According to the University's website, the Department of Theatre, Film and Television "offers a unique multi-disciplinary environment in which stage and screen are explored from artistic, scientific, theoretical and historical perspectives".
The Department's new building, which was completed in October 2010, provides electronic, media and performance facilities, including a scenic stage theatre, black box theatre, screening room, research and training areas, TV studios with audio and editing suites and ancillary teaching accommodation.
Bam Construction approached Delstar Engineering to manufacture and install a 10-axis hoist-and-control system for scenery changeovers in the scenic stage theatre.
The winch system comprises two side-stage winches and one rear-stage winch, with lifting capacities of 150kg and seven cross-stage pile-wind winches, with lifting capacities of 300kg.
The framework for the cross-stage winches is fitted with girder trolleys which are attached to four runway beams with a manually-operated clamping system, which allows the hoist assembly to be rolled up or downstage by the theatre staff on an occasional basis as the productions dictate. The system includes HTL incremental encoders to provide positioning feedback, limit boxes, overload monitoring devices and slack rope detection.
Control of all 10 winches is provided via from a plug-in, mobile pendant from Stage Technologies, connected to a connectivity point at stage level. Control for four chainhoists is also operated from a pendant, which can be used at stage level or in the grid.
(Jim Evans)
