UK - Wisbech-based flightcase manufacturer 5 Star has again provided a case solution for UK DJ equipment specialist, Pioneer.

Following the success of the Pro-420FLT and Pro-440FLT mini consoles, Pioneer required a custom designed case to house its latest professional DJ system, the MEP-7000 multi entertainment player and controller, which also includes a 19" mixer such as the DJM-3000. The DJM-700 mixer can also be housed via the 19" rack conversion.

Pioneer and 5 Star worked closely from the outset of the project to achieve a value added' product with numerous eatures and Pioneer branding.

"Pioneer has a great relationship with 5 Star", says Pioneer's Paul Beardsall. "We simply supply a brief for a new project and they have a remarkable ability to produce and deliver the goods. Design flare, an eye for detail and a superb production turnaround real

UK - Showsec secured the Brit Awards 2009 with at Earls Court and simultaneously, they played an instrumental part in the War Child Benefit gig at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, with some artists appearing at both venues.

Showsec's Operations Director Simon Battersby managed the Brits project, liaising with organisers from the BPI and production management M.J.K. and Earls Court. He said, "This is the second year that we have worked at the BRITs and the smooth, assured manner in which we undertook such a complex operation underlines the professionalism and capabilities that are present at all levels within our team."

Maggie Crow, event director for The BRIT Awards 2009 noted: "Showsec provided the most exemplary security at this years' BRITs. My feedback has been every guest - and there are over 12,000 of them who are all treated as VIPs - were welcomed and dire

UK - A 15-way Kinesys automation system was in action recently on the Strictly Come Dancing Live UK arena tour. This was specified by the tour's production director Andy Gibbs of producer Phil McIntyre Productions and follows on from the success of a six-way system that they hired for last year's tour.

The system consisted of 15 half tonne Liftket motors and Kinesys Elevation 1+ controllers, plus a Vector control system operated by Barry Branford.

Six bespoke scenic chandeliers, suspended from a box truss in the centre of the dancefloor move individually. Eight small mirror balls on single points around the outside of the dancefloor and a large 2.5m mirror ball right in the centre of the dancefloor were also automated.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Branding specialist Sunbaba opens the doors of its new London studio this week. The studio will be managed by account director Jonathan Booth.

The addition comes as Sunbaba's work with London-based agencies and for events in the capital increased in the last 12 months, prompting the need for a London office for clients to discuss complicated branding projects and see Sunbaba in action, says the company.

Sunbaba launched a range of new products in 2008 for both indoor and outdoor events, expanding the range from air permeable fabrics for outdoor branding to include correx board, voiles and soft fabrics and a range of eco-friendly products.

Jonathan Booth said: "Having a base in London makes us more accessible to our clients in the capital. Customers are welcome to drop into the studio at any time to see fabric samples, review artworks or simply to have a coffee and

UK - MTFX was at the Brit awards at Earls Court providing confetti 'butterfly effects' for Chris Martin from Coldplay.

This consisted of three cues, one on each of the chorus of Viva la Vida. To produce the effect the producers hired 12 of MTFXs Confetti storms, four extra large venturi blowers, three extra large spinners and 250kgs of red, white and blue Butterfly confetti.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The achievements of Arena Seating were recognised at the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA)'s Annual Tributes this year, when the company was awarded the trophy for best supplier.

The award, sponsored by Access All Areas, was presented to Arena Seating's sales director Dave Withey by promoter Harvey Goldsmith and TV's Ed Stewart. It recognised Arena Seating's track record of service and innovation at events like Wimbledon, Red Bull Air Races, X Factor, the Hyde Park festivals and many other events.

"We're delighted to receive this NOEA Annual Tribute, which we feel reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at Arena Seating," said Dave Withey. "It is a privilege to win the recognition of our industry peers and we look forward to working with many NOEA members at every type of event over the next 12 months."

(Jim Evans)

USA - In an effort to effectively insure life safety and maintain the structural integrity of the space, the award-winning San Diego Convention Centre has revised its rigging requirements. Among the new requirements, the policy states that all rigging installations must be done under the supervision of a rigging supervisor who is certified through the Entertainment Technician Certification Programme (ETCP).

"As an early supporter of the Entertainment Technician Certification Programme, we at I.A.T.S.E. Local 122, understand the value of supporting the vision of ETCP to provide a benchmark set to establish the skill levels of technicians within our profession," said Carlos Cota, I.A.T.S.E. 122's business agent. "So, when the San Diego Convention Centre proposed a change in their rigging policy stating that there would be an ETCP certified rigger on every rigging ca

Japan - Prolyte has announced the official launch of a new sales office in Japan. The combined Prolyte and Doughty sales office is a branch of Prolyte Asia Pacific.

The Tokyo based office is equipped with a warehouse that stocks a broad range of Prolyte and Doughty products, which enables PAP to gain competitive edge when delivering the products within a shorter lead-time, says the company.

Mr. Mutsuo Osawa is managing director for Prolyte Doughty Japan Incorporation (PDJ). He brings considerable experience from both the entertainment and the advertising industry, having worked for Theatre Engineering Co Ltd and headed many international campaigns, ranging from changing corporate/brand image to launching of new product for Fujitsu, Canon and Nissan.

In order to provide maximum service to customers and users, a Japanese website as well as a translation of the main Prolyte bro

UK - The Royal Shakespeare Company is the first production company to use the first automation-linked lighting control system that has been designed by Stage Technologies.

The recent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Novello Theatre implemented the F:light system, which allows moving lights to follow the motion of automated scenery and performers, whilst remaining fully under the lighting designer's control. The system enabled technical staff to finely tune the lighting of the aerial scenes and maximise magical effects - in this case, Titania, Oberon and Bottom taking to the air in the aura of a striking full moon.

Often flying effects are used in situations that require highly accurate lighting in order not to reveal 'the trick'. Stage Technologies recognised that there was a distinct gap between lighting and automation. The F:light concept came about to b

Macau - Situated on Macau's glittering Cotai Strip, a peninsula known as "Asia's Las Vegas" that connects the islands of Taipa and Coloane, the City of Dreams is steadily climbing skywards. Melco-PBL's glamorous casino resort will include Hyatt, Hard Rock and Crown Towers hotels, as well as an apartment hotel, that will offer 2,200 rooms and suites for visitors from nearby Hong Kong, mainland China, and further afield.

The crowning attraction of the many multi-media and live entertainment venues within the complex will be the Dragone aqua spectacular, which is scheduled to première towards the end of 2009. The resort's permanent show is expected to dazzle audiences with the same imaginative flair as previous Dragone productions such as Le Rève and A New Day.

Designed by the renowned architectural office, Pei Partnership of New York, the City of Dream'

Germany - Rigging Europe will show several new products at the 2009 Prolight + Sound Show in Frankfurt. Highlights will include the worldwide launch of the new Kinesys Evo vari-speed hoist controller from the UK, plus the latest Lodestar and Coffing chain hoist products from Columbus McKinnon.

Rigging Europe is a new company formed from a partnership between two of Europe's most experienced and well respected sales companies - Louis Reyners from the Netherlands and Sonoss from France. Conceived as a one-stop rigging supplier, RE works all over Europe embracing multiple entertainment industry sectors - concert touring, theatre, film and TV, corporate and special events and installations and venues of all types - distributing a full range of the highest quality rigging and automation products from leading international brands.

The Evo is the new precision variable speed chain ho

UK - Summit Steel and PRG Lighting are supplying a complete rigging package to the current ll Divo UK and European tour. The package, co-ordinated by Jon Bray for Summit and the tour's production director Mark Ward, includes trussing, motors, rigging and control, which is being used to facilitate the hanging of audio, video, special effects and lighting.

During the pre-planning stage the tour's production rigger Jim Allison, Jon Bray and PRG Lighting's crew chief Ben Holdsworth collaborated closely in planning the hoist control and cable routing alongside lighting.

The majority of the rig has to be linked by cable runs, which then requires a simultaneous lift of 37 hoists over a wide area. The Summit Steel six-way rack mounted controllers were specified for this task. The complete control system is housed in a single dolly combining several control units and power distribution

UK - Trade distributor Impact Products (Europe) Ltd, has announced that its South London branch, operated by parent company Solutions Group (UK) Plc, is relocating to brand new purpose-built premises in the Belvedere area of Kent.

The move is scheduled to take place during the first weekend of April, in time for the new unit to be open and operational from Monday 6 April 2009. Just 6 miles away from their previous home, the new site is conveniently located just off the A2016 dual carriageway on the Belvedere Business Park.

Ample free parking directly outside the trade counter and warehouse entrances makes stock handling for both collection and delivery much quicker and far more convenient, whilst a much larger storage area means increased stockholding, with a greater quantity of products available immediately from stock.

Commenting on the new premises, Solutions Group sales

UK - Eat To The Beat has won the contract to provide dressing room and the production team catering at this year's V Festival in Chelmsford.

Mary Shelley-Smith, Eat To The Beat operations director said, "We are delighted to be adding this prestigious festival to our extensive roster of high profile summer events. The backstage catering has become a key ingredient in the success of the festivals we have become regulars at, thanks to great staff, equipment and expertise. We have previously worked with V Festival in the USA through our American office so to also be working with this one on our home turf is an honour."

Eat To The Beat has over 25 years of tour, location and festival catering experience spanning across the music, film, television and production sectors. During that time they have secured many long term festivals contracts including Glastonbury, Reading an

Czech Republic - Milos recently staged a successful and comprehensive Technical Workshop event at its facility near Prague.

Attended by 30 individuals representing rental and staging companies from all industry sectors and Milos users from across Europe, the two-day event was designed to highlight new and key products in the Milos range of trussing, staging and roofing systems. It also focused on the services and support offered by the company.

Jeff Broitman from Milos America kicked off the proceedings with an introductory speech, followed by a tour around the xtensive manufacturing facility. This enabled attendees to see first hand all the elements involved in the manufacturing process, including cutting and automatic welding, all types of trusses, the production of circles and other shapes and special projects, control, packing and final products. It also included the Milos

USA - In February 2009, a team of instructors and about 70 participants from all over the United States and Canada travelled to Midland, Texas to attend Tomcat's Hoist and Truss workshop and Rigging and Truss workshop.

The Hoist and Truss workshop featured the disassembly and reassembly of a one ton Lodestar as well as a Prostar with Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon. Dave Sowa of Tomcat USA led a discussion on control systems and also coached an advanced troubleshooting session along with CM's Dave Carmack. Instruction was rounded out by Dana Bartholomew of Fisher Technical Services who gave instruction and demonstrations on automation.

G. Anthony Phillips, of RigRider Rigging Services and ETCP certified rigger and instructor taught safe rigging practices and principles while Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances gave instruction on fall protection practices and equipment. Pa

USA - J. R. Clancy now includes a three-year warranty, provided that the owner completes a maintenance and safety inspection of their new rigging each year by an authorised J. R. Clancy dealer.

"We want the end-users of our equipment to be successful," said Tom Young, vice president of marketing for J. R. Clancy. "Motorised equipment is more complex than manual equipment, and it needs more specialised inspection and maintenance. We want our users to have trouble-free systems, and the best way to ensure this is to have the equipment inspected regularly by a trained professional.

"OSHA requires an annual inspection of all overhead lifting systems," Young continued. "But many facilities do not inspect and maintain rigging systems in their stages. As the first rigging manufacturer to offer a three-year warranty on motorised rigging, we can emphasize t

USA - The rigging system of the Strand Theatre in Lakewood, New Jersey was recently renovated by RDM Rigging of Pine Beach, New Jersey. Opened in 1922, the Strand Theatre remains a popular centre for plays, musicals and touring productions.

As part of the rigging renovation, all the on stage circuitry and associated support structures were replaced. The new on stage lighting rig includes 18ft of ProSpan box truss, 20 ProBurger couplers, three CM half-ton chain motors and a Skjonberg motor control system. The custom-designed on stage lighting system includes 150 stage circuits, using 59 custom ProCable assemblies as well as a 96 circuit custom multi-connector panel. Equipment was supplied by TMB.

"We had to design a complete system specific to the theatre's needs," says Rich DiMinno, of RDM Rigging. "It was conceived, designed, and installed in 30 days. Because o

Germany -, Prolyte will debut four new products at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt.

Prolyte Space Roof is a a modular roof system; Prolyft Mark IIIis the latest version of the Prolyft hoist; Prolyft Controllers are a new range of high-end but affordable controllers, and there will also be more in the Prolyft Rigging hardware line.

Also on display will be established Prolyte trussing products and Stage DEX.

(Jim Evans)

UK - During the months of June and July, the Forestry Commission hosts a highly successful live music tour at rural woodland venues across the UK. AP Security has provided crowd safety services on the majority of the sites for the last six years. This year, its remit has expanded to encompass the entire schedule.

"We're delighted to be working with the Forestry Commission again this year," says AP's national sales manager, John Phillips. "We're even more pleased to have the opportunity to work on every site this year."

Rachael Miller, events manager for the Forestry Commission, comments, "We take the safety and security of our concert-goers very seriously. AP has provided a top quality service for us in the past and we look forward to working with them again this year."

(Jim Evans)

UK - In response to the Health & Safety (Offences) Act 2008, which came into force in January 2009, ForeFront Training has been launched to offer a range of cost effective, dynamic, practical and motivational health & safety training courses. Specialists in manual lifting and handling training, ForeFront says it offers a complete service, tailored to individual business requirements and if necessary around existing work patterns, to enable organisations to comply with current legislation regarding health and safety.

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 places an absolute duty on employers to provide suitable and sufficient training to all staff, for their health, safety and welfare.

Dave McDonald, principal consultant and head trainer at ForeFront says, "Health and Safety is evolving and moving away from traditional concepts

USA - Hoists manufactured by Vortek, a Division of Daktronics, are centre stage in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the Dallas Centre for the Performing Arts. The custom hoists manipulate seating sections along with Vortek Pro Series hoists in an advanced fly system. This innovative theatre design was commissioned by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas.

The theatre consultant, Michael Nishball, of Theatre Projects Consulting said, "When direct lift, multipart-line in a high capacity hoist is required, there is no group with as much experience as the Vortek team at Daktronics. At this point, it's clear to me that this is going to be a very successful power flying and controls installation."

Scheduled for completion in October 2009, this 74,915sq.ft facility has 12 stories and seats approximately 600 people. The vertically stacked floors are unlike the tra

Germany - Prolyte has teamed up with two specialist companies for its Theatre Projects range. Partners Silicon Theatre Scenery and Silk both have a wealth of practical experience in providing staging and theatrical solutions. With their shared knowledge, Prolyte, STS and Silk are able to translate the specific technical requirements of the theatrical environment into comprehensive solutions and the appropriate products to match.

The first fruits of these collaborations will be seen at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt, where the Performer Fly System, a modular fly system, built in a H40V truss, approved at SIL 3 levels will be shown alongside a new winch for stage and theatre use.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The latest phase in Litestructures' studio's development will be to create a dedicated, permanent exhibition space within the building. This will be accessible to performers, technicians, riggers and all production crew and visitors. As such, it will provide a sales and display opportunity for companies and organisations offering products and services to this important industry sector, says the company.

Those interested in supporting this venture and in exploiting the potential it represents should contact Laurie Giraudeau or Ben Brooks to discuss their detailed requirements or to explore the options and alternatives.

Litestructures exhibition will be based around well lit spaces for exhibitors created from Litestructures trussing and staging products, giving an attractive display for all participants. The maximum booth size will be 4m2 per exhibitor.

(Jim Evans)

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