Rigging / Staging

Harlequin at ABTT 2005

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - British Harlequin plc will be exhibiting at the ABTT Theatre Show (15-16 June, Royal Horticultural Halls, London). Commenting on prospects for this year's show, marketing manager, Monica Arnott said: "We are always very encouraged by the quality of the people attending ABTT. Not only do we meet many of our existing customers here, but we always gain many interesting new enquiries."

Harlequin's worldwide operations serve the dance community at a number of levels with important recent projects including the new Copenhagen Opera House, the French National Dance Centre (CND) in Paris and Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York. Harlequin floors have also been in demand for the growing trend for special events such as 'Constant Speed' - a continuous dance performance on London's Jubilee line between Canary Wharf and the Waterloo Eurostar Terminus - and at 'Art plus Danc

Mountview work on show in London

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Mountview's Technical Theatre students will be presenting an exhibition of their work at the Candid Galleries, London EC1 on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 June 2005.

The exhibition covers all areas of technical theatre and is described by the organizers as "a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their talents and skills for prospective employers. The exhibition will be of particular interest to anyone connected with or curious about technical theatre work or training."

Mountview's BA (Hons) Technical Theatre course covers five main disciplines: lighting, sound, construction, design and stage management and the exhibition promises to reflect the broad range of skills the students have developed during their training.

Mountview claims to be the only drama school to offer a two-year fast-track degree course in technical theatre, providing "the pract

https://www.claypaky.it/products/ultimo-hybrid/

Slingco debuts Vortek at ABTT

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The first European showing of Slingco's Vortek rigging system will be at at ABTT 2005 in June. Vortek is a complete theatrical rigging system designed and manufactured by Hoffend in the USA, represented in the UK by Slingco. The hub of every Vortek system is a patented brake, specifically designed for theatre applications. This continuously applied, variable-load, back-up brake totally is claimed to eliminate overspeed brake and "shock-load" type problems.

The brake is connected to the drum, and operates independently of any electrical or drive-train system. Says Slingco, "In the event of all other elements in the drive-train system failing (including the gearbox), with the Vortek back-up brake, everything stops within 3mm. The mechanical Vortek back-up brake also remains fully functional in the event of a power failure."

Vortek also features overload

Answerback technology for Millionaire

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Ground-breaking technology devised by audience interaction specialist AnswerBack Interactive has enabled Celador International's Who Want To Be A Millionaire? Live to hit the road this summer. Growing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire's 'fastest finger first' from 10 players in a television studio to thousands in live venues across Britain is a challenge AnswerBack MD Paul Krisman has been delighted to meet. He explains: "This is an absolute first and there are a number of vital factors we have to ensure just can't go wrong - from the players' point of view 'fastest finger first' is absolutely essential. We've managed to build technology that can identify the fastest response to within a thousandth of a second. There can be no room for doubt or error. It was quite a technical challenge."

Discussing the scales of the challenge he continues: "In our l

The Jesus Christ Superstar tour, supplied by HSL.

HSL makes ABTT debut

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The HSL Group is to exhibit at ABTT for the first time. HSL is currently supplying lighting to some major UK theatre tours including Blood Brothers, Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy, as well as servicing other major arts events like the Holland Park Opera Festival and providing equipment to TV studios across the UK. HSL is also sponsoring the Bar in the mezzanine level of the Lawrence Hall throughout the show."

HSL is now streamlined into three divisions. HSL Rental is "fully committed to ongoing investment in the latest technology to offer lighting designers and specifiers all the cutting-edge creative tools". HSL Rigging provides bespoke rigging solutions to corporate, theatre and live music events and HSL Sales & Distributions is the sole UK and Irish distributor for Community Loudspea

ChainMaster reports successes

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - ChainMaster, one of the world's most successful manufacturers of chain hoists and chain-hoist controllers, has been supplying equipment for a number of major projects and productions, including the Spain Summer Tour, which is using 13 500kg VarioLifts and a computer controller furnished by the manufacturer's Spanish distributor.

Meanwhile, ChainMaster has added two more prestige German venues to its reference list, having installed a chain-hoist system for the video cube in the SAP Arena in Mannheim in collaboration with Sauernheimer (due to the enormous weight of the load, four 6000kg computer-controlled VarioLifts with a backup system were needed here) as well as producing the three 500kg BGV-C1 chain hoists delivered recently by Focon Showtechnic to the Mercedez-Benz museum.

Chainmaster has also announced that two more event service providers have recently

L-R: Nick Whitehouse, Ampco/Flashlight Group's Marc van der Wel, production rigger Jim Allison and Siyan's Bryan Leitch.

CyberHoist for Coldplay

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - A CyberHoist / InMotion 3D motion control system has been specified for Coldplay's forthcoming 'Twisted Logic' world tour, which opens on 9 June with a sold-out show at the Olympia, Paris. Two months of European stadium and arena shows in June and July are followed from August onwards by a North American tour. The shows will come hard on the heels of the imminent release of the band's acclaimed album, 'X & Y'.

The tour's visual design is by Bryan Leitch and Nick Whitehouse. Siyan, co-owned by Bryan and Nick Valdez, will provide lighting production for the European shows in association with Flashlight Rental of Holland, while lighting for the North America dates will be a co-production between Siyan and PRG. Flashlight, part of the Ampco / Flashlight Group, will also provide the CyberHoist / InMotion 3D motion control system for the complete tour.

(Lee Baldock)

Summit Steel at ABTT

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Summit Steel will be exhibiting at ABTT for the first time, aiming to raise its profile within the theatre industry. The company's expansion plans include developing more relationships with theatre and performance orientated projects. "ABTT is an ideal opportunity for meeting potential clientele, illustrating our services and raising our profile in the world of theatre," says a spokesman. In addition to its range of truss, hoists, ground supports, including its SmarTmasts and rigging hardware, Summit is specifically highlighting its Kinesys Elevation movement system at the show.

The Kinesys - Vari-speed System for high capacity lifting solutions is billed as "a dynamic, fully programmable vari-speed hoist and winch control system, complimented with 32 double brake CM Lodestar Hoists capable of running at speeds of up to 21m/min." The system provides accu

Instant Planet offers free WAH training

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - To celebrate the launch of its new range of versatile access tower products, Instant Planet is hosting a series of free 'best practice' Working at Height seminars across the UK, specifically for users of access towers. Estate management and Collection maintenance are central to the smooth running of heritage sites and museums, and with a number of tasks carried out at height it's essential that staff are provided with appropriate safety training. To help, Access Tower Specialist Instant Planet is offering a series of free seminars addressing the implications of the new HSE Working at Height Regulations.

Falls from height and particularly from ladders, are responsible for the majority of accidents and serious injuries within the work place, with as many as 50 deaths and 4,000 injuries sustained across all industry sectors in a single year. Looking in detail at how to conduct

A scene from the new Copenhagen Opera House production of <I>Kafka's Trial</I>, using eight separate Visual Act Advanced wagons, choreographed as an integral part of the show.

Advanced Wagons roll at ABTT

Details: 14 March 2016

Hall Stage will host Swedish company Visual Act at next week's ABTT show in London. Visual Act will demonstrate its Advanced Wagon system, which allows for cable-free horizontal movement of any type of stage element. The wagons use a laser locational system to position loads of up to 600kg - to millimetre accuracy - without any tracks or guides on the stage.

Visual Act recently provided all the stage & flying automation equipment for the Eurovision Song Contest finals in Kiev. The staging for the event, one of the most advanced ever, included 46 separate moving components. VA control was used to create a range of stage configurations and dynamic scene changes during each act.

(Jim Evans)

Royal Opera House switches to ProTrac

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Following the Muziektheater in Amsterdam, The Royal Opera House in London is the second theatre of international fame that has replaced all current fly bars, as part of the complete theatrical installation, for an installation based on the ProTrac system from Prolyte.Prolyte distributor White Light brought the two parties together after they were informed that the Royal Opera House was looking for a new fly bar installation.

A regular fly-bar does not have the required strength if the uniformly distributed load needs to be upgraded from 300kg to 500kg and the point load from 40kg to 150/200 kg. Therefore, the single round tube is often replaced with ladder beams, usually made from steel. ProTrac offers a better alternative than these steel ladder beams, being specially designed to meet the demands from a modern theatrical environment and the CE compliance for lifting equipm

LTM to show Equipchaine at ABTT

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Lifting, and rigging sales specialists Lift-Turn-Move launches its new Equipchaine electromechanical chain lifting device into the UK at ABTT 2005. The device has been specifically designed for theatrical applications. The Equipchaine is an electromechanical chain lifting device that has been specifically designed for theatrical applications. Each device consists of several modular elements connected together to suit the structural environment. Several chain drop positions are linked by the same drive mechanism that can be used to lift lighting bars, stage sets and curtains of various lengths.

Equipchaine is appreciated by theatre consultants and architects throughout Europe; it has been installed in a diverse range of over 130 theatres and multi purpose spaces. Existing applications range from single to 40-device projects. Using simplifies any structural problems, as it fi

Stage Electrics at ABTT

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Stage Electrics is promoting new products from Prolyte, Apollo, Teclumen plus its own brand Encore at this week's ABTT show.

In March 2005 Stage Electrics was appointed UK distributor for Prolyte trussing, Stage Dex Staging and Prolyft chain hoists. Both Prolyte H30 and X30 trusses are light to medium duty and offer strength flexibility and compactness.

"The relationship with Prolyte has been a natural development for Stage Electrics. We have made a large investment in inventory but the wide range of products they offer and the quality of their manufacturing meant that it was an easy choice to make." said Adam Blaxill, head of purchasing at Stage Electrics.

Ed Gamble Business development manager Ed Gamble adds, "Customers have been extremely receptive to the Prolyte range, both the durability and the design features of the products make them intuitive to

Stage Electrics adds training partner

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Theatre Royal Newcastle has been awarded training partner status with Stage Electrics. The award, say Stage Electrics, is in recognition of the Theatre Royal hosting and promoting industry specific training days to entertainment workers from all over the country.

In February this year the Theatre Royal hosted two days of intensive training workshops on behalf of Stage Electrics, which included courses on electricity at work and pyrotechnics safety awareness. As Brian Cleary, business development manager for Stage Electrics explains, support from organisations like the Theatre Royal is key to raising awareness across the industry of important health and safety issues. "We think it is very important to raise the standards within our industry and recognise the skills people have achieved."

He continues: "We have a wide range of courses on offer and it's great

Billy Elliot - The Musical. (Photo by David Scheinmann.)

AVW Controls goes round in circles

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Production manager Steve Rebbeck needed an automation system for the many and complicated scene changes in Billy Elliot the Musical, he turned to AVW Controls. Back in 2002, Rebbeck had specified AVW Controls' Impressario system to provide the automation for the intricate flying manoeuvres on Our House and was sure the system would be right for Billy Elliot. Meanwhile, Patrick Molony was looking for set automation that he could rely on for The Far Pavilions. Having previously used the Impressario system on horoughly Modern Millie, he too turned to AVW.

For The Far Pavilions, award winning set designer Lez Brotherston had to create sets which took the action from the snow-capped Himalayas to the hot and dusty deserts of Rajasthan. A raked triple concentric revolve - the three sections of which can move simultaneously, in different direction

Protec, Dubai

Details: 14 March 2016

UAE - During the PALME exhibition in Dubai, L&SI was invited to visit the premises of Production Technology LLC - better known as Protec. Protec is a world class event production company and the region's largest supplier of sound, lighting, AV, hydraulic and motor control equipment.

The latter elements are a particular area of Protec's strength, as a tour around its facilities reveals. Everywhere are the remnants of large-scale motorized set pieces, waiting to be called upon. There are set pieces purchased from the selling off of the Millennium Dome's contents; there are large, customized, articulated truss sections, huge spheres and steel and aluminium forms of all kinds of construction; it's like a giant's Meccano kit, with lots of bits that you can't get from the shops. There's enormous potential for creativity here.

Protec is owned by Stephen Lakin, the industry veteran wh

Penn Elcom, S+H Technical Support, Freestyle Music, Metalworx and IBS Décor

Details: 14 March 2016

Penn Elcom, S+H Technical Support, Freestyle Music and Metalworx (the manufacturer of Penn trussing) joined forces with Middle East distributor IBS Decor - which also manufactures flightcases in Dubai. S+H has put down roots in the region, having had a Dubai office for 14 months. The company reports plenty of business for its plain drapes in the UAE, as well as for its own starcloth product. Coming soon is S+H's second generation of remote table pinspots, with DMX control capability, which will be of interest to event organizers everywhere.

Lift, Turn, Move

Details: 14 March 2016

Dave King of LTM (Lift, Turn, Move) was joined on stand by the industrious Adrian Forbes-Black of Columbus McKinnon, manufacturer of the Lodestar hoists which are a mainstay of LTM's services. Forbes-Black, who began working for Columbus McKinnon in the UK and Europe a little over two years ago, reports that CM has doubled sales of its entertainment hoists in that time. This was the first PALME for LTM, which was formed just last autumn, but King was having a worthwhile time nonetheless.

L'Oreal shines with Cyberhoist

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Vertigo Rigging has supplied the largest InMotion 3D / CyberHoist motion control system yet rigged in the UK, to provide special effects for the 50th anniversary production of the L'Oreal Color Trophy at London's Earls Court 2 arena on 16 May. The L'Oreal Colour Trophy, the most respected awards ceremony in the hair and fashion industry, tours the UK to find regional finalists before culminating in an exhilarating Grand Final in London. To mark its 50th anniversary, the production company that developed the event, Surrey-based CS Media staged a night to remember at Earls Court, with technical production management by MJK Productions.

The event included four hair shows (by hairdressers Charles Worthington, Antoinette Beenders, Trevor Sorbie and Toni & Guy), a three-course dinner, and an after-show party. The action took place on a main stage with an array of mobile and fixed

Main stage finger barrier at Download Festival.

MOJO Barriers UK at Download

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Mojo Barriers UK supplied all of the stage crowd barriers to the 2005 Download Festival at Donington. 50,000 heavy rock fans descended on Donington to 'rock out' to over 60 bands featuring Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, Slayer, Slipknot, Feeder and Garbage.

Mojo Barriers UK director Jim Gaffney managed the project and liaised with Clear Channel's festival manager John Probyn and site manager Andy Pearson to agree an effective barrier design to create a safe environment for the exuberant fans. Jim explained: "There a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the best barrier configuration for the show. We have done lots of shows at Donington, as has John (Probyn) so it was great working with someone who had some great ideas whilst listening to our advice. The music/audience type and slope of the ground (left to right) were the two over-riding factors in deciding on t

Movecat Introduces V-Motion

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - The V-Motion variable motion controllers from Movecat (distributor: Think Abele of Nufringen) are designed for use with the German manufacturer's VMK hoists, in which combination intelligent and safe variable-speed hoist systems complying with BGV C1 can be created. These versatile controllers can be configured for use with a variety of VMK hoists - the V-Motion 15 for drives rated at up to 1.5 kW and the V-Motion 30 for those rated at up to 3kW.

A large, backlit LCD displays the operating state (including the run direction, run speed, position and other operating parameters) of all the connected hoists. The main and safety processor monitors all functions. All the contactors and safety circuits needed to protect against overload and slack chain are integrated along with work limit switches and emergency shutdown systems. In addition, the execution of, and internal ope

Stardraw Control now supports WebBricks

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Stardraw.com recently announced that it has incorporated support for WebBrick technology from UK-based home automation products and solutions company O2M8 into its award-winning application, Stardraw Control.

Stardraw Control generates standalone, customized control programs that can manage and monitor any type of addressable equipment from any manufacturer using any protocol over any communications infrastructure. This approach frees systems integrators from closed or proprietary architectures and applications, offering instead the ability to create a single application that can control many different products with as much or as little complexity as the end user needs.

O2M8 Ltd is a UK-based company creating innovative smart home products and solutions using standard technologies and open source software to reduce costs and drive growth in the smart home industry. WebBri

Movecat introduces VMK hoists

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - The new VMK hoists (distributor: Think Abele of Nufringen) conforming to the BGV C1 standard are equipped with two independent noiseless brakes, an integrated realtime load measurement module capable of discerning the real load as well as the values for overload and slack chain, and a thermo sensor that continuously monitors the operating temperature of the motor. A friction clutch is not necessary for VMK hoists because of the principle upon which they operate, which allows uninterrupted closed linkage and a positive fit between the motor and the load.

The VMK hoists are equipped with high resolution incremental encoders that make it possible to position the hoist to within +/- 1 mm (in combination with V-Motion) permitting precise target runs with the highest degree of reproducible accuracy. Combined with the V-Motion controller modules, the VMK hoists can execute va

Tomcat Swing Wing receives Award

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Tomcat USA is pleased to announce that Swing Wing received the award for Best Truss or Rigging Product at the recent AV Communications Excellence Awards Banquet, one of many events held in conjunction with InfoComm trade show. This is the second product award for Swing Wing since receiving the EDDY Award in 2003, say Tomcat. Tomcat USA CEO, John James said: "We constantly strive to create products that are innovative, but useful to the entertainment industry. This award is a great tribute to that mission. We are honoured."

From a stackable, self-contained transport position to a functional rigging position when flown, Swing Wing Truss is an intelligent pre-rig, say Tomcat. Designed to hold a wide variety of conventional and intelligent fixtures from the X.Spot and VL1000 ERS to the Martin 2000 and Studio Colors, Swing Wing accommodates virtually any fixture. Simi

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