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Rigging / Staging

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For the 10th year, drape, track and rigging specialist Blackout Triple E will be exhibiting at PLASA.

This year the company will be launching a modular curtain track control system with DMX protocol. The 19-inch rack-based system will control the entire range of Blackout Triple E systems and will feature DMX interface as standard to enable track systems to be integrated into a lighting and movement package. Also on display on the Blackout Triple E stand will be a variety of track, drapes, starcloths and automation equipment, as well as acoustic blind systems.

Blackout Triple E was formed when two market leaders merged in 2000 to provide the entertainment, architectural, presentation and event industries with a range of solutions for drape, track and engineering requirements. Offering a combination of specialized drape creation with an expertise in tracks, Blackout Triple E's experie

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Rental Management System (RMS), has become even faster and easier to use, and the new version of the software will be shown at the PLASA Show. With over 2000 users world-wide, RMS is a market leader in the supply of software for professional rental companies. The software is available in nine languages, including English, German, French and Spanish. New 'cut and paste' shortcuts allow users to easily move items from one job to another, or to convert a job into a (new) packaged item. The multi-sites option also has new features: from within a job, the user may see both the local stock-situation, as well as the situation at the available sites added together. With another mouse-click, all jobs (from the local or from a selection of sites) that hold an item in a given period, can be viewed. The crew-planner is a new module that allows for entering comprehensive labour details. Personnel may
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The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) has defeated the UK Government at the European Court of Justice over the UK’s implementation of the Working Time Directive. The UK’s Working Time Regulations 1998, which implements the Directive, entitles workers to a minimum of 20 days paid leave each year. But employees are not entitled to the leave until they have completed a qualifying period of 13 continuous weeks with the same employer. This means that many freelance and contract workers who work for less than 13 weeks have been denied a right to take paid leave.

BECTU launched a legal challenge to the UK legislation and on 26 June 2001 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) accepted the opinion of the Advocate General of the ECJ, which stated that national governments may not exclude groups of workers from the rights that the directive gives them.

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As part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Edwin Shirley Staging, the international staging and structure specialist, has built a bespoke 30m high needle-shaped tower, from which a £1 million Mercedes Benz Gullwing car will be balanced to help celebrate the luxury car company’s Centenary. The car will be placed on its nose and will be on display to visitors during the three-day motor show.

The ESS structure has been specially designed by Gerry Judah, the renowned designer behind such projects as the model of Auschwitz in the Holocaust Galleries at the Imperial War Museum and Linkbridge 2000 in the Woolwich Dockyard Estate, as well as last year’s central display at Goodwood. Patrick Woodroffe, known worldwide as a leader in lighting design and whose recent projects include Lord of the Dance II and the Rolling Stones tours, is lighting the structure. The festival, which open

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TeleStage Associates held an official opening of their new office and workshops in Bury St Edmunds on the 13 June. The new premises comprise 350sq.m of office space and 520sq.m of fabrication and warehousing space.

The expansion allows for future growth and provides room for the development of a fully-equipped electrical and electronic workshop which will facilitate the wiring of equipment racks for MCC’s audio-visual equipment racks and custom panels. The workshop will be used for the prototyping and testing of control systems used in stage rigging, AV and show control. A dedicated QA area will ensure that equipment meets all necessary standards before dispatch.

To mark the opening, the company demonstrated a number of items of stage equipment, including two scissor lifts (one using Serapid link chains and the other a single spiral drive from GALA), two of the new super-silent

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PCM, UK and European distributors for Columbus McKinnon Lodestar hoists, will show a selection of the many types of Lodestar motors available, including standard rigging range, VGB 70/BGV C1 type and the FX range - now available for theatrical use. The company will also highlight its renowned and highly successful hands-on Motor School and Rigging School training courses.

A new version of the compact CM Prostar motor is also being launched at the show, with increased capacities and speeds. This new higher speed version will climb at six metres a minute and 10m/min (increased from the industry standard four metres a minute). A new 500 lb SWL @ 4m per minute version is also to be launched - an increase of 200 lbs over the pervious 300 lb SWL.

PCM - Stand F18

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Tomcat’s first annual Las Vegas Hoist and Truss Workshop swept through the Western Region in mid June with Arizona, California and Nevada being represented. The sold-out event consisted of a full day of motor instruction taught by Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon and a half-day of truss design, use and theory led by Keith Bohn from Tomcat USA. The Vegas Motor School comes hot on the heels of the grand opening of Tomcat’s new office in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas location serves as a distribution centre for the Western Region of the United States and stocks over 200 sections of standard truss products, 50 Columbus McKinnon lodestar motors and various rigging accessories. The next Tomcat Las Vegas Motor School will be held on September 17-18, 2001, whilst the annual Tomcat Hoist and Rigging Workshop will be hosted by Tomcat USA in Midland, Texas, January 30 - February 3, 2002.

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James Thomas Engineering, Inc has announced the construction of a new purpose-built facility for the Knoxville, Tennessee manufacturing company. Phase One of the 60,000sq.ft complex on a 6.28 acre site is underway, specifically designed to house the US manufacturing, administrative, sales, design and production offices. James Thomas’s Mike Garl explained that the move follows a steady increase in business in recent years, and is intended to consolidate, rationalize and further increase the efficiency of their business to their diverse client base.

James Thomas Engineering is a leading manufacturer of structural aluminum trussing, support systems and lighting fixtures for the entertainment industry, and distributes via a world-wide dealer network from its production facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee and Worcester in the UK. The Knoxville operation was founded in 1984 - initially

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Golden Princess, the newest member of the P&O Cruises fleet, left Southampton on May 16th to spend th summer cruising the Mediterranean, before heading off to the Caribbean for the winter. The ship features three separate show lounges, each of which incorporates Blackout Triple E engineering and equipment. Because traditional fittings are often unsuitable, contractor HMS Italia enlisted Blackout Triple E to develop systems for the particular environment of the cruise ship, including its Austrian curtain mechanisms and Unirail and Unitrack systems for installation in the principal and cabaret theatres. Though the tracks are mainly for curtains, the Vista Lounge uses Chaintrack to carry two 300kg rotating scenic panels, and the main lounge features Unibeam tracks to carry lighting ladders on each side of the stage. Blackout Triple E also provided the control for the safety curtain in the m

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Out Board Electronics’ new Ibex programmable hoist controller has made an auspicious debut on two frontline tours with Vari-Lite Europe Ltd. Both the Roxy Music and Robbie Williams shows - currently out on tour - have had their lighting designed by Liz Berry, who has given the new hoist controller the thumbs up. The purchase of a single unit (and rental of a second) had been authorised by VLPS’ Matt Croft, who admitted that he had not heard of the Ibex until he started to prep both tours. "I looked at both jobs and each show had moving truss systems. In the past we would have used hoist commanders - but they involve a lot of hardware and personnel, so we were starting to look around. At the same time Out Board’s Lawrence Heron had contacted our rigging department independently to see if they were interested."

An advantage of the Ibex system, says Matt, is th

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Show Presentation Services (SPS), the leading equipment rental and staging specialist, has announced that it increased its turnover from £8m to £13m over 2000, and achieved a 58% increase in pre-tax profits for the same period, as a direct result of its integrated event services strategy. The results reinforce SPS’s position as a leading independent AV rental and staging business. High business growth rates were achieved by the scenic construction and lighting rental departments in particular, of 241% and 148% respectively. SPS’s investment in a Barco D-Lite7 Modular LED screen was validated by the turnover generated with the successful launch of its LED rental business. A part-year contribution from the Earls Court and Olympia AV contract that commenced its five-year term also boosted SPS’s increase.

"This year has seen more challenging business conditions,&qu

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The US-based Entertainment Services & Technology Association (ESTA) has announced that BSR E1.8, Entertainment Technology - Loudspeaker Enclosures Intended for Overhead Suspension - Classification, Manufacture and Structural Testing, is now available for public review, and will be until 25 September 2001. Loudspeakers suspended overhead should not pull apart and rain debris on people below, and this draft document is an attempt to offer guidance to a manufacturer to make sure such a mishap does not happen. The document describes the structural requirements for loudspeaker enclosures intended for overhead suspension, which include enclosure construction, component part security, enclosure suspension hardware, manufacturing control systems, structural testing, and product representation. The standard is intended to enhance the safety of speaker rigging at popular music concerts and

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PLASA has worked in co-operation with some of London’s leading entertainment venues to offer an exclusive insight into the workings of some of the city’s most famous venues; this exclusive backstage tour immediately follows the close of the PLASA Show in London this September. Theatrical London delegates will visit the world-renowned Royal Albert Hall for a night at the Proms; the Apollo Victoria Theatre to see the upgraded Starlight Express; Tussaud’s Group Studios for an exclusive technical tour, and the Donmar Warehouse for a ‘Divas at the Donmar’ performance. To top it off, you can step back in time at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre . . .

Wednesday 12th September: The experience begins with A night at The Proms, The Royal Albert Hall, featuring Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Pre-show drinks will be served in the foyer. Performance starts at 7.30pm.

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David Plail has joined MCL London as head of project management, bringing with him 28 years of industry experience. David comes to MCL from FrameSet Products, a company that he founded over 10 years ago, dedicated to the design, build and supply of diverse conference staging products. "Some people may think it a strange decision," said Plail, "to move away from FrameSet when it is such a successful company. But MCL is a young company with incredible backing from Avesco and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. In the end it was an easy choice to make. It puts me right back into the industry mainstream and will draw heavily on what I have learnt over the years. I am looking forward to the challenge."

In his new role, Plail will be drawing together all existing elements of project management at MCL London and will fine-tune current practices to ensure the

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This weekend, 250,000 spectators at the 35th British Grand Prix enjoyed a close-up view of racing heroes Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, via two 4.8m by 8.1m jumbo TV screens from Screenco, supported by 16.5m high tower structures provided by ESS, the international staging and structure specialist. The 43 tonne screens were located at key spectator spots on the circuit, namely Copse Corner and Chapel Curve and relayed live TV coverage. So far this year, ESS has provided support structures for Wimbledon, the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot, as well as the one-day international cricket tests at Lords and Edgbaston, as part of the UK tour by Pakistan. In addition, ESS has also supplied screen supports at Twickenham for various national rugby fixtures. This brings the total number of locations where ESS has provided camera and screen supports to eigh

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It’s been a busy couple of months for Tomcat Global’s UK operation. May started with a near £250,000 order to manufacture a custom stage set for German rock group Rammstein. With Leroy Bennett as lighting and set designer, the build included, amongst other items, a custom ‘spiders web’ truss grid, five 1.5m diameter aluminium and plastic surgeon’s lamps and an aluminium and carbon-fibre ‘birthing sack’. Tomcat worked alongside lighting provider Light & Sound Design and scenery specialist Perry Scenic to turn Bennett’s ideas into a reality.

June also proved to be a busy month with the manufacture of a stage set for the present Robbie Williams stadium tour. The set involved the manufacture of a 17m x 5m stage with decks rising from ground level up to a height of 3m. Most tricky was the need to provide a quick-opening deck on the highest le

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Stage Technologies has just been awarded the contract for the supply of rigging systems for the latest of the Grand class ships currently being built for P&O Princess Cruises by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Nagasaki, Japan. Stage Technologies’ scope of supply includes nearly 100 axes of automation, both mechanical and electrical systems, installed in three venues. Rigging systems include 26 flying bars, 4 stage lifts, and 16 curtain tracks. Control systems include the company’s award-winning Acrobat, Juggler and Solo consoles. Mark Ager, Stage Technologies’ managing director commented: "We are very excited to receive this order which confirms Stage Technologies as a major supplier of automation systems to the cruise ship industry."

To date, the company has provided the control systems for eight cruise ships including the original Grand Princess and s

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PCM/Pfaff-silberblau Ltd will launch two important new winch products at PLASA 2001 - the Tau Winch, specifically designed for flying people and aerial performance, and the Delta Winch - for the fast, efficient accurate scenery moving.

With the increasing popularity of aerial theatre and performance, PCM has designed and developed The Tau electric winch - the first winch to be designed and manufactured specifically for this specialist task. It features a host of inherent safety features, including a double brake system - one on the load, one on the motor, double limit switches, encoder feedback for accurate positioning and monitoring of over-speed and electronic overload protection.

The Delta winch is a quiet, very safe, accurate and durable device for flying scenery and set pieces in all performance situations. The near silent operation makes the delta winch ideal for operas and cla

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Booking your tickets to the PLASA Show, the entertainment technology industry’s leading event, running from 9-12 September 2001 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, has never been easier. You can now book in any of the following ways:

By Telephone: The Visitor Hotline is now live! Call +44 (0) 870 429 4472 to make your credit card booking or to request an advance booking form.

Online: Go direct to www.plasa.org/show/register to book online.

There are many advantages to pre-registration. Not only will you save £6 on the cost of entry to the Show (tickets on the door are £12) but you will be sent a personalized badge in advance permitting you fast entry into the show. You will also receive up-to-date information on the Show’s Masterclass Programme and how to book your seat at any of

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Rebecca Lace has joined LeMark Group as sales office manager, bringing with her multi-skill experience in bothelectronic and conventional marketing and sales. Rebecca will also head LeMarks’ continued expansion of custom-printed consumables into the North American and Canadian markets. Rebecca’s background has recently been within the Medical & Scientific equipment manufacturing sector, where she project-managed both the marketing and sales promotion of a new equipment range to clients throughout the world. A lover of theatre, film and music and in her ‘spare time’ she enjoys the practicality of DIY and Design. Stuart Gibbons, LeMark managing director said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have someone of Rebecca’s calibre and professionalism join the team. Expanding LeMark into the US market has been a big challenge for us all. I feel confident that with

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Summit Steel’s award-winning SmarTmast system will be much in evidence at this year’s 50th Anniversary ‘Music on a Summer Evening’ concerts at Kenwood House, one of the historic properties in the care of English Heritage. Founded in 1951 by Frank Wright after a visit to the Hollywood Bowl, the first concert featured a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra, who are welcomed back this year as part of the celebrations.

A total of five SmarTmasts will be provided by Summit Steel, who invested in an additional five of these versatile rigging towers in order to service the event. One SmarTmast will be positioned either side of the stage to fly the main PA system, while the remaining three will provide delay towers. Interestingly, the two PA SmarTmasts will be firmly anchored in the lake in front of the stage. Adapted to hang the V-dosc sound system provided by

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This July over a million people will have been part of a live audience in front of a stage supplied by Star Hire (Event Services) Limited. Star Hire’s position as the UK’s busiest staging company this summer can be in little doubt, with their stages the first choice of promoters of prestigious events across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Star Hire has operated three large VerTech constructed stage systems simultaneously whilst still managing seven mobile stages at a wide range of events. Star Hire (Event Services) Limited supplied the stages for well over 250,000 live concert goers on each of the first two weekends of July 2001 (with a TV audience of millions).

VerTech stages began the month at the Prince’s Trust ‘Party in the Park’ concert in Hyde Park, London, featuring artists including Geri Halliwell, Ricki Martin and Destiny’s Child; at &

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To complement the exhibition, PLASA has lined up a range of seminars, workshops and clinics that will give an insight into how new technology is creating new opportunities, how individuals have pulled together highly complex projects, why integration is so important and how you can achieve more by picking up tips and techniques from others.

DJs can learn more about MP3 digitally-compressed music files and how this new technology is already creating a platform for a more creative approach. In a programme of seminars sponsored by Installation Europe, audio installation and integration is the theme under which issues of networking, control and the benefits of converging technologies are explored. Tuesday sees a Theme and Leisure Masterclass, presented by Leisure Management, in association with the TEA and TiLE, which focuses on how the leisure industry exploits special effects, lighting a

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The organisers of Entech 2002 have released preliminary details relating to next year’s event, which takes place from February 4-6 at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The visitor programme includes keynote summits for audio, vision and lighting practitioners on 4 February. The summits will cap the opening day’s educational programme set to feature new format seminars held in the lecture facilities within the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Center. Day One features a Venue Design Forum, an afternoon session with leading lighting designers, two pro audio seminars and a vision/video seminar.

Additional events on Day One include a rigging workshop, an opening day reception on the rooftop at closing time and Mark Cunningham’s famous pop quiz at sundown. A complete programme of events, including the sixth and largest Entech Awards Dinner, will be released ahead of an extensive

  1. LETI Clears Lifting Regulation Minefield
  2. Ground Zero Opens Office in Berlin
  3. James Thomas Builds 3D Stage
  4. Tomcat Extends US Sales Team
  5. Vertigo at Porcelanosa
  6. James Thomas Launches
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PLASA Leeds 2025 - Large MPU - April 2025
Showlight (Tickets) - MPU - Jan 2025

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