Litecom, which invested in 32 units and four MotionCue3D control systems prior to the event, supplied a 88-hoist system, supported by Ampco Flashlight Rental. Melzig worked alongside Litecom CyberHoist II project manager Mathias Sonntag and Martin Hoop of Ampco Flashlight to design the complex moving arrangement for this year's automation-heavy show.
"Once the set design was established back in September it was quite obvious that it required a significant automated element for both staging and lighting," explains Melzig. "CyberMotion was about to release the second generation of CyberHoist whilst looking for the ideal large-scale platform to debut it. I jumped at the chance as we were the first ever show to use the system back on Eurovision 2003, so it closed the circle nicely."
The hoists were required to automate the main elements of the show including the ten set-piece 'Arcs' above the stage, six 'flowerpot' lighting trusses which moved from underneath the stage upwards, 12 back lighting pods which comprised TourPro AquaBeam and Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures, two LX-trusses, two pyro trusses, two trusses with Holo-Gauze projection screens and two trusses for the backlight followspots.
"The updated CyberHoist II system is really amazing," continues Melzig. "Its advanced cues allow you to program quickly and easily. But the most interesting thing was the way we implemented it to control each automated lighting object as well as the set pieces. The fact it was all on one system saved a lot of time and money which was fantastic."
Eurovision 2016's CyberHoist II operators were Joeri Swagemakers and Ingo Koenzen, assisted by CyberHoist technicians Pepijn van den Berkhof and Carsten J
