HSL makes major technology investment
- Details
“This will help service ongoing and upcoming projects across all sectors - rental & staging, theatre, television, sporting events and concert touring. The rapid pace at which the technology is changing and the fact we want to keep ahead of the game is driving this, together with an increase in demand. It’s vital that we can continue offering our clients the very best options for all of their shows, events and creative projects,” commented HSL’s Simon Stuart.
Fixtures like the.Robe MegaPointe and the Martin MAC Encore have really made their mark, together with products from GLP, SGM and Vari*lite. Other top brands on the recent HSL shopping list have included Claypaky and Solaris.
These choices have been influenced by specific LD requests as well as what the HSL management team considers are the best and most practical solutions for the company.
Martin purchases have included MAC Encore Performances, in both warm and cool white versions, which have been busy on a variety of theatre and performing arts shows, including Macbeth at the National Theatre. Many of these versatile luminaires also serviced multiple productions during HSL’s bumper 2017-18 panto season, with 31 different shows up and down the country.
In addition to the Encore Performances – with more on the cards soon – HSL has bought substantial quantities of MAC Quantum Washes, Axioms and Auras, and added a ‘shed pile’ of Rush PAR RGBW Zooms to the inventory for the first time.
More Robe PixelPATTs have been sourced as they are a firm favourite among the television LDs with whom HSL regularly works, as well as for dance events and concert tours.
More Vari*Lite 6Ks have been bought - on top of the 100 plus that are out on Depeche Mode’s ‘Global Spirit’ tour – for which HSL is the worldwide lighting contractor.
Also from Philips’ Showline range, over 50 x SL LEDSPOT 300s join HSL’s stock together with another 50 x SL HYDRUS 350s, which are another hybrid beam, spot and wash fixture which have been very well received.
From GLP, the numbers of Impression X4 Bar 10 and X4 Bar 20s have been boosted. These high-performance batten fixtures have proved popular for a diversity of applications.
HSL’s new flightcase making company PackItRackItStackIt has had to up its ante to deal with the sheer volume of new kit arriving and needing to be made road-ready, so a new CNC machine has been installed to meet the demands for quality cases.
Commenting on this new company, Simon enthuses, “It makes complete sense for us to have our own case company. We can produce cool, inventive and bespoke creations when needed as well as all the standard ranges. While they are full on right now with all our own projects, we are planning to broaden the scope and open up other commercial opportunities.”
(Jim Evans)
