Rigging / Staging

Paul Dumpleton joins Power Logistics

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Paul Dumpleton has joined Power Logistics as general manager. Dumpleton will be helping to take the company forward through its ongoing expansion and supporting the existing management at their Wiltshire head office.

Dumpleton says: "My focus is on improving internal systems to benefit our client services and hopefully we can deliver more of the same consistently high level of project management the company is known for."

Power Logistics has enjoyed a busy 2006, with projects ranging from the Queen's 80th birthday party, five major bands stadium concert tours, international corporate marketing events in India, Portugal and Turkey, and there are major sporting events on the horizon.

(Chris Henry)

Dick Van Berkum at the construction site of the Ampco / Flashlight group's new headquarters in Utrecht.

Ampco / Flashlight Group appoints MD

Details: 14 March 2016

The Netherlands - The Ampco / Flashlight Group (AFG) has announced the appointment of Dick van Berkum as its managing director from October 1 2006, succeeding industry pioneer Eric de Bruijn.

Van Berkum, a chartered accountant and a well-known figure in the industry, began working for AFG in February 2006 as financial director with a growing involvement in the group's management. His remit is to continue the strategy and policy developed over recent years, while bringing his considerable corporate, financial and organisational experience to help the Group achieve its ambitions.

The group's strategy encompasses both regional growth and diversification of services to meet the demands of the evolving entertainment market. AFG's activities already include sales, rentals, distribution, R&D and manufacturing of sound, lighting, video and rigging.Karel de Piere says: "AFG has a

Slingco

Details: 14 March 2016

With installations at Wales' Millennium Centre, Camden's Roundhouse and many more, Slingco had on show their CableNet tension wire grid system which provides a virtual floor of high-tensile steel cable. Slingco's Unibar winch system was also on show: it offers a cost-effective solution for motorised raising and lowering of scenery suspension, lighting battens etc. As UK rep, Slingco also presented the Vortek Point Hoist module.

Hall Stage

Details: 14 March 2016

Hoff Truss, available now from Hall Stage, has a full range of truss components, including a variety of load capacity self-climbing towers. Hall Stage also offers a new, lightweight plastic stage decking that is extremely strong thanks to its cellular structure.

Also available through Hall Stage is the Visual Act stage wagon control system, which has been progressed to now provide full motion control for any flying or motion system, and can interface to most systems by the application of Visual Act sensing on the drive side of any electro-mechanical system.

Also on stand was ASM lifting equipment - both chain hoists and their steel-band drive motors, the latter providing a completely stretch-free alternative to the wire winch, with the same degree of ability for precise programming of speed, acceleration/ deceleration and repeat positioning with ASM's dedicated Genesis control

Square One

Details: 14 March 2016

London-based scenic contractor Square One was at PLASA this year promoting the wide range of services it supplies to the live event industry including staging (design and consultancy), building and hire.

A new 3m to 6.5m wind-up stand from Mobil Tech, the Alptek 6500 conforms to TÜV, VBG C1 standards and will lift 200kg. Once the legs are slotted away for transport, a flightcase cover neatly latches to the stand's own trolley wheels and chassis, rather than the usual 'just fit the stand in a box solution' - thus eliminating at the stroke the rattle around syndrome. Neat.

Exclusive to the EU, Mobil Tech introduced LED Wall, a simple, lightweight, videowall in 672mm by 1344mm modules, which clip-together with coffin locks and weigh just 18kg each. Hanging points attach to the same coffin locks for a max load per point of 350kg. Mapping is preset by thumbwheels on the mod

Tomcat, 4 Wall and TPUS party

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Tomcat, 4 Wall and TPUS are holding an industry party on Friday, October 20, 2006. The party begins at 7pm at 4 Wall Entertainment Las Vegas - where there will be food, drinks, swag and a DJ.

The Swinging Johnsons will take the stage from 10pm - midnight. Band members include: Bruce Jordahl of Total Production US, Tommy Hall of Vari Lite, Robert Mokry of Light Parts and Scott Church of Selecon.

Visit booth #271 at LDI for more details.

(Chris Henry)

Steeldeck

Details: 14 March 2016

Staging manufacturer Steeldeck had an unusual product on display at this year's PLASA. From a distance, the large lump of metal looked like any other, except the clever designers at the company have come up with a de-mountable balcony system especially created for venues who need the ultimate in flexibility. Having already installed a two-level system at the Belgrade 2 in Coventry, the product is now available off-the-shelf. So, if you have ever wanted your own box in a theatre, now you can buy one and take it with you!

ChainMaster

Details: 14 March 2016

At ChainMaster, the JumboLift made its PLASA debut. This BGV-C1 chain hoist features a load-bearing capacity of up to 6,000kg. It's equipped with a frequency converter, an incremental encoder, and optionally with an absolute value encoder. The controller comes in a choice of one- and two-channel versions, with a switching cabinet control system plus breakdown control available as a further option. Also debuting was a new manual control system for up to 48 chain hoists. With the remote control, which is equipped with a 5.7" touch screen, runs can be programmed, with positions and loads displayed individually. You can also conduct a group shutdown if required. ChainMaster also presented an update for its successful VarioLift, which makes it possible to run higher speeds.

Cyberhoist/XLNT

Details: 14 March 2016

Although only launched late last year, InMotion the 3D motion control software from Cyberhoist/XLNT has a new addition in the form of RC-1; as the name implies, it's a hand-held remote controller that enables direct control of a Cyberhoist system - especially useful at load-in/out by obviating the need for computer control connection. Also on show, the Cyberhoist 250 is a variable speed hoist (zero to 40m/min) with a 250kg capacity, plus the one-ton Cyberhoist 1000, again vary-speed up to a more modest 10m/min.

Lift Turn Move (LTM)

Details: 14 March 2016

Some nice, simple, low-tech electric travel trolleys were shown by lifting specialists, Lift Turn Move (LTM). These are currently in use on the Robbie Williams tour and soon to be seen on George Michael. This company has a knowledge base that sidesteps the expensive process of developing machinery from scratch - rather they find, or assemble, solutions from existing industrial suppliers. Invaluable.

Stage Technologies

Details: 14 March 2016

Connect is a service support software package from Stage Technologies, tailored to analyse critical data from any of the myriad installations made by this innovative theatrical motion control specialist. Essentially,a London-based secure server network is linked over the web directly to installation control systems, e.g. Nomad. Data, cue updates, button pushes, every operation of the system is recorded within minutes of it happening. Thus when faults occur, the 24/7 coverage provided at the London office means a technical examination of the distant installation can be analysed immediately.

Complex show systems, even those onboard cruise ships, can be supported, the much larger preliminary data can be stored directly onto the server by the Stage Technologies personnel who physically install the system. Thereafter, update data, being relatively much smaller, can be transmitted via

Baltic Stages

Details: 14 March 2016

Baltic Stages were exhibiting their Stage Deck range. Designed for the professional market, Stage Deck is also suitable for schools, churches etc. The Stage Deck PRO range is designed for frequent use, and featuresanti-skid facing. Load capacity is 750kg/sq.m.

Weifa Trussing

Details: 14 March 2016

Weifa Trussing from China illustrated their latest E Series trussing, designed for all sizes of exhibitions, shows and performance applications, plus their own tower systems and a selection of flightcases.

Wango's

Details: 14 March 2016

Wango's were busy changing the face of staging. As UK distributor for American manufacturer Staging Concepts, Wango's can offer a range of staging that requires only one tool to put together. With no working under decks, risk of injury has been reduced; the system is quick to assemble and Wango's say they have saved on truck size. Their primary focus is sales, but Wango's do have some hire stock too.

Roden Staal

Details: 14 March 2016

A powered line shaft winch (known as the RSSEM) from Dutch manufacturer Roden Staal is such an obvious idea, it's amazing no-one has thought of it sooner. With the growing pressure of Health and Safety legislation forcing many theatres to contemplate the cost of replacing their counterweight flying systems with motorised bars, the RSSEM offers a logical and more economical alternative. Based upon the premise that most shows require maybe 10 to 12 fly-bars, why not mount self-contained motorised fly-bars on beam trolleys that enable them to be flexibly repositioned up or down stage by tracking along a wall-mounted 'I' beam each side of stage?

LiteStructures

Details: 14 March 2016

LiteStructures premiered Digitruss, a cable-free, modular truss system that incorporates live power circuits and data tails within a single structure. The data rail can carry both DMX and the architectural protocol DALI, so both conventional and intelligent lighting can be directly attached to the truss without the need for extension cables.

Total Solutions Group

Details: 14 March 2016

Despite Total Solutions Group concentrating on stage sets for the production industry (George Michael was in rehearsal as PLASA took place), the company continues to sell from its traditional trussing and roofing range. A big 30m by 30m ground support system of Slick Super Beam has just departed for Israel, and another of identical dimension to Dubai, while similar-sized TFL roofs are on their way to the Esplanade in Singapore, and to Indian rental company Reynolds, based in Bangalore.

Also on the stand, and indeed sharing space with TSG at their base in Birmingham, was Specialz, the solution provider for the set build sector that requires innovation and 'new thinking' when it comes to interfacing electronics and scenic elements. Recent output has seen Specialz work appear on tour with Franz Ferdinand (animated full-size female manikin dancers) the Pet Shop Boys (an exten

Gala Systems

Details: 14 March 2016

Canada-based stage engineering manufacturer Gala Systems exhibited its understage lift systems and overstage prop handling machinery. The company reports that over 500 locations around the world now use its Spiralift tubular thrust screw lifts and motorised rigging systems.

Columbus McKinnon

Details: 14 March 2016

Columbus McKinnon and the Lodestar motor needs no introduction to the industry. Their presence at the show illustrated the massive range of Lodestars available for all types of lifting, moving and rigging applications. Their stand had a choice location near to the Bandit Bar and was also close to many of the company's distributors.

Verlinde/ Stagemaker

Details: 14 March 2016

Available in the EU only, the SM25 from Verlinde/ Stagemaker is an electric hoist with double brake and a 10:1 safety factor. Its powerless secondary brake, a simple drop ratchet lock, makes this unit fully BGV D8+ compliant. Also new is the SM2, a hoist contained within the same sized tiny body of the SM1 but which will drive 250kg at 4m per min.

Litec

Details: 14 March 2016

The TX series trussing system from Litec now has a re-engineered end plate made from special alloy that increases overall payload by 30%. The new end plate fits to the old one, but obviously the lower load rating applies; and the plate is now available on both standard and heavy duty ranges.

Not new, but an addition to the Libera roofing system is AlusFera - basically a series of parts that enables Libera's standard trussing type components to be used to create curved roof structures, complete with Luff groove fittings for taut and secure fabric fitting. A specially engineered central boss to make quarter hemispherical structures - so popular with the outdoor summer orchestral event scene - is also available.

Kinesys

Details: 14 March 2016

Kinesys showed several new innovations this year including the Elevation Beam Trolley system - complementing the Elevation Chain Hoist system. Based around a standard 'off the shelf' motorised trolley, a simple electrical modification allows it to be plugged into the Kinesys Elevation 1+ controller, providing variable speed control and positioning. The controller can be used for trolleys and a range of hoists, making it one of the most flexible systems available. Two new communications distribution products were also on show - the Array IP, an 8-port 10/100 Ethernet switch, and the Array 485.

Milos

Details: 14 March 2016

The theme for Czech Republic-based trussing manufacturer Milos was 'scale' - large format, high capacity etc. Their M950 is a quick truss system designed for speed, ease of use and strength, and capable of a 40m clear span for concerts and events. New tower products from Milos this year included the large-scale MT3 tower and the MRT2 PA tower.

Stage One help launch Range Rover

Details: 14 March 2016

Spain - The 07 Model Year Range Rover was launched recently with help from StageOne, who created a beautifully finished environment in a reception room of the La Florida GrandHotel, Barcelona for a series of launch presentations to motoring journalists fromEurope, Australia and Asia.

Working for communications agency, Cricket, to a high-class design from James Grey Design, the team at Stage One transformed the room. The work included trimming and cladding existing bookshelves and producing a number of graphic panels, which were then inserted amongst them. Several false walls were built, one to house two 50 inch plasma screens and one to create aproduction control room, both of which required trim detail, skirting etc. Finally a cable trough was built to run between the two new walls, which was designed to blend in with the existing hotel walls.

Ted Featonby, Stage One project

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