After investing in an initial batch of 40 to enable them to undertake projects at high profile locations such as Alton Towers, a further 60-plus units were requisitioned for use on the top of the London O2 Arena during the recent Rugby World Cup - at the request of Projection Artworks. Here they memorably delivered the flower effects onto a 'canvas' in support of the English rose - an O2 sponsored project, claimed to be the world's largest projection in terms of light output (totalling 1.42million lumens).
HSL's managing director Simon Stuart recognised that G-Spot, attached to the O2's masts, would comfortably withstand all weathers over the seven-week period of the tournament, and especially the high winds - without the need for a protection dome.
"The roof can attract high wind speeds and most of the domes available won't withstand a buffeting of that nature. As the G-Spot is IP65-rated it doesn't require a weather dome and so was ideal."
Project lighting designer, Tim Routledge, agreed. "The lights had to be waterproofed and reliable at over 70m above ground, exposed to all the elements. The traditional methods of inflatable domes were just never going to survive the wind - and we needed a fixture that could deliver the key creative and practical requirements. There is only one fixture currently in the world that can do that - the SGM G-Spot."
Simon Stuart believes, however, that the functionality of G-Spot still has further potential. "People think of it largely as a fixture for festival stages because of its IP rating - but it is a great general purpose touring light which has been out on a wide range of duties for us, from the two CarFests (North and South) to lighting tall communication masts."
(Jim Evans)
