UK - Flightcase and audio speaker solutions specialist Penn-Elcom announces that Bristol based rack aficionados Rackz is to join the Penn Elcom Group, "bringing a wealth of experience in the field of 19 inch rack mounting design, construction and installation to the equation". Rackz is headed up by Dave Roberts, designer, innovator, engineer and musician.

Rackz will continue to operate exactly as is in its current set up, with Roberts at the helm and all staff staying onboard. They will service their own clients in addition to expanding Penn's current range of racking products and working on a host of new Penn racking-based projects.

Penn-Elcom has expanded its business steadily and specifically over the last two years, strengthening and consolidating its already robust activities in flightcase components and pro-audio peripherals.

Rackz and Penn Elcom have been wo

UK - J&C Joel played a major role in the refurbishment of 10 lecture theatres at the University of Manchester, the UK's largest university, installing 71 motorised acoustic / blackout banners within buildings in the university's city centre campus.

The units were designed to be discreet while effectively reducing sound reverberation and the amount of daylight entering the rooms. The units' protective housing was manufactured to be as small as possible and is powder coated, along with the fabric side guides, to match the walls of the lecture theatres.

The roller banners are operated via a single-phase tubular motor unit located within a ball raced roller that holds the fabric in place. The motor unit has built in travel limits and the system is operated using a simple hand held control.

The key to the units is the bonded wool serge fabric used. The client requested a fabric t

UK - The Theatres Trust, The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres, has announced its sixth annual conference, 'Delivering Sustainable Theatres' - on the challenge of achieving the triple bottom line.

Taking place on 12 June 2012 at Stratford Circus, next to the Olympic Park in East London, the Conference will explore how theatre buildings are managing their building's resources and addressing their future sustainability. The Conference takes place the day before the ABTT Theatre Show, allowing attendees and sponsors to take full advantage of these two London events.

The Conference will address the question of 'Delivering Sustainable Theatres' looking at how theatres are addressing the sustainability agenda in these rapidly changing times, and how they are providing a catalyst for social and economic recovery in the communities they serve. Conference speakers, sponsors an

China - Nike has just rolled out a new ad campaign in China that called on people to run, even at night in an attempt to challenge Chinese people, especially from big cities, to put on their running shoes.

As part of the campaign, Nike hosted Lunar Runs a 10 kilometre race, in three cities across China - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with the famous TV tower, the tallest building in the city, as the backdrop to the Guangzhou event.

Two full loaded trucks and a core crew from Star Orbit China which is a fully registered WFOE (Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise) made the 30 hour trip from its base in Shanghai to provide a 15m Orbit stage which hosted stage based activities for the 15,000 participants featuring live music, race winners and a few celebrities to jog a few memories that running is a fun activity that can be also done at night.

Jo Xie, Star's general manager

UK - The UK government has more than doubled the budget available for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies - from £40m to £81m.

The increase, which was announced in the latest London 2012 quarterly economic report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), comes from the £9.3bn public purse, which is in theory meant for building, infrastructure and security, while the ceremonies is paid for from the privately-raised funds of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games - money raised from the IOC, ticket sales and sponsorship.

In the DCMS report, Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, says: "The ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a unique opportunity to portray a positive image of the UK to a huge potential global audience - an estimated 1 billion people watched the openi

UK - With effect from Monday 21 November 2011 Independent Studio Services has moved to larger premises at: Low Green, Nowton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 5ND (Tel: 01284 765066).

The move has come about to facilitate the increased demand for the company's services of design, supply and installation of complete stage engineering mechanical facilities.

Under the leadership of MD Simon Caldwell, Independent Studio Services brings many years of experience providing mechanical and electrical engineering solutions to the performing arts industry, from initial design and planning, right through to the supply of hardware, and full installation.

Independent Studio Services also provides project management services on full stage equipment installations, interfacing with clients and contractors to ensure the most efficient, timely and safe execution of a project.

"Independent

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET)'s specialist rigging division has supplied a substantial quantity of Kinesys LibraCELL load cells to Rigorous Technology (RT), a new company specialising in load cell systems and motion control equipment rentals, for tours including Kings of Leon and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the latter via Knight Rigging Services (KRS).

Both RT's Dave Jolly and Yose Lawson are experienced users of Kinesys' various automation systems, and their compact, versatile LibraCELL.

The purchase was co-ordinated for AC-ET by Adam Beaumont in the Leeds office, described by Dave Jolly as "brilliant, knowledgeable and very supportive".

Beaumont comments: "It's great to see a new company investing in this technology, which we have been encouraging people to look at for some time. Systems like this offer a real safety advantage, which cannot be

UK - The Arena Group expanded Belfast's Odyssey Arena with temporary structures for the star studded 2011 MTV EMA on 6 November.

In order to host the MTV EMA the organisers had to extend the venue's facilities, so they entrusted Arena to install temporary structures including the glamorous red carpet with media area, luxurious artist dressing rooms and the artist restaurant. The private extension to the Odyssey created an environment where the international stars who included Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars could prepare prior to taking the stage to perform.

Arena planned the positioning of all structures, liaising with event manager Maggie Mouzakitis to maximise use of the limited available space between the Odyssey and the Premiere Inn Hotel adjacent to the historic docks where the Titanic was constructed.

The linked structures included a 20m by 40m doub

UK - After being an integral part of four highly successful outdoor shows by teen heart-throbs JLS in 2010, AP Security was asked back by promoter Dave Suter of Beat Up Music to lend the company's expertise to five more major shows in 2011.

Proving that contestants on TV's The X Factor don't need to win the show to have a successful career, the popular Jack the Lad Swing foursome followed last year's gigs by playing major shows at three football grounds - Hull KC Stadium, MK Dons Stadium and Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City - plus Lydiard Park in Swindon and the Matterley Bowl, near Winchester.

Manning the backstage and pit areas, AP's staff also passed on their knowledge and experience gained from the 2010 shows to the management at each venue.

"We worked closely with the clubs' stewards and stadium management, who are much more used to football crowds than

USA - After 30 years with J.R. Clancy, Bob Theis will step down from his position as chief executive officer on 31 December 2011. Theis will continue until July 2012 as an advisor to the board of Wenger Corporation, the company that owns J.R. Clancy.

Mike Murphy, who has served as president of Clancy since 2009, will become the company's top executive on 1 January 2012. He will retain the title of president.

In his 14 years with Clancy, Murphy has been integrally involved in sales, project management, new product development, and in supervision of some of the company's largest and most complex projects. He also developed and implemented the company's quality management program, which led to the company achieving ISO 9001registration.

"Under Bob's leadership, J.R. Clancy has grown significantly in capabilities and in the strength of its business practices," Murphy s

UK - Following the success of the launch of the British Military Tournament in 2010, this year's event was bigger and better, with the addition of participating units from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, plus the American military.

Taking place in Earls Court, the Tournament is one of the largest displays of military theatre anywhere in the world, pulling together the best elements of the world-famous Royal Tournament. Once again, Unusual Rigging supported the event, supplying a raft of equipment plus crew.

In addition to 400m of truss for lighting and PA equipment, Unusual also provided truss and rigging for the massive 'hockey scoreboard' projection screen, flown above the centre of the arena. Hidden inside the screen were elements such as climbing ropes, for use in the gymnastic display by the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, and a hot air balloon basket, which w

The Netherlands - At ISE 2012, Crestron will be displaying its new generation MC3, the first 3-Series control system powered by Core 3 OS. Developed and engineered like an IT platform, rather than an AV system, the 3-Series platform is designed to provide a foundation for powerful integrated building technology and advanced home control.

The MC3 combines the agility and speed of a computer operating system with the reliability of a network appliance, enabling real-time multitasking to seamlessly run up to 10 independent programmes simultaneously, all communicating with each other on the same platform, says the company. A fully-integrated 3-Series platform unleashes more processing power, faster speeds, more memory, enhanced security and powerful multitasking capabilities that simplify the design and implementation of integrated building management and home technology.

When per

France - October and November 2011 saw the fourth consecutive successful International Festival of Dance & Performance Arts (IFDPA) and International Gathering of Scottish Highland Dance (IGSHD) at Disneyland Paris.

Both events, organised and managed by Yorkshire event company Take Us 2 The Magic, gathered more than 40 dance schools from around the world performing and competing in front of hundreds of people. In total, more than 250 acts per event performed on the main stage located in the prestigious Disneyland Paris resort.

Take Us 2 The Magic approached Rosco as they needed a transportable yet durable floor which can take any type of dance (tap, freestyle, Ballet etc). Rosco supplied 160m (enough to cover 20m x 12m stage area) of the Adagio Tour chosen from the extensive range of performance floors Rosco is offering.

Adagio Tour is a vinyl surface which is specially suit

Columbia - Audio Concept CA, distributor for the Prolyte Group in Venezuela and Colombia, has recently added the Prolyte i-line range to its package of products and services.

With both the addition of a new office in Bogotá, Colombia and the opening of a vast new showroom in their Margarita offices, Audio Concept is steadily spreading the success of their company.

The addition of the i-line range to their package of Prolyte products is another step in answering the demands of their customers and local partners, says the company. "Bringing professional products, like Prolyte, into the market at affordable prices is an enormous stimulus. The introduction of the i-line range underlines the importance of not only supplying quality products at the best prices, but also backing this up with excellent availability and the best service and support you can get.

The first contai

UK - The fourth annual PLASA Focus: Leeds event launches today with a new website and a sold out floor-plan. The leading event for audio, video, lighting and staging technology in the north of England will be held on 17-18 April 2012, at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

Long-standing exhibitors such as White Light, Martin Audio, Martin Professional, J&C Joel, Shure, Avolites, Stage Electrics, Robe, Sennheiser, Hawthorn Theatrical and Clay Paky have been joined by a raft of new exhibitors, including Bose, d&b audiotechnik, LSC Lighting Systems, Midas, Topdeck Stage Systems, Pete Smith Inspections, JoeCo, Amber Sound, Audio Logic, English Braids, Experience Lighting, Isophase Audio, The Lectern Company, Showtex, Smoke Factory, CLD Distribution, ADB, Wirelessled.co.uk and Total Solutions.

Packed aisles and major UK product debuts have firmly established PLASA Focus as an unmi

UK - Blackout provided a comprehensive truss structure to help organisers extend facilities at the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, 20-27 November.

The atmosphere reached fever pitch with a record quarter of a million fans in London's O2 Arena enjoying Roger Federer's victory as the world's eight top seeds competed over the eight day tournament. More than 100 million global viewers watched the event on television and online.

Blackout worked closely with client Detail Management to create an interactive Fan Zone visitor experience, meeting the specifications of both the ATP organisers and the official tournament sponsors Barclays.

Tom Lambert, Blackout's project manager coordinated with Detail Management's managing director Jim Mason to install 800m of Prolyte H30V Truss and screen support, 95 corner pieces with 63 support legs and additional black drapes. The Fan Zone wa

UK - London- based automation specialist Kinesys has announced the first 2012 dates for their on-going product training programme, consisting of a series of two day courses and workshops covering the fundamentals of the technology and (in separate training sessions) both their Vector and K2 automation control systems.

The next two-day General Technical & Vector Control training course takes place on 11 and 12 January 2012 - for full details, please visit the Kinesys website (address below).

The training is held at Kinesys' new purpose designed facility, which has been created as an integral part of the recent expansion to the company's HQ in Hampton, West London, which has more than doubled the available square footage.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Currently training its fifth apprentice, Robert Simmons, lifting solutions provider Lift Turn Move, based in Bromborough on the Wirral, has already shown a commitment to training future engineers. This is set to continue with the announcement from director John Jones that the company will train a new apprentice each year for the next five years.

Simmons joined LTM in July at just 16 years of age, having just left school. Whilst still at school six months prior to joining LTM, he wrote to John Jones to ask about joining the company under the scheme. At the time there were no vacancies available but his initiative impressed, so when an opportunity arose, Robert was invited to interview and got the job.

Simmons joins Joe Griffiths in the workshop as the second apprentice currently being trained at LTM. Like Griffiths, he will be spending 12 months in the warehouse receiving

USA - Free registration is now open for the PLASA Focus: Austin 2012 Professional Development Programme, a two-day programme of free educational seminars and workshops, running alongside PLASA Focus: Austin, on 22-23 February, 2012.

The programme has been designed by some of the industry's leading names and presents an opportunity for visitors to broaden their specialist knowledge and contribute to discussions about innovative projects and techniques, say organiser PLASA Events.

"Giving people the opportunity to develop their professional knowledge is key to the success of PLASA Focus: Austin 2012," comments PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths. "We're creating an opportunity to talk about the choices behind major projects in the region, from the Austin City Limits studio and The Long Center for Performing Arts, to seminars as broad and far-reaching as the use of lightin

USA - Tom Young, vice-president of marketing at J.R. Clancy since 1998, has announced his plans to leave at the end of 2011 due to a health issue.

Young arrived at Clancy in 1993 to take the position of international sales representative, bringing the company more than 20 years' prior experience in engineering, sales and marketing of theatrical lighting at Skirpan Lighting, and Colortran Inc, and rigging systems at Hoffend, Inc. At J.R. Clancy, his capabilities drove the expansion of sales overseas, helping to make the company a significant player in major projects in Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.

A company statement notes: "As Clancy's vice-president of marketing, Young built the company's reputation as the leading manufacturer of theatre rigging systems in the United States. When the company's focus expanded to include off-the-shelf automated rigging prod

UK - Following the announcement yesterday (20 December) of Westminster School's purchase of Lawrence Hall from the Royal Horticultural Society, organisers of the ABTT 2012 Theatre Show moved swiftly to announce the event will be transferring to a new venue.

The Show's director, Roger Fox, spoke to assure both exhibitors and visitors that the 2012 Show would be going ahead, explaining: "This announcement has come as a surprise to us today and at a time when planning for the 2012 Show was well advanced. Discussions to secure an alternative venue are already in progress, which we see as also an opportunity to offer improved facilities for our exhibitors and visitors."

At present it is unsure if the Show's previously published June 2012 dates will be available at an alternative venue, but all effort is being made to avoid changes to the timing of this important annual ev

UK - London- based drape, soft goods and dressing specialists Cover It Up finished one of their busiest years to date continuing to supply solutions to a diversity of projects including high profile sporting events like the AEGON Masters Tennis tournament at the Royal Albert Hall and the Red Bull F1 Racing End of Season Party at Silverstone's The Wing.

Cover It Up has supplied various draping elements to the annual AEGON Masters Tennis event for the last eight years, working for IMG Events.

The brief this year included helping to transform the RAH's famous 'Gods' upper circle gallery area into a series of functional spaces and VIP bays. For the VIP areas, the requirement was to create luxurious and comfortable spaces for the enjoyment of key guests accessing the hospitality facilities.

This was achieved this year by blacking out half of the gallery area and dividing the othe

UK - Black Light has used its rigging and working at heights expertise to help a high-profile leisure centre refurbishment meet its completion deadline. The company used innovative thinking and a bespoke access system to reach a malfunctioning high-level LED lighting feature at the Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline. This tricky repair challenge was jeopardising the scheduled hand-over of the newly renovated centre.

"The client and main contractors on this job were Fife Council, Balfour Beatty and Barr Construction," said Phil Haldane, Black Light's head of company development. "They were very impressed with the system we devised and our professional approach to the work. Most importantly, they were delighted with the result and the hassle-free outcome to what would otherwise have been a significant sticking point for their project."

The main challenge

UK - On 1 January 2012 Elstree Light and Power (ELP) became the new owners of production rigging services company, Nippy Industries.

ELP has always had one foot in the rigging world as part of its mainstream lighting production offering, and has delivered various bespoke film and TV rigging projects in the past. This move sees a huge up-scaling in terms of the range of rigging equipment and expertise available from a single source.

Nippy Industries Managing Director, Steven Williams says: "Nippy will be absorbing ELP rigging, not the other way round. As such the quality standards of ELP rigging will be elevated to that of a dedicated rigging services company. Nippy Industries will remain able to supply the full range of services, as always, but with the vast addition of ELP equipment. We will remain in the same location, with the same core team, but gain additional ELP st

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