General

High End announces US leasing deals

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - High End Systems customers have long benefited from equipment leases through FX Financial. Now, says High End, the rates have lowered even more with enhanced direct access to lower cost finance, now that FX Financial is a division of US Express Leasing.

"FX Financial has graded High End Systems lighting and control as 'excellent' collateral and offers monthly payments based in large part on the high resale value of the gear," says Alan Garretson of FX Financial. "This means we can offer High End Systems' U.S. clients the lowest monthly payment on any lighting gear in the industry." HES CFO Peter Duff commented, "We want to ensure our clients can afford the equipment they need. Offering lower monthly payments allows clients the flexibility at the outset to get the equipment needed quickly for that tour, theatre production or corporate show. Our par

Celestion launches new website

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Celestion has unveiled its newly-revamped website (www.celestion.com), which has now doubled in size and been extensively redesigned. The announcement, says the company, comes as a direct result of its ongoing commitment to its guitar and professional audio end users. The site has undergone a radical redesign, fuelled by what Celestion calls 'a massive increase in traffic over the past eighteen months, coupled with a desire to provide even more targeted and useful information'. The site now splits into two distinct sections - pro audio and guitar loudspeakers.

The pro audio area incorporates in-depth product information on professional components, including the recently introduced FTR range of chassis, and sound reinforcement systems such as the QXi range.

(Mike Lethby)

Color Kinetics reports 2004 results

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Color Kinetics Inc has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2004. Revenues for the quarter were $10.7 million, an increase of 39% from the $7.7 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2003. Net income for the fourth quarter increased to $626,000 or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to $50,000 or $0.00 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2003.

Revenues for the full year ended 31 December, 2004 were $40.2 million, an increase of 39% from the $28.8 million reported in 2003. Net income for the full year ended December 31, 2004 was $2.4 million or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to a loss of ($727,000) or $(0.26) per diluted share reported in 2003.

"2004 marked several milestones for Color Kinetics, both financially and technologically," says George Mueller, chairman and CEO. "We successfully completed an IPO, strengthened o

Serapid forms UK company

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Serapid, the leading supplier of push-pull and lifting chains and Quick Die Change machinery, has announced the formation of Serapid Limited in the UK. The new company has been established to provide an improved level of sales and service to the UK and Scandinavian markets, which to date have not received the level of attention they deserve, say the company.

Mr. Said Lounis, owner of the Serapid Group, says: "The UK and Scandinavian markets are of strategic importance to the Group, and the formation of Serapid Limited is in response to the needs to provide a higher level of support to these markets for the purpose of achieving the level of sales that should be expected from these countries with their advanced industrial bases."

The company is jointly owned and will be run by Iain Forbester, who joins the company from the stage engineering industry, and who has

Martin appoints Architectural distributor for Saudi

Details: 14 March 2016

Saudi Arabia - Represented by CEO Mr Nour Assafiri, Martin Professional Middle East (MPME) has appointed Al Salem Schreder Lighting, represented by its general manager, Mr Hatem Mawlawi, as the sole distributor for Martin Architectural products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Salem Schreder Lighting is a key manufacturer and supplier of a variety of highly technical lighting products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The appointment is designed to fortify the Martin Architectural brand presence in the gulf region and extend the channels of distribution respectively.

(Mike Lethby)

Showsec's winning team

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Showsec celebrated at the Total Production Awards on Monday 31 January after winning the award for Favourite Security and Crowd Management Company. MD Mark Harding and his regional managers Mark Logan and Simon Battersby and London area manager Steve Reynolds took to the stage to accept the award together, highlighting the company's strong team ethos.

Mark commented: "It is fantastic to win an award and be recognized in your industry and I was delighted to accept it alongside my colleagues who have worked hard throughout the year to push standards forward in the company, creating a great nationwide team. This award recognizes the dedication of all our staff and their crowd management skills."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Eat to the Beat Score a Hat Trick

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Eat to the Beat was welcomed on stage to accept its third consecutive Favourite Caterer Award at the Total Production Awards on Monday 31 January. Straight after winning the award, managing director Tony Laurenson was back on stage to present the award for Favourite Venue to the Royal Albert Hall, a venue in which Eat to the Beat worked at over 90 days last year.

The celebrations continue for Eat to the Beat (part of the Global Infusion Group) as on 7 February the company will celebrate 21 years 'Going Global'. Laurenson commented: "It was a fantastic night and we are so proud to be voted favourite caterer by the industry. 2004 was a great year for the group with many memorable events. I'd like to thank all our wonderful clients, crew and suppliers! We now look forward to a challenging and exciting 2005!"

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Richmond Studios records the BRITs

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Toby Alington's Richmond Studios team took on one of the biggest challenges in its history last night when it recorded the BRIT Awards' largest-ever lineup of live bands - 12 bands in a two-hour, non-stop live show at Earl's Court. Alington and an audio team of 10 recorded the complete 25th anniversary live show in an array of recording mobiles parked in a secure area next to Earl's Court 2, which was transformed into a spectacular 5,500-seat arena for the BRITs by event producers MJK Productions.

The bands' performances, awards presentations and speeches were recorded onto digital multitracks. An overnight post-production at London Studios will see the show trimmed to its broadcast length, ready for broadcast on ITV this evening. Finally, Alington will create an 'international' version of the edited show, with the English commentary and voiceovers removed.He comments: &qu

ESTA Draft Standards in Public Review

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - ESTA has announced that five draft standards are now in public review until 26 April. The standards deal with wire rope ladders, theatrical boom and base assemblies (lighting trees), the ACN protocol, pin connectors, and flat-wall photometry. The documents are accessible on the ESTA website.

BSR E1.1, Entertainment Technology - Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders, is a revised version of ANSI E1.1-1999, Entertainment Technology - Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders. E1.1-1999 was offered for public review to reaffirm it last year, since it was at the five-year anniversary at which an American National Standard must be reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn. No one offered any public review comments, but close examination of the document by Rigging Working Group members s

Hands on the buzzer at Fox@Waterside pub quiz

Soundweb has its digits on the buzzer

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Green-I used all the attributes of the new Soundweb London DSP matrix device to fulfil a unique request at the recent Schroders London Boat Show at the ExCeL in Docklands.

ExCeL-based Fox Bars and Restaurants, who use Green-I as its preferred systems integrator, decided (as one of the Show's major sponsors) to create its own bar - Fox@Waterside - down on the exhibition floor. While Green-I's sister company Canegreen Commercial was invited to provide a conventional PA system for the feature, Fox had something more creative in mind when a pub quiz was scheduled midway through the show.

"We were asked to design Quiz Buzzers for each of the six tables," reports Green-I's Ian Woodall. "Although pressing a button is straightforward they wanted a scenario whereby the first finger on the buzzer disabled everything else."

By using a BSS Soundweb London

Lumileds to fire patent warning shot

Details: 14 March 2016

The Netherlands - Lumileds Lighting has announced that it will issue an advisory to the solid-state lighting industry later this month regarding its intellectual property (IP) that pertains to the manufacture and assembly of mirror substrate LEDs. The action comes in response to reports that certain die manufacturers and LED packagers are violating Lumileds' patents. Users and manufacturers of LEDs have a responsibility to avoid infringement of Lumileds' patents. All LED package manufacturers and resellers should investigate whether their mirror substrate LEDs use Lumileds' patented technology and whether the source of their mirror substrate LEDs is authorized under Lumileds' patents.

Lumileds recently announced the upcoming expansion of its Luxeon high-power LED family with new emitters that the company claims set industry-wide performance standards for light output, temperatu

Stardraw Control Beta 2 released

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Following the release of Stardraw Control Beta 1 last month, software provider Stardraw.com has announced the public availability of Stardraw Control Beta 2 with immediate effect, prior to its formal launch scheduled for NSCA next month. A community of nearly 600 systems specialists was involved in the Beta 1 test phase and further participants in the Beta 2 test phase are similarly invited. Stardraw Control Beta 2 offers enhanced stability and applicability over the first Beta version, which was developed on the Microsoft.net v2 platform, which is itself still in the beta testing stage. As there is no firm release date for MS.net framework v2, Stardraw has released Stardraw Control Beta 2 on MS.net v1.1, the current release version. "It will be very easy to port everything back over to MS.net v2 when it is formally released later this year," commented Stardraw.com

Stage Electrics offers courses in March

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Stage Electrics has announced a series of training courses aimed at raising standards in health and safety across the entertainment industry. The courses will take place at Northbrook College in Worthing, Sussex (21 and 22 March) and at The Point in Eastleigh, Hampshire (23 and 24 March).

On 21 March in Worthing, the courses begin with the day-long Basic Health & Safety - The Entertainment Environment. The cost of this course is £150 +VAT per person. The following day's course will be Pyrotechnics Safety Awareness, and will cost £120+VAT per person.

The Pyrotechnics Safety Awareness course will be repeated on 23 March at The Point in Eastleigh, at the same price, and will be followed on 24 March by Electricity at Work - The Entertainment Environment, priced at £150 +VAT per person. Anyone wishing to book both courses at either venue can do s

The League joins ETCP Council

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) is pleased to announce that the League of American Theatres and Producers (the League) has accepted a seat on the ETCP Council. The League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 500-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 140 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry.

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) is a new industry-wide program that is bringing together an unprecedented group of industry organizations, businesses and individuals to create a program of rigorous assessments for professional technicians.

Seth Popper, Director of Labor Relations, will serve as the League's principal representative to the Council. "As an organization committe

Tamper-proof labels from Le Mark

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Le Mark has created a range of heat, solvent and tamper-resistant identification labels/nameplates for industrial tooling manufacturer, Perkins Engines. The requirement was to develop and manufacture a label which would remain in place at all times and clearly identify the company's products. A Japanese pressure-sensitive self-adhesive system unique to the UK (SSS 5585) which forms an incredibly strong bond once cured, was selected. A combination process of screen-printing and steel etching was required to ensue durability to meet the Perkins specification.

Over 12 months of testing, evaluations were carried out with extreme temperatures, vibration, oils and solvents. These extensive tests showed LeMark's product, to be able to produce the best solution, and therefore winning the contract, amidst fierce opposition within the industry market.Le Mark's sales director Linda G

ICIA and PLASA Media announce partnership

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - The International Communications Industries Association, Inc. (ICIA) and PLASA Media, Inc., have announced that PLASA Media's magazine, Lighting&Sound America, will sponsor the Lighting and Staging Pavilion at ICIA's upcoming InfoComm trade show, 4 - 11 June, 2005, in Las Vegas.

With over 25,000 attendees and more than 700 exhibitors expected, InfoComm is the annual international marketplace for rental and staging companies, systems integrators, design consultants, production studios, video professionals, dealers, independent representatives, and buyers from more than 15 vertical markets.

"Lighting and staging technologies are vital to the systems approach that visitors look for at InfoComm," said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., ICIA executive director. "Our partnership with PLASA Media is designed to round out the broad array of products and services at th

Get Stevie Wonder's manager as your mentor

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Music business hopefuls are being offered the chance of some business mentoring from a teaching team including Stevie Wonder's UK manager. Keith Harris is a well-respected figure in the music industry with 30 years of managing and promoting some of the world's biggest acts.

The former head of promotions for Motown UK, he has chaired leading industry bodies including the Manager's Forum, and is on first name terms with the key players from the industry and government. For the last 10 years he has taught on the commercial music degree at the University of Westminster. He's offering the chance of some personal coaching to anyone who comes onto a short course for people wanting to launch a business in the music industry.

The Music Business Course is run in association with local enterprise agency, Harrow in Business. Keith is one of the tutors on the course, along with studio

Kramer Electronics all-new cable line-up

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Kramer Electronics UK Ltd recently announced that it is expanding its cable business. The new and expanded cable line-up complements the Kramer hardware.

"Anyone who buys a Kramer product will need cables, and Kramer is committed to providing the best possible one stop shopping solution for our customers," said Paul Robertson, product manager for Cabling and Adapter Products. "By expanding the line-up and actively focusing on this segment of our business, we will be making system solutions easier for all of our existing customers, and gaining customers who want the great combination of quality and value that Kramer can offer."

The new line features three categories: Bulk Cables, Cable Assemblies, Connectors and Termination Accessories. In the Bulk Cable category, Kramer has increased its product from two varieties to eight, including single-coax, dua

New compliance and risk management software

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Qudos System 3 is a brand new product and concept in Compliance and Risk Management software, offering users a 'One Stop Solution' for the enterprise. Qudos System 3 seamlessly integrates with SQL database, giving organizations a management system where meeting minutes, risk assessments, customer surveys, audits and action plans provide continuity and improve productivity.

Distributed by Avanquest UK, experts in business process management solutions and compliance, Qudos offers a viable, cost effective solution to quality managers, compliance managers and CEO's in a wide range of business areas from health to manufacturing. Qudos System 3 provides the infrastructure to run any compliance or business management system - for ISO 9001 Quality, ISO 14001 Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and various legal and regulatory compliance arrangements. Its flexible design all

The Royal Lifeboat College, Poole Dorset

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The Royal Lifeboat College, overlooking the sea at Poole, Dorset, was recently opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Electrical systems for the college were handled by Faber Maunsell, who specified Futronix PFX systems to control all lighting in the auditorium, restaurant and bar. The auditorium can be partitioned into two completely separate rooms, with different lighting controls and 20 scene settings available for each area. Auditorium lighting is mainly LV downlights, with two rows of fluorescent fittings adjacent to the corridor area, all controlled by two PFX1210 panels located in the service area and triggered from SP4 switch panels in each zone and in the corridor.

Adjacent to the auditorium a circular glass structure resembling a lighthouse lantern houses a restaurant on the ground floor and a bar directly above, both affording superb views of the seascape. The restaur

Prague Quadrennial 2007

Details: 14 March 2016

Czech Republic - The 11th Prague Quadrennial, international competitive exhibition of scenography and theatre architecture, will celebrate its 40th year of existence in 2007. The Prague Quadrennial is organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and realized by the Theatre Institute in Prague. Theatre professional Arnold Aronson (USA) has been appointed to the role of General Commissioner of the PQ 07.

PQ 07 will again create three basic competitive sections: the Section of National Exhibitions, the Section of Architecture and Technology, and the Student Section - Scenofest, which will be organized together with OISTAT (International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians). Countries have until June 30, 2005 to announce the name of the National Curator who will be the guarantor of the artistic and organizational aspects of the national ex

Stardraw Control wins again at NSCA

Details: 14 March 2016

UK / USA - Software provider Stardraw.com has announced that latest application, Stardraw Control, won an Innovation in Technology award on the occasion of its worldwide launch at NSCA 2005. This is the second major trophy for Stardraw Control, which has already been honoured with a PLASA Award for Innovation at its preview at London's PLASA show in September last year.

Stardraw's marketing director, Rob Robinson, explains the key features of Stardraw Control that set it apart from other control solutions. "Stardraw Control generates stand-alone, customized control programs that can manage any type of addressable equipment from any manufacturer using any protocol over any communications infrastructure. Instead of being locked into closed architectures wherever system control, monitoring or signal routing has been required, Stardraw Control offers systems integrators an op

Pictured is Blitz service manager Rob Bruce, and 5 Star's Phil Lawrence.

5-Star supplies 1000th Eurotrucker

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - 5 Star, the Cambridgeshire-based flightcase manufacturer, recently supplied the 1000th 'Eurotrucker' road trunk to Blitz Communication. Blitz specializes in audio-visual equipment rental and AV services and has one of the UK's largest equipment warehouses for the hire of video projectors, sound equipment, display technology, stage sets and lighting. 5 Star has been a prime supplier of flightcases to Blitz for over two years, and in that time has manufactured a wide variety of case styles and specifications for different departments within the company, including audio-visual, sound and multimedia equipment.

Blitz Communication has headquarters in Elstree, as well as a branch in Manchester. The company uses the popular 'Eurotrucker' general purpose road trunk extensivley for cables and accessories. To commemorate the 1000th unit supplied to Blitz, 5 Star produced a 'Eurotru

Get Connected at PLASA 2005

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - PLASA 2005, Europe's definitive exhibition for professionals and decision-makers within the entertainment, event, corporate, architectural and installation industries, takes place at London's Earls Court from Sunday September 11 to Wednesday September 14 2005.

This annual event attracts visitors from all over the world and is run by people from within the industry - and the 2005 show promises to deliver precisely what the market requires - information, ideas and a strong forum for doing real business.

Over 300 companies are committed to making PLASA 2005 a solutions-led event: between them they will roll out over 1,000 new products and services designed to push existing technical and creative possibilities a stage further.

Both show floors will be packed with new ideas in audio, lighting, AV, rigging, system integration, engineering and effects: visitors will get to

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