Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

Marjon Franken of the Dutch ShowTex office comments, "The curtains and stage motion systems had to be gorgeous and versatile for this show. Each of the 39 performances had their own look and feel. Thomas Nysveen, Kirsten Weltzin, Bonsak Schieldrop, Audun Stjern and Trond Olav Erga from this year's host broadcaster NRK the Norsk Rikskringkasting created the stage."

The round stage featured a ShowTex Kabuki modular drop system, DekoSilk semi-sheer Venetia drapes and projection surfaces, Choucroute Heavy, PolyStretch dimensional sculptures, Molton CS backdrops, DekoTaft wall drapes, and ShowLED Chameleon RGB starcloth systems.

For the top Belgian entry by Tom Dice, Me and My Guitar, ShowTex Molton CS masked light perfectly and ShowLED

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14 March 2016

"An interactive news feed section has been added to the website, allowing visitors to the site to be kept fully informed of the latest new product releases and project news from Hoist UK and our leading suppliers" comments Tony Dickson, director of Hoist UK. "The case studies section allows our existing and of course our new customers to see the exciting projects and installations that we have been involved with."

Fellow Director Paul Jordan comments, "As we continue to grow as a company, it is extremely important that our customers, and potential customers have easy access to product information, downloads, and new product updates."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Says 5 Star's Keith Sykes: "ABTT has always been a good show for us. The atmosphere is friendly and not too frantic, and it allows time to network, mix and talk business with our clients and friends in a semi-social environment."

The latest new product is a portable lectern system, which comes complete with integral heavy industrial grade case. This has been developed to address all the frustrating and time consuming issues surrounding setting up lecterns.

5 Star's stylish lectern is manufactured from birch plywood which is CNC machined at their factory in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on one of three Thermwood CNC machining centres. It is aimed at AV rental companies operating

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14 March 2016

Litestructures immediately established a working relationship with the professional and ambitious young team, and once the drawings were signed off in February, Litestructures started work on the build with impressive results: the main structure is built from two-tier aluminium trussing in LitePro 290/390 with a brushed finish crowned

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14 March 2016

The announcement comes on the back of lengthy consultations with both sets of memberships which concluded recently in a formal vote of Members - PLASA via its annual AGM, which took place on Wednesday 2 June in London, and ESTA via a month-long electronic ballot which ran throughout May.

Well over 90% of Members from each Association voted in support of the move, which will see ESTA and PLASA integrated to create a single international trade association operating under the PLASA name.

"The merger is a significant development for the industry as it will effectively create the first

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14 March 2016

The team took the style, presentation and aesthetics up a few notches from previous years, setting a new benchmark and delivering an extravaganza fitting to the stature and profile of the occasion, which included 13 live performances plus numerous awards.

All technical production elements were supplied by Gearhouse South Africa. It was broadcast live by SABC1, and the event was project managed for Gearhouse by Bonni Meyer.

The 46 metre wide by 27 metre deep set featured multiple performance areas. "It is

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14 March 2016

The award for best 'Outstanding event using a temporary venue / structure' was judged by a panel of international event professionals, who commended the innovation and high standards achieved at the inaugural Bahrain International Airshow 2010.

FIL appointed Arena Lea (an Arena Group partnership with Lea International) to design and construct the 5-star facility for the world's first guest invitational VIP aerospace trade exhibition with designated public areas on behalf of the organisers, the Civil Aviation Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain (CAA).

The award presented by 'Sourceme' was collected by Arena Structures managing director Grahame Muir and Harlequin Arena CEO Paul Berger at the gala dinner attended by over 600 guests in

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14 March 2016

flywire utilised two BigTow winches from Stage Technologies with Illusionist control, FTSI Fastrack and diverter pulleys from flywire's Steelwork range. The system was used for the 'reveal' at the top of the show. Mika, clad in an astronaut suit was raised off stage up to a preset of 12m. On cue Mika flew down in a stable curved flight path, finally descending onto the half moon stage centre to rapturous applause. The flying system was used for a further two effects later in the show, flying a scenic tree and spaceship.

flywire offers automation touring solutions for performer, camera and scenic effects. Winches and track mount to all standard truss configurations and utilising bespoke wheel brackets offer effici

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14 March 2016

"From the Royal Ballet School to Ant & Dec and the Nobel Peace Price, Le Mark floors have been the focus point of many dance performances and TV & Film sets for over 25 years. The new site gives readers the opportunity to see the potential offered to the overall look and feel of a performance/event by a spectacular Le Mark floor with some great application photos.

"I'd also like to give a huge thank you to all our customers who helped us with the amazing photos," says business development director Mark Gibbons.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The equipment was supplied by lighting contractor PRG and the movement was an integral element of LD Al Gurdon's design for the event.

This year's show was a departure from an LED-heavy televisual aesthetic and introduced several different theatrical elements that looked spectacular, both for the TV audience and the 18,000 people watching in the arena. The automation system allowed a completely different and dynamic scene to be created for each of the 39 competing countries.

The Kinesys system was used to raise and lower a 130m wide upstage lighting wall running the entire width

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14 March 2016

Recent high profile acts utilising Kinesys products on their shows include U2, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Snow Patrol, Elton John, Massive Attack, Take That, The Prodigy and the Pussycat Dolls.

Under the agreement, AC-ET will provide full sales service and support for the Kinesys product range, including using its own equipment systems stock to offer demos on-site or at the company's in-house facilities. AC-ET will also provide authorised warranty repairs and servicing in the near future.

AC-ET recently showed the Kinesys Libra loadcell and Elevation 1+ motion control systems at PLASA Focus. The Libra is a fully featured digital loadcell system utilising a load measuring sh

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14 March 2016

The PowerChiton, with its IP66 protection classification, is billed as "a practically bomb-proof amplifier-in-a-shell". The IP66 rating confirms ingress protection (IP) for persons (such as electrical safety) and equipment (dust, dirt and water penetration). The latter makes PowerChiton amplifiers suitable for outdoor installations for protection against the elements. Its low-profile, modular design also gives systems designers and integrators the freedom and flexibility to place the amplifiers closer to the loudspeaker (including

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14 March 2016

Running alongside the established international trade show, PLASA 2010, this special event is the first of its kind for the event and entertainment rigging community and promises to be an invaluable industry forum.

Unusual Rigging's Alan Jacobi, Star Events Group's Roger Barrett, Prolyte's Marc Hendriks, CM ET's Cristiano Giavedoni and Sapsis Rigging's Bill Sapsis are among the line-up of international speakers confirmed.

Bill Sapsis of Sapsis Rigging in Philadelphia comments, "In the past 10 years alone, the event and entertainment rigging industry has experienced incredible growth and change. The PLASA International Rigging Conference offers a unique opportunity to meet with colleagues and peers from across the world

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14 March 2016

Baishakhi Mela is the biggest Bengali event in Europe and features a mix of a colourful parade, live music, DJs, dance, costume, arts, crafts and the best Bengali food outside of Bengal itself.

It was AP Security's second year providing staff at the event, the company's long working relationship with both the Metropolitan Police and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets ensuring that its safety and stewarding was seamlessly integrated.

"The Mela is a complex event and all our staff need to have a very clear understanding of what's required," say

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14 March 2016

'Ballman' as he has become dubbed, is a World Cup project for sportswear brand Nike. He is comprised from 537 x 2 mm steel wire rope drops each containing specific numbers of balls.

The atrium of the Carlton Centre is being used as a Nike event and exhibition space for the duration of the tournament. Summit was initially approached by structural engineers, Leeds based Ratcliff Fowler Design, who designed the sculpture for Nike, and then needed some serious rigging expertise for the very intricate installation.

Prior to being sea freighted to South Africa, a complete Ballman test-build took place at Magna, the Science Ad

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14 March 2016

Promoted at the event, Prolyte Theatre Products is a strategic alliance of partners Prolyte Products Group, Silicon Theatre Scenery and Silk Production Design, focusing on the theatre market.

"We have valuable know-how to offer to this audience of architects, consultants, installers and theatre professionals; not to lecture, but to add to and share with the already existing knowledge. This conference offers a special mutual leaning opportunity for the benefit of our customers and end-users" states Michiel van der Zijde, product manager for Prolyte Theatre Products.

The presence of Prolyte Theatre Products as Gold Sponsor at the ITEAC is supported by a team of sales and technical representatives who will be attending the confe

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14 March 2016

The GC Brasserie, (taking its name from the initials of the German Centre where it is based in the Pudong region of Shanghai), is a beautifully designed modern interpretation of a traditional French Brasserie.

Whilst the 100 cover restaurant with its adjoining BBQ and Beer Garden is serviced by its own dedicated kitchen, the impressive facilities extend a further 400sq.m, built to the latest catering requirement under Chinese law. Already these facilities have been put to work with clients queuing up for the outside catering services offered by GIG Asia. Already

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14 March 2016

Kim Akester from ShowTex South Africa explained the challenges of printing on such a grand scale, "We started with a design depicting a figure playing football. Since the dance floor rolls are 150 cm wide, the print had first to be divided over these panels at just the right spot. Then, after printing, came the intricate work of matching up all the panels on the stage and attaching them without visible seams.

"Not only did the lines and the colours have to blend into each other to recreate the image, the wide a

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14 March 2016

SES's Gordon Cooper commented, "Despite our usual heavy demand for our products during the summer season, we managed to produce the power requirement for the racecourse a day ahead of schedule, ensuring that demands were met by the racecourse for its vendors.

"A wide range of products have been supplied over the past few weeks but this last minute order really did put us to the test, and we are very pleased that we were able to meet expectations. This time of the year is always a very busy time for us and this has been added to with two exceptional exhibitions namely PALME in Dubai and PLASA Focus.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

5 Star will be showcasing specialist cases aimed primarily at the aerospace, military and engineering sectors, all of which will be displayed on a purpose-built exhibition stand designed specially for FIA 2010. The stand was also built by the 5 Star team at their facility in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

It is the first time that 5 Star has participated in the show. "It reflects a growing interest from new sectors in our products, and our intention to diversify and expand," explains Keith Sykes. In the past 2 years, 5 Star has designed and built bespoke tool cases for the Red Bull Air Race pilots and also cased a number of racing cars.

(Jim

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14 March 2016

LTM recently purchased 100% of the shares in COW Lifting Technology - the Aichach (near Munich, Germany) based manufacturer of BGV C1 and SIL 3 chain hoists, winch and control systems.

Together the two companies offer solutions for most lifting and control applications within the entertainment industry.

LTM is showing the LoadGuard electric chain hoists in capacities from 250kg to 5 tonnes as standard rigging hoists and to all current European entertainment standards.

COW Lifting Technology is showing the C-Force range of hoists, winches and control systems. C-Force products specialise in fixed or variable speed hoist and control systems to BGV C1 and up to SIL 3 performance standards.

Also on d

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14 March 2016

Showsec operations director Simon Battersby was appointed as the festival's head of security, prior to seven months strategic planning that led into coordinating 1300 security professionals and stewards at the event. Headline acts AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine and Aerosmith were among 125 bands entertaining the dedicated rock fans over three days.

Battersby comments, "Live Nation were keen to have a more co-ordinated overriding security operation which managed the increased size and scale of Download this year more effectively. My new role within the festival management team meant that I engaged all stakeholders from Leicestershire police, licensing autho

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14 March 2016

"We wanted a concise document that gives good advice on the best type of access equipment to use in a theatre, given the constraints that some venues bring," said Andrew De Rosa, ABTT CEO.

"Working at heights is dangerous. All the way through the book we emphasise that formal training by qualified instructors is required and that equipment that looks easy to use can seriously injure you, and others, if used improperly."

The publication is in seven sections and after a general introduction, deals with Powered Access Equipment, Access Towers, Tallescopes, Ladders, Step Ladders

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14 March 2016

The show was broadcast to tens of millions of music and football fans worldwide on 10 June, the night before the first match.

The eclectic mix of African and international artists was executive-produced by Los Angeles-based Control Room whose technical director, Jim Baggott, and Gearhouse's project manager Bill Lawford oversaw all technical disciplines offered by the Gearhouse Group.

Gearhouse Audio supplied all audio equipment along with Britannia Row with whom Gearhouse has a long-standing relationship. These elements included racks-and-stacks for the main stage and B stage, with Britannia Row supplying front-of-house and monitor consoles, all the RF equipment - mics and IEMs - plus a crew of