty is unable to quote a safe working load for the product, each piece of kit comes with a loading chart which is also ava
ISE 2026 - Banner - Oct 2025
Area 4 - Banner - Sept, Dec 2025
Doughty - Banner - Sept 2025

Details
USA - The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) has announced the addition of Motion Laboratories as a Recognised Training Provider for ETCP Renewal Credits. This is the first listing that specifically addresses the area of portable power distribution.
Dave Herrmann, Motion Labs’ training develop manager, comments: “MLI Learning prepares Motion Labs employees and customers for work with Motion Labs equipment, primarily in the entertainment industry. The people that build and use our products are the greatest assets to their respective industries. It is because of them that touring productions, conventions, local shows and festivals, permanent event spaces, corporate and church events, and more can all function properly, and above all else, safely.
“Those involved in making event production possible are doing so because they are gaining the knowled

Details
UK - The Prolight spotlight at PLASA Focus, Leeds was the release of the 2019/20 catalogue and numerous new products showcased including a moving head, IP pixel mappable fixture and some genetically enhanced truss. There was an extra element of fun on this year’s stand in the form of a gigantic sized catalogue, which drew in the crowds.
The event saw the official release of the 2019/20 catalogue The Big One – 2nd Edition, with visitors eager to pick up their copy. The marketing and purchasing departments have worked hard over the last few months to get the catalogue ready for its big release and features over 2,200 products. As a company, Prolight is continually adding products to provide customers with everything they need for installations and events from peripherals such as cables, connectors and cases through to high quality luminaries, along with st

Details
UK - Le Mark Group has announced the appointment of Jeff Demain as northern sales manager, UK.
Demain has worked in the entertainment industry for over 35 years. His experience has encompassed sound, lighting, sales and installation, and he has managed key projects in Russia, the Middle East and the UK. His history has included leading companies including Concert Light Systems, Playlight Hire, White Light North and most recently, HSL Blackburn.
“I have known Jeff for many years and have always been in awe of his industry knowledge,” said Linda Gibbons, joint managing director. “With Jeff now on the ground locally, he is perfectly positioned and readily available to meet with many more companies interested in our products and to expand our sales in the north of the UK. It is an important move forward for the company.”
“We are all delighted to have Jeff

Details
Europe - A4i.tv has released the first video of a four part series on truss connection systems. In this first video, Area Four Industries technical director Norbert Tripp addresses the conventional spigot connection system. He provides the main points on how it works, its advantages and the stresses involved.
Three more videos on truss connection systems are soon to follow. (https://www.a4i.tv/2019/05/14/spigot-connector/)

Details
Europe - The Milos Corner Brace HD is a new, advanced roof corner reinforcement concept that eliminates the need for guy wires in small to medium-sized roof structures. Compared to guy wires, installation is greatly simplified, the total time for roof construction is noticeably decreased, and ballast requirements are reduced, says the company.
A strong (loading capacity of more than 30 kN), yet compact, all aluminium design provides the same strength and stability as guy wires, while giving staff and performers increased access to the stage due to the elimination of rear and side cross guy wires.
(Jim Evans)

Details
UK - A new Scaff Boom Arm will be debuted by Doughty Engineering at this year's PLASA Focus. Visitors to stand N-C25 can see the new piece of kit, which joins the existing Boom Arm range and has been designed in response to customer demand.
Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty explained: "The new Scaff Boom Arm is very much a 'get out of jail' item that we see as being an essential part of any took-kit. It will allow the user to make their own boom arm out of materials that they have to hand, in the event that they find themselves on site and suddenly needing a boom arm of a certain length."
The Scaff Boom Arm will take 48mm aluminium barrel or scaff tube which can be cut to size depending on the requirements of the particular project. While Doughty is unable to quote a safe working load for the product, each piece of kit will come with a chart, which is also avail

Details
Europe - ETC has given new roles for two of its employees. Jeremy Roberts has been appointed as regional sales manager for the UK and Mark White - as regional sales manager for Ireland, & UK rigging.
Roberts will support ETC and High End Systems’ dealers, distributors and customers across the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa sales territories and provide strategic and operational client management whilst continuing to identify sales opportunities across these regions. He joined ETC 20 years ago having previously worked as the head of light and sound at Nottingham Playhouse Theatre. He had experience working in theatre for 15 years before starting with ETC in the London office.
Mark White has worked for ETC for over 18 years. In his new position, he will focus on growing the business in Ireland whilst progressing ETC’s stage machinery offering across the UK. As the rig

Details
UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) knowledgeable staff will be on hand to demonstrate a number of leading brands and technologies from its one-stop portfolio at PLASA Focus Leeds next week (stand N-E02).
Continuing Chroma-Q’s celebration of 15 years in LED innovation, the multi award-winning Color Force II will be on show to demonstrate stunning colour blending for a multitude of cyc, wash and effects lighting applications. The award-winning Space Force LED space/soft light will be illuminating the stand. It combines a powerful output with tuneable white control in a lightweight, internally ballasted design featuring low heat convection cooling. Using a homogenised LED source capable of delivering variable colour temperature, plus/minus green shift control and the ability to produce deep saturated colours when needed, the Studio Force II is specifically designed

Details
South Africa - DWR Distribution is now offering the Fenix lifting tower range to the South African market.
Valencia-based Fenix Stage manufactures lifting towers, trussing, stage platforms and accessories.
“We introduced the first telescopic tower in 1988 and then in 1992, when L-Acoustics launched their line array, customers were looking for a solution to fly the new speaker system,” explains Alex Bryan, export manager at Fenix. “As a result, the Fenix line array tower was introduced and there has been no looking back.
“We are delighted to be working with DWR Distribution,” adds Alex. “They have a very strong position in the South African market, being the exclusive distributor for many well-known brands, and we are happy that they have chosen FENIX as their lifting tower supplier.
“Fenix is a respected brand, and due to popular demand in Afr

Details
Europe - The new Meat Rack from Milos provides a convenient transport and storage solution for light fixtures through the use of adjustable light bars or a hanging adapter for oversize lights. Height adjustable shelves can also be installed for storage and transport of a range of other items needed for a show.
The high quality 6082 aluminium frame features all welded construction for high strength and long-term durability. Built-in fork-lift pick-up points allow for convenient stacking, and its castor wheels and height adjustable handles on each rack end ensure easy handling. Its dimensions of 2.3m x 0.8m x 1.6m (L x W x H) optimize transport space to and from your events.
(Jim Evans)

Details
South Africa - With the new production of Phantom of the Opera, which started a world tour in January this year in Manila, Philippines, Gearhouse Splitbeam have added the Eilon Ron StageMaster 6000 G4 Wireless System to their rigging rental stock for the first time.
“The 10-load cell system, that we purchased from DWR Distribution, can be remotely monitored in conjunction with the wireless receiver and Apple compatible software via blue tooth technology,” comments Alistair Kilbee, managing director at Splitbeam. “The Eilon load cells are easy to install due to the perpendicular design and wireless capabilities.”
The Eilon Ron StageMaster 6000 System, that allows for “always on” wireless continuous monitoring, was the main reason Splitbeam selected the 6000 series. “This means that the load on the motors can be monitored as the motors are moving sc

Details
Europe - The last nine months has seen major changes at the new Prolight Concepts HQ with the openning of a larger warehousing and office complex  allowing for an even greater stock holding and more efficient dispatching.
Now the company has introduced a new catalogue, listing This, in turn, has allowed expansion of the product range, hence the requirement for the new catalogue.
The marketing and purchasing departments have been working hard over the last three months to get the catalogue ready. The Big One just got even bigger, with over 2200 products featured and the introduction of multiple distributed brands including LDR, Lynx Pro Audio and The Confetti Maker.
The new 2019/20 catalogue has arrived and will be officially released at PLASA Focus Leeds.
Andrew Jeffrey, managing director comments, “Our 2019/20 catalogue contains over 2,200 stock lin

Details
EMEA - Production Resource Group (PRG) is integrating its global research and development efforts into a new operating group, PRG Innovation.
Joining under PRG Innovation will be PRG Projects, PRG Research and Development, and the VER product development initiatives. The new operating group will encompass operations in Belgium, China and the USA, which include facilities in Dallas, New Windsor, New York and Los Angeles.
Jere Harris, chairman and CEO of PRG, comments: “PRG Innovation brings all of our talent focused on product development into a single, global team, allowing us to anticipate market trends, move with agility and align product development with our larger strategic objectives. I believe that our investment and performance in market-driven innovation is one of the most powerful points of difference separating our brands from the competition. Now, that adv

Details
UK - Penn Elcom has launched UltraFlite, a new 100% recyclable flightcase panel material.
Utilising this in a building project will dramatically reduce the weight of flightcases, adding to all the positive consequences this brings in a tough and highly durable solution, says the company.
The UltraFlite has been developed after two years of extensive R ‘n’ D coupled with Penn’s considerable experience in the field.
Around 80% lighter than traditional wood-ply flightcase panels - approximately 1.6kg per square metre - it will be of interest to anyone in the rental, staging, installation and venue sectors who has kit needing to be flightcased for touring or transportation as well as for installations where (light) weight is crucial.
The UltraFlite panel’s skin features a honeycomb structure that makes it tough, light, durable and resistant to liquids a

Details
South Africa - Eilon Engineering Weighing Systems, the brand synonymous with Ron StageMaster and Ron load cells, crane scales and dynamometers, has appointed DWR Distribution as their South African distributor.
“We are happy to begin our cooperation with DWR for the distribution of our Ron StageMaster systems in South Africa,” said Noga Eilon-Bahar of Eilon Engineering. “This cooperation with DWR, who are the country’s leading supplier of all entertainment industry equipment, is an important addition to the Ron StageMaster distribution network worldwide. I am sure that together we will make live events in South Africa even safer, and I have no doubt that this collaboration will be successful.”
While Eilon Engineering was established some 40 years ago, it was in 2006 that the company decided to harness its extensive knowledge in advanced wireless communication

Details
USA - Prolyte Group continues expansion in the North American market with the announcement of Keith Bohn as general sales manager North America.
Keith Bohn is a seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry with over 25 years in design, manufacturing, and use of structural rigging solutions ranging from simple span truss applications to complex permanently installed structures worldwide.
Keith has served as a principal voting member in the Rigging Working Group of the ESTA Technical Standards Programme since 1998 and has chaired the task groups creating and revising ANSI E1.2 (aluminium truss and towers) and ANSI E1.21 (temporary outdoor structures). Keith is also a founding contributor of the Event Safety Alliance and a co-chair of the rigging task group within the Event Safety Working Group. Keith’s experience includes instructing courses on the safe use of trus

Details
Australia - After eight years of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH), Opera Australia presented West Side Story, the first musical to be performed on the harbour-side stage.
Boasting a stage that is almost two and a half times larger than any indoor stage in Australia, the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour series is one of the biggest outdoor theatrical events in the country, and a highlight of the Australian cultural calendar.
The stage and venue are constructed from the ground up in just 25 days by a crew of approximately 150 people for an exclusive four-week performance season. The West Side Story set, designed by award-winning designer Brian Thomson, is an urban New York City-inspired stage design that features a highway overpass that weighs approximately ten tonnes and soars 15m above the stage, three custom-built subway cars and the West Side Story

Details
Italy - Sixty82 has recently appointed Audiosales s.r.l. as the new representative in Italy for its full trussing and staging product line.  
Effective immediately, Sixty82's Italian customers "can rely upon the qualities of a dedicated and enthusiastic team, to meet their requirements," says the manufacturer. 
Date Jonkman, Sixty82’s executive account manager, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Audiosales. They have a well-established position in the market, and a strong team of experienced people. So we are very pleased they joined the Sixty82 family.”
Stefano Rocchi, owner of Audiosales, adds: "Sixty82 is a team composed of professionals that have contributed in a significant way to the development of the staging and trussing market in the recent decades. Their payoff “The New Original” describes in the best way who the people

Details
Germany Pop rock group PUR is known throughout Germany for their string of #1 hits from the 1990s and 2000s. They’ve ridden this wave of success for decades and still maintain a strong following with a constant touring schedule throughout the country.
For their latest tour, the band wanted to get even closer to their fans, so they decided on a set design with a centre stage. The extreme amount of lighting and sound equipment required for their concert in Dortmund´s Westfalenhalle had to be hung in the centre of the elliptic building, which measures 118m long, 98m wide, 29m high. Unfortunately, the almost 60 year-old venue did not have enough loading capacity to support the equipment needed for the concert.
Production company Satis&Fy contacted the German rigging structure company Malecon, which was tasked with overcoming the limitations of the Westfalenhalle st

Details
USA - Lighting and video rental specialist 4Wall Entertainment has invested in new Kinesys automation equipment with the purchase of 36 x Elevation vari-speed chain hoists, 36 x LibraCELL load monitoring shackles, two K2 control consoles and numerous Kinesys Vector control systems.
This substantial purchase is for general stock and reflects the growing trend and demand for automation systems as part of shows, events, touring lighting and video systems as well as set element motion.
The decision to go with Kinesys was made by Brett Puwalski, vice president of operations, a key catalyst in this move to boost the automation resources available for 4Wall’s diverse roster of clients.
Kinesys was selected because the brand has a “great track record for reliability and service, and due to its longevity in this specialist area. Kinesys has proved time and again that

Details
UK - Stage Electrics has appointed a new technical sales consultant for rigging, trussing and staging solutions. Nick Key joins the sales team with over 30 years’ experience working hands-on as a rigger, and being NRC-qualified for nine of those years.
Keys new role will focus on promoting the Prolyte brand and rigging accessories. “Having someone to concentrate purely on rigging sales is a new role,” comments national sales manager, Paul Roughton. “Nick’s experience in the field will allow us to offer rigging solutions to customers and benefit them enormously as they will be able to tap into his knowledge.”
(Jim Evans)

Details
UK - Unusual Rigging has been brought on board to handle the rigging for All About Eve in London's West End. Currently enjoying a 14-week run at the Noel Coward Theatre, the production which has received positive reviews stars Gillian Anderson and Lily James.
Production manager Anthony Newton comments: "The original plan was for Unusual to join the project and do all the rigging. This consisted of a U shape of walls which were to be dead-hung above the stage surrounding the central performance space."
He continues: "Very late in the day, we changed this to a fully automated system that would allow for the walls to rise and fall several times during the performance. Luckily for us, Unusual's Simon Stone and his team aren't phased by such last minute changes. This was my first time working with them but their reputation is so great, I felt confident we were in sa
  1. Colour Visits Another Planet for Nao Show
  2. Maestra doubles size of London HQ
  3. AED to distribute Eilon Engineering in Benelux
  4. The Week in Light & Sound
  5. Brompton Technology on the Tour Down Under
  6. Prolyte strengthens distribution network
Page 32 of 236

Latest Issue. . .