Germany - Teams from three different European offices of Area Four industries recently joined forces to work on an exciting project for Lollapalooza Music Festival in Berlin.

Area Four Industries (A4i) is the world's largest manufacturer of modular aluminium truss and staging systems, with major brand production facilities (MILOS, LITEC, TOMCAT & JTE) located strategically around the globe working in close partnership with specialist design & distribution centres worldwide.

An extremely challenging deadline was presented to A4i UK to design and build a custom, high-capacity roof system for the Perry Stage at the music festival via their London based client Colour Sound Experiment.

As an existing long term user of LITEC, the brief from Colour Sound Experiment was to design the structure around truss products that would dovetail into their existing LITEC stock, thus ensu

USA - The Event Safety Alliance (ESA) has accepted a seat on the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) Council and Steve Adelman, Head, Adelman Law Group, PPLC will serve as the representative. The ETCP Council is the governing body which manages the development and implementation of ETCP's certification in the areas of Rigger - Arena, Rigger - Theatre, Entertainment Electricians and Portable Power Distribution Technician.

"We are extremely pleased that the ESA has joined the Council and that Steve Adelman will be sitting at the table. The ESA's focus on safety at live events and Steve' expertise in risk management and litigation regarding safety and security will be a true asset to the program," stated Tim Hansen, ETCP Council chair.

"I am honoured to join the ETCP Council and to support its efforts to expand recognition of and insistence on ETCP certifica

UK - Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre's critically acclaimed hit musical Half A Sixpence opened at the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End on 29 October. Following a successful run in Chichester, where the show was performed on a thrust stage, production manager Chris Boone knew that transferring the show to London was going to present some challenges and as such got in touch with Unusual Rigging as soon as he knew the production was due to transfer.

Chris said, "Unusual Rigging are no strangers to me - they're my go-to company for all rigging challenges. The first step was to meet with Simon Stone, Jeremy Featherstone and Mark Davies at Unusual and discuss how on earth we were going to transfer from a non-flying thrust stage into a traditional proscenium arch."

While this was challenging in itself, one of the briefs from Cameron Mackintosh an

UK - When this year's Stand Up to Cancer fundraising event was held at Central Hall Westminster on 1st October, a team of Showforce's experienced crew was on-hand to assist with the install and de-rig. Broadcast live on Channel 4, the show included a mix of comedy, music and celebrity appearances. Presenters Davina McCall, Alan Carr and Adam Hills hosted a seven-hour long telethon that raised an impressive £15,700, 222 for Cancer Research.

Working directly for TV production company, Princess Productions Ltd, the Showforce team was onsite from 11th - 22nd October. Crew numbers fluctuated between 14 and 56 per day in the run up to the event and de-rig, with 222 crew shifts amassed in total. The crew were tasked with unloading and setting up all equipment onsite, this included: lighting, rigging, set building, video, sound and carrying out show calls.

Split into two mai

Europe - The latest catalogue from EXE Technology has just been released and is available for download at http://ow.ly/jaua3064WUI. Safety of its products has increased, while the legendary quality, precision and reliability you've come to rely on remains unchanged, says the company.

The complete offer from EXE Technology consists of the EXE-Rise range of chain hoists, EXE-Cell load cell interface, EXE-Drive controllers and EXE-DST dynamic stack tracks.

New in 2017: The D8 range now features an 8:1 safety factor as standard with new load capacities of 250 kg / 500 kg /1000 kg / 2000 kg.

The D8+ range has new load capacities of 150 kg / 300 kg / 600 kg / 1200 kg.

All EXE-Rise hoists feature a double brake, updated identification labelling and black plugs and sockets. A new 8 x 24mm chain brings added safety to 1000 - 2000 kg hoists.

Dynamic Stack Tracks from the

South Africa - A Prolyte Campus Workshop, presented by Date Jonkman and Ruud De Deugd was hosted at DWR Distribution in Johannesburg from 1-4 November.

The course presented intricate information to assist riggers to comply with safety regulations practised throughout the world. The topics were covered in detail and delegates were given information on the types of loading and the effect on truss, building a safe MPT or ST Tower, slinging of truss, the process of calculating applied forces and predicting the effects of environmental influences and the basic preconditions to safely build a roof structure.

"The South African delegates are not behind in rigging. World-wide we are all at the same level... we are all consistently incompetent," commented Date Jonkman. "We don't know what we don't know and that's the main thing in our business, wherever you are. The delegates were

USA - A James Thomas Engineering 20.5" SuperTower system was used to construct a test stand at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) in California for the return mission from Mars. The plates and gates of the tower system were employed to make all connections for the tower's different levels.

The test stand will be used to simulate the speeds of samples that have been jettisoned off Mars by the rover and returned to earth via an ascent rocket for detailed chemical and physical analysis. It is crucial that the re-entry system containing the returning samples do not fail upon impact and become contaminated with the earth's soil.

Use of the JTE tower allows JPL to gather as much real data as possible to ensure success of the mission. With the JTE tower, the current unit doesn't just experience free fall impact but also has a built-in accelerator so impact can be simulated in real

UK - The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals was a truly memorable event: as Arena Group celebrated an unforgettable project at The O2 in London, installing over 8,500sqm of bespoke temporary event structures and the Murray brothers achieved World number one rankings in singles and doubles, November 20th, 2016.

On court this year's tournament took on special significance with Andy and Jamie Murray's achievements creating tennis history, while behind the scenes UK based Arena Group supported the ATP and AEG to produce a new look tournament having secured a three year contract with the ATP Tour.

Following the 2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals AEG informed the ATP that the space used for the Fanzone was no longer available and conversations between the ATP and Arena Group began to redesign the event's footprint. It was decided to move the players and sponsors facilities, includi

UK - A new Star Events' video captures all the angles of its 25m VerTech structure build in Hyde Park: https://vimeo.com/192692782

Produced by In The Bag, the short film follows construction from the first steel day, to raising the Great Oak Stage roof, to show time at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time (BST).

An extraordinary piece of festival infrastructure engineering, the BST VerTech supports Es Devlin's heavyweight design and 900sq m of 9mm LED screen, more than 50 tons across the front edge, before Star Events starts rigging the stage production.

Star made the strongest roof in the business stronger still this summer, fitting it with high tensile steel and doubling the spans, to accommodate 115 tons in the air for Mumford and Sons' rig plus the pre-rig for Take That.

Roger Barrett, special projects director at Star Events, comments, "This engaging VerTe

UK - Entertainment rigging professionals have welcomed the launch of Straightpoint's latest innovation, StageSafe, a 3t load cell dedicated to the theatre and live events industry.

Straightpoint products are already used in entertainment applications - its Wireless Load Shackle and Loadlink plus are commonplace - but StageSafe is the first product the manufacturer of force measurement, load monitoring and suspended weighing load cell equipment has dedicated to the sector.

StageSafe is matt black and disappears into back-stage rigging, sets and lighting. It also offers riggers the ability to utilise the load cell in wired or wireless applications, which, Straightpoint believes, is a unique feature set to revolutionise the way loads are monitored in the industry. Practically, it means the load cell can be applied to the two main types of monitoring in the theatre industry -

UK - The National Portrait Gallery has called on the expertise of Unusual Rigging to dramatically suspend a life-size sculpture by Antony Gormley as part of Antony Gormley - OBJECT, the artist's first display at the gallery.

OBJECT 1999, is a sculpture of the artist's body cast in iron, and occupies a position of maximum visibility from the ground floor and in passing from the escalator to the Gallery's second floor.

Speaking of the decision to bring Unusual Rigging on board to assist with the display of this prestigious display, Allan Tyrrell, the Gallery's engineering manager, explained: "Some years ago I saw an exhibition at Tate Britain where a Harrier jet was suspended from the ceiling; through my contacts in the International Association of Museum Facility Administrators I found out that Unusual Rigging had carried out this work. I spoke to Robin Elias after an initi

Europe - A.C. Rigging, a sales division of A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd. (AC-ET), has been awarded Prolyte Group's 'Platinum Award' for StageDex and LiteDeck products for the second year running, at the brand's global partners 2016 event in Germany.

One of the world's largest manufacturers of aluminium trussing, staging and structural solutions, every year the Prolyte Group hosts its PIE event (Prolyte immersion event), which gathers together key global personnel and distributor representatives to hear about new products and company updates, and to acknowledge high performing distributors.

The A.C. Rigging division of AC-ET received the award in recognition of its strong sales performance and support for the brand's StageDex and LiteDeck product ranges.

Matthew Millward, sales manager for the division, commented, "It is an honour to have received this award two

UK - They seem to have been a part of the Coldplay arsenal of live audience participation forever but in fact the very first Xylobands were used on 6 October 2011 for Coldplay's launch show for Mylo Xyloto in Madrid.

Deanie Thain and Jason Regler were the brains behind the hardware. Thain recalls how it all unfolded, "We have just celebrated our five-year anniversary. The first wristbands had a timer, so each one had to be programmed individually to go off at exactly the same time - quite a challenge and very time-consuming and a lot of friends and family helped to get them done on time.

"The original idea came from Jason Regler seeing Coldplay perform at Glastonbury 2005," continues Thain, "He wanted something to unify the crowd with lights and make them part of the show. After the first trial event, we then had another short time to create a radio-controlled version of t

UK - Triple E's track systems are bringing London department store Selfridges' Christmas window displays to life this festive season.

The Kent-based company's Unibeam, ChainTrack and ChainRail systems are 'animating' an art installation based on the concept of 'Always Be Open'.

The tracks are moving three different types of curtain: one Austrian, one centre opening and one swag curtain. The curtains are constantly moved from fully open to part-closed around the neon word creations 'Always', 'Be' and 'Open'.

The installation will run for 12 hours per day, every day, for the three months it is in place.

Selfridges approached art director David Lane to come up with the concept. He then brought in set designer Rachel Thomas to collaborate with him on the project. Lane is creative director and founder of The Gourmand magazine, Thomas' clients include Mulberry, He

UK - London's Regent Street celebrated the start of the festive period on 17 November with the official switch on of its famous Christmas lights. This year's display, described as a throwback to Regent Street's first set of Christmas lights which went up in 1954, has been designed by James Glancy Design who in turn contracted Unusual Rigging to work alongside them to fulfil all their rigging requirements.

Paula Gordon, senior project manager at James Glancy Design explained: "Paul Dart, head of design at JGD and the designer of this year's lights, wanted to create a stunning concept based on a contemporary Spirit of Christmas theme, whilst staying in keeping with an elegant and traditional look, honouring Regent Street's time honoured yet progressive values.

"People have commented that the lights seem especially spectacular this year and indeed the project was incredibly a

UK - Unusual Rigging has been nominated as a finalist in the Circulars Awards. The Circulars - an initiative of the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, is the world's premier circular economy award programme and aims to recognise individuals and organisations that have made notable contributions to the circular economy in the private sector, public sector and society.

Entrants to the awards are leading the way in driving innovation and growth that is decoupled from the use of scarce natural resources. In 2015, Unusual Rigging was highly commended for its efforts - this year the company has beaten thousands of other entries to make it into the top six in the 'Young Global Leaders Award for Circular Economy SME' category.

Tom Harper, resource manager for Unusual said, "Unusual Rigging has been providing technical solutions to the live production and e

UK - Drapes and rigging expert Blackout, working for CPL Productions, returned to supply Sky One's sports comedy panel show A League of Their Own, in October.

Growing with the show over the last seven years, a team of six Blackout riggers led by project manager Alex Duke, was entrusted to supply, install and operate a range of drapes and rigging equipment to transform a sound stage in the well-loved TV set playing host to the likes of James Cordon, Jack Whitehall, Andrew Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp.

During the week-long install, black wool serge drapes were hung around the perimeter of the Elstree studio to improve the TV aesthetics and ensure the audiences' attention was focussed on the on-stage action, whilst also helping to soundproof the sound stage.

A selection of Pro-Lyte H30, Pro- Lyte 40 and Thomas Superlight truss was supplied, creating four lighting truss gri

UK - Kinesys automation is central to show designer Jvan Morandi's visual concept for the current Placebo Retrospective tour, which features some of the musical highlights and moments from 20 years on the indie rock frontline for the band, known for their intelligent visceral, raw and creative approach to live performance.

Ten Kinesys Elevation 1+ vari-speed drive units, used with 10 x half tonne Liftket motors and Kinesys Vector control are being used to move five I-shaped trussing pods rigged in the roof above the stage.

The system is a new investment in automation by lighting and video contractors Colour Sound Experiment, which made several purchases for this lengthy arena tour to ensure that Jvan has exactly the right elements for the tour.

Colour Sound's Haydn Cruickshank comments, "We have sub-rented Kinesys systems as needed for some time now, so we know the kit

Europe - MILOS has released a second video as part of its special three-month promotion on MILOS crowd barriers. In this video, Area Four Industries R&D director Marc Hendriks provides valuable information on the technical design and construction of MILOS barriers, as well as their optimal use in real world situations.

Click here to watch the MILOS Crowd Barriers video with Marc Hendriks.

This video is part of the on-going three-month promotion series from MILOS that focuses on a selected range of MILOS products. During these promotions, MILOS provides its customers with valuable information and extra value with each purchase of the featured MILOS product.

(Jim Evans)

UK / Australia - Power distribution specialist, ide Systems, is branching out to Australia with its range of British-made power distribution equipment. The equipment includes distribution units, transfer switches and power cables for sectors that need temporary power such as events and exhibitions, construction, healthcare, industrial and offshore.

The company started the expansion with its recent delivery of an Australian order for a range of bespoke 400A power distribution boards. Ide Systems responded with the prompt delivery of the customised product. The client chose ide Systems specifically because of its high-quality products made in Britain and its reputation across the UK.

The company has adapted many of its electrical products destined for the Australian market, such as using the red, white, dark blue and black colours for power cable insulation. With 22 year

Vertigo Rigging has completed the rigging of an intricate and complex art installation in the newly opened Challenge of Materials Exhibition at The Science Museum in South Kensington.Sculptor and designer Tom Heatherwick was commissioned to produce 'Materials House' a large exhibit measuring 6 x 3 metres and weighing 4.3 tonnes. The huge structure required raising and suspending from the ceiling of the exhibition. Ground support towers were built over the sculpture; the front of the sculpture was lifted first, whilst the back tracked along a rail, using base jacking wheels, specially fabricated by Vertigo. At this point the back of the piece needed to slot into a specially welded base plate in the floor, a millimetre-perfect manoeuvre achieved by jacking the wheels down at the correct point and time, thus lowering the sculpture into its grooves.

PCM hit the ground running after an incredibly successful PLASA and went straight into its autumn Motor School season. Responding to feedback from recent Schools, PCM reduced class numbers on the courses to enable two people to work on each Lodestar motor. Once again, the course was strengthened by James Thomas Engineering presenting a half day course on truss usage and how it integrates with motors. PCM's Motor School is fully compliant with the new LOLER regulations and at the end attendees are issued with a Certificate of Attendance which proves that they have been properly trained on the equipment.

A new company has been launched to enhance Denmark's position in the lighting and truss manufacturing market. SeeLite merges together the activities of three companies - Paradise Tour Production Aps, Pan & Tilt A/S and Gøgler Lys Udlejning A/S and has been set up by Søren Nørgaard, Jens Lind, Frank Paulsen, Viggo Ladekjær, Leif Hellberg, Lars Nissen and Martin Corneliussen.

PCM is expanding its popular two-day Motor School training courses designed to offer attendees a comprehensive, hands-on overview of CM Lodestar motors. The company has traditionally run its annual Motor Schools in the week following the PLASA Show in September, but demand is now so high that training will be available all year round. Four Motor Schools per year will now be run at PCM's facility in Prenton, Wirral, commencing in January. PCM's drive to promote training is further enhanced by their five-day Rigging School, the first UK venture to be run on a no-profit basis. Following the first Rigging School, attended by 58 people, in July this year, bi-annual Rigging Schools are planned for 2000, with the first one scheduled for February.

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