Flashlight's R&D team, headed by its engineering manager Fried Buttstedt and Anne Bokma, developed the CyberHoist around a Verlinde Stagemaker hoist body as well as creating the 3D HoistShowControl software. A truly 'intelligent' hoist system, every hoist has an integral processor and memory. With a 500kg weight limit and a 1000kg version upcoming, it provides variable speed from 0.1mm per second to up to 20meters per minute, with positioning accurate to 0.1mm and confirmed in real time via Flashlight Ethernet from the hoist.
Designed and manufactured according to the latest German BGV-C1 safety standards, safety features include double brake, mechanical overtravel limits, dynamic overload device and autonomous hardwired emergency circuit level 4, incorporated in the power distribution.
Marc van der Wel, sales manager of Flashlight, says: "We developed CyberHoist as the demands for staging more innovative and complex shows were not met by existing motion control systems. Eurovision 2003 is a perfect example of using the power of CyberHoist, where the design calls for the LED screen and lighting objects to move with pinpoint accuracy on the set of a live show. It makes it possible to do events like this in a spectacular way, and it's fast to program because our 3D HSC software lets you 'move' a suspended object on screen rather than having to program individual motor movements. I expect great demand both for events and concerts as well as for long-running theatre applications, based on the response we have had already from producers and video, set and lighting designers."
(Lee Baldock)
