UK - After the successful launch of the DGS Counterwright Drive system at the ABTT trade show in June, where it won the ABTT Rigging & Engineering Product of the Year award, Hall Stage has repeated the feat at PLASA 2004 in London this month, winning a prestigious Innovation award to complete the clean sweep. In the opinion of the judges - "it is coming to a theatre near you".

The DGS is the first genuine counterweight drive hoist that means an end to counterweight loading, with all of its inherent Health & Safety, cost and time implications. Awards judge Andy Hayles, from theatre consultancy Charcoalblue, hails the system as "head and shoulders above the competition in terms of innovation and a huge step forward in improving the lives of flymen everywhere."

Easily retro-fitted directly onto an existing counterweight frame in under five hours per line, DGS uses twin steel bands with a combined safety factor of 20:1 to raise and lower the weight cradle at speeds of up to 1.5m/second - in virtual silence. Hall Stage is also offering full financial support packages from the Bank of Scotland, enabling a venue to purchase a full system for less than the costs of running their current installation.

(Lee Baldock)


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