World - European trussing manufacturer Milos has launched its new corporate website.

This features "a cool, contemporary design and a fresh new, intuitive user-interface, slickly optimised for fast, straightforward navigation by product, market sector and application".

A number of special features have been developed to ensure that Milos clients and users have access to a powerful, constantly updated online portal, containing a wealth of information to make purchasing or planning for upcoming projects and investments quick and simple, says the company.

A new Shopping List feature soon to be activated will dispatch the customer's 'Shopping List' directly to one of Milos' sales consultants to streamline and prioritise the ordering process.

www.milosgroup.com will include all details on Milos's comprehensive range of aluminium trussing products including QuickTruss,

UK - Smoke Factory UK, the London based distributor, are launching their new range of LED Fixtures at PLASA Focus Leeds, where they are exhibiting for the first time.

Alongside the new Kandolite LED range will be the full range of Smoke Factory haze and fog machines.

On show for the first time in the UK is the Kandolite range of LED fixtures. These Chinese manufactured units have been built to rigorous European specifications and to a high build quality, says the company. On view will be both 36 and, a 60 LED 3 watt Par fixtures. RGBAW 3 watt Battens and Cyc Lights, outdoor 1 watt and 3 watt LED IP67 Wall Wash units and a powerful moving Wash Light complete the range.

The Smoke Factory catalogue will feature the ever dependable Tourhazer 2, the original industry standard for haze machines. Alongside will be the CaptainD, Data2, Scotty2 and the rest of the Smoke Factory colle

Europe - Award-winning set fabrication company, Brilliant Stages, which was recently voted Staging Company of the Year at the Event Production Awards and Favourite Set Construction Company at the TPi Awards, has designed and fabricated four main staging elements for Rammstein's Made In Germany 1995 - 2011 tour, the re-vamped second leg of which is currently touring Europe.

Production and lighting designer, Roy Bennett, worked closely with long-term collaborator, Peter Aquinde, to create an urban set with focal points including a 3.9m diameter industrial theme 'Mega Fan' comprising seven blades on a central cradle. This is driven by a geared slew drive with a top rotation speed of 15rpm.

The central hub is supported by four structural frames and the outer casing fabricated to break down into eight sections assembled with truss connections. These pieces have been welded together

UK - JTE's new innovative Low-Prow pre-rigged moving light truss is currently on tour with Snow Patrol supplied by HSL.

This new versatile truss is made from high load capacity 6061 T6 aluminium and allows lighting to be pre-rigged inside the truss. The 'roll on, roll off' ability dramatically reduces the load in and out times. The trusses with the dollies are on castors and are stackable while being transported and during shows the dollies can be folded and also stacked.

HSL's managing director Simon Stuart states, "The new truss has caused a stir to say the least! It's the best truss I've seen for a long time and I would love to exchange all our other options of moving light truss to this one. In my opinion this will put JTE back in the game, I can see a lot of our clients using this product in the future."

(Jim Evans)

Canada - William F White International Inc. has become official distributors for the full Dirty Rigger gloves and accessories range.

With six offices across Canada, their industry knowledge and high company profile is a great addition to the Dirty Rigger distribution network which is rapidly expanding across the whole of North America, says the company.

National expendables manager Vicki Brown says, "The Dirty Rigger products are well made, innovative and useful and as they are made especially to meet the unique requirements of our market, they will certainly be a perfect addition to our existing line-up of sales products and expendable goods."

Dirty Rigger's product manager Steve Marshall says, "To have Whites see the quality and durability of our range and be so keen to work with us is fantastic. I'm really looking forward to hearing their customers response

The Netherlands - With over 5,000 visitors, the 13th edition of the Cue Exhibition in Rotterdam was a major success for Le Mark Group and their Dirty Rigger range. Supporting RL Sales, one of Le Mark's leading distributors in The Netherlands, the show hosted RL Sales' expansion of Le Mark stocked products.

Already stocking the full Dirty Rigger gloves and accessories range, the addition of Le Mark's MagTape Professional Gaffer Tape, SlipWay Cable Tape and PAL Road Case Labels gained "unprecedented levels of interest and resulted in key show stock selling out, only two days in".

RL Sales MD Ruud Lansman says, "I was delighted with the interest shown to the new products during the show, as well as the continued growth in the sales of Dirty Rigger."

Export manager for Le Mark, Matt Every adds, "The show was fantastic and the response from visitors to bo

UK - The law has come to J&C Joel in the form of qualified solicitor Oliver Marns, who has joined the company as sales office manager.

Marns joins J&C Joel after six years working as a commercial litigation and sports lawyer. He has also worked as a UK area manager for a major international supermarket chain.

A decorated sportsman, Marns has played professional rugby for the Halifax Blue Sox during their time in rugby league's Super League and has represented Great Britain at junior level. He currently plays semi-professional rugby union for Hull Ionians.

Marns will manage J&C Joel's UK and export sales teams and brings a wealth of legal and human resources knowledge and experience to the role.

(Jim Evans)

UK - J&C Joel manufactured and installed nine bespoke fabric swags for the 2012 TPI Awards ceremony.

The drapes were used to mask the ceiling within the Novotel London West Hotel in Hammersmith and were manufactured from Blue Jomeleon (JOM604B), a sheer two-tone Trevira CS voile with fantastic iridescent qualities, particularly when backlit.

J&C Joel also sponsored the award for Favourite Set Construction Company, which was awarded to Brilliant Stages who stood out for the judges in an extremely competitive field.

The 11th annual TPI Awards were held on 13 February 2012 and celebrated the leading lights within the live production and events industry.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - ProLight + Sound 2012 will be the scene of a major celebration for MDG and cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution as the two companies celebrate a long-standing association. The show marks the 20th anniversary of MDG's appointment of cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution GmbH as its distributor for Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

"Twenty years in Germany in association with the same people and the same company is a real cause for celebration," says MDG's Martin Michaud. "Cast has been fantastic in support of MDG products and the team, led by Heinz Siller, have worked tirelessly to bring MDG to a wide range of customers. Prolight & Sound is an opportunity to celebrate the journey so far and to look forward to the next twenty years."

MDG will be displaying the latest version of its dual mode Digital Atmospheric Generator, theONE complete with its adaptable t

Germany - d3 will introduce its software only version, d3 Designer, to press and public during ProLight + Sound 2012.

d3 was previously only available as a software/hardware bundle. The new d3 Designer is a software only solution that has all the powerful features of d3 but with the outputs water marked. Made specially for show creators, content designers, projectionists, project managers and other video production professionals, d3 Designer is billed as "the most advanced integrated production platform in the market".

Shows created on d3 Designer are transferable to both 2U and 4U d3 production systems. d3's real-time stage simulator also allows for pre-vis of moving screens and props, "giving full control of your show - on the train, or the plane, or even in your hotel".

(Jim Evans)

UK - Harting's new Ha-VIS preLink(R) interconnection system offers a new installation concept for data network cabling according to ISO/IEC 1180.1, and is suited to heavy-duty applications in theatre backstage and upstage areas.

The new connection technology simplifies cabling, saves installation time and enables extensions and conversions without incurring significant interruptions to existing operations.

With the Ha-VIS preLink(R) system, the data cable is first assembled in the preLink(R) termination block, which then simply snaps into the preLink(R) standard RJ45 jacks or optional Harting plug modules. The preLink(R) cables can be either terminated in the field or factory supplied pre-terminated in a reliable, performance-guaranteed, pre-tested state.

Installation flexibility is enhanced by easy replacement and 'drag through' in narrow ducting of the small cross-section

South Africa - On 20 January, Gerriets offered its second Technical Presentation on the Latest Overseas Entertainment Technology in Johannesburg. Organised by its South African distributor, Gerriets South Africa /AVL Distribution, the session was held at Radio Park within the Auckland Park headquarters campus of the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation). SABC Radio Park was a perfect venue for this event, as it is equipped with Gerriets curtains, track systems, and roller screens that were installed in late 2010.

Andreas Gause, Gerriets GmbH director of sales and marketing, travelled from the company headquarters in Germany to present a comprehensive introduction to the full scope of Gerriets products. Lasting two-and-a-half hours and addressing more than 170 current and prospective customers, the presentation focused on projection screens, textiles, and rail syst

USA - Jon Weingarten, president/CEO of Dazian LLC has announced today that DreamWorld Backdrops will become part of the Dazian family of businesses, effective 27 February 2012.

Since 1842 Dazian has been the premier company in the Entertainment, Worship, and Event Industries for Theatrical Fabrics, Custom Fabrication and Rental Drapery. Dazian has full service facilities in CA, NJ and FL. supplying a full range of products, fabrication, and install services to its clients throughout the U.S. and abroad.

DreamWorld has been a force in the air brushed, hand painted and digitally printed backdrop business in the US since its inception in 1999.

Bev Parmensky, president of DreamWorld Backdrops, states, "By joining the Dazian family, DreamWorld Backdrops will now be able to offer a full complement of products and services to its wide range of customers."

Weingarten add

UK - The Inaugural Event Production Awards held at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane and hosted by the comedian Mark Steel saw Star Events Group win overall 'Supreme Supplier of the year' and less than two weeks later they picked up Rigging Company of the Year at the Tpi Awards.

"To receive both awards and to be recognised for our achievement in the industry was a great honour," says Jane Russen.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The PLASA 2012 free registration offer ends in just under 48 hours! Over 9,000 people have taken advantage of the free registration offer for this year's PLASA 2012, taking place at Earls Court in London from 9 - 12 September. Register before midnight on the 29th February and save £20 on the standard ticket price.

All previous PLASA Show visitors have been sent this special offer via email, and free registration for new visitors is live at www.plasashow.com

(Claire Beeson)

South Africa / UK - Two female members of the South African Roadies Association (SARA); Nomsa Ndlovu (26) from Zola, Soweto and Nonhlanhla Bonongo (28) from Emdeni, Soweto - will join SARA president Freddie Nyathela in attending The National Skills Academy Creative & Cultural (NSA) Annual Industry Conference 2012, which takes place at The Lowry in Salford, Manchester on 6-7 March 2012.

The Conference will bring together professionals from the Creative and Cultural industries from all over the UK, to discuss how to work better in collaboration with young people and education, and explore the real return on investment in skills, and what impact this is having on the sector. John Hayes MP (Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning) will be the keynote speaker, and he will be joined by some of the most influential figures from the creative and cultural se

UK - Backstage Academy has announced the last few remaining places on its Stage Pyrotechnics course on Monday 5 March.

The one-day course is one of a few approved by The Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians and completion of the course will assist with membership of the association, by allowing one year's free membership upon joining.

The course, which provides an overview of different pyrotechnic devices, their uses and the relevant health and safety, is delivered at Backstage Academy in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The day culminates in students helping to produce a pyrotechnics display in the LS-Live studio, a 17,500sq.ft space that is normally used for the production rehearsals of internationally recognised touring artists.

Backstage Academy will also be running the following courses in March: ProTools 101 course - 5 March; Vivien Basic - 15 March; Vivien Advanced - 16 Mar

Germany - At Prolight+Sound 2012, Gerriets will present new screens including OptiBlack - a nearly black front/rear screen for soft-edge projections, and the transparent matte Frost, "a perfect diffusion film for backlighting".

Also showing will be the new, heavy-duty track system - the Cargo series - suitable for precise maneuvering of LED video walls and large heavy scenery in four profile/load rating sizes S/M/L/XL for 250-1200kg.

Large-screen wall systems Tube and MegaScreen featuring top or bottom rollers operated with virtually silent motors will be also demonstrated. Enlarged dance and event floor spectrum: Vario Ergodance, for user-friendly permanent and portable applications, with optimum shock absorption and Gerriets' inherently flame-retardant stretch fabrics Heavy-, Molton- & Muslin-stretch which offer individual stretching factors for wrinkle-free surfac

UK - London-based distributor Smoke Factory UK will launch it's new range of LED fixtures at PLASA Focus: Leeds (17 -18 April) where the company is exhibiting for the first time this year. Alongside the new Kandolite LED range will be the full range of Smoke Factory haze and fog machines.

On show for the very first time in the UK will be the Kandolite range of LED fixtures. These Chinese-manufactured units have been built to rigorous European specifications and to a high build quality, says the company.

Also on view will be both 36 and 60, LED 3W PAR fixtures. Plus RGBAW 3W Battens and Cyc Lights, outdoor 1W and 3W LED IP67 Wall Wash units. A powerful moving Wash Light completes the range.

"The Smoke Factory range will feature the ever-dependable Tourhazer 2, the original industry standard for Haze machines. Alongside will be the CaptainD, Data2, Scotty2 and the rest of

USA - FocusTrack, the production lighting documentation system, and SpotTrack, its companion programme for recording followspot cues, have had a long involvement with the hit musical Billy Elliot in London, Australia, New York and on tour around the USA. Now that involvement is continuing with the new, faster-moving US 'tour 3' of the show.

Designed once again by Rick Fisher, working with associate LDs Dan Walker and Kristina Kloss, the new tour has downsized the rig in order to allow it to be set-up more quickly on that road while retaining the overall look that won Fisher a Tony Award for his work on the show in New York.

The adaptation to the new rig used FocusTrack as the reference point to previous productions: the software held a photographic record of every focus of every lamp in the show, and also every individual cue in the show. This information could instantl

Germany - Hall Stage are gearing up to exhibit at ProLight+Sound in Frankfurt (March 21 - 24). Amongst the products on show will be the new Chaindrive system for T60 & T70 track systems, which enables heavy curtain motorisation through tight and complex curves, even in 'rearfold' format - without the need for additional and expensive off-stage storage space, says the company.

Also on the stand will be samples of SKYDECK wire grid floor systems - with which Hall Stage has recently completed a 1,200 square metre installation in the UK - and the acoustically tested and analysed range of acouStac acoustic banners and rollers.

Visit Hall Stage at ProLight+Sound - Hall: 9 / Stand: F82

(Claire Beeson)

UK - PLASA Focus: Leeds will see English Braids of Malvern exhibit for the first time. On show will be their range of rope that they have been manufacturing for the Theatre, Film and Entertainment world for over 40 years.

As well as the polyester ropes they will also have on show their new range of Technora ropes produced in 2.5mm through to 24mm. Developed primarily for the entertainment sector, the range is having a lot of success in rigging applications and are "a perfect replacement for steel-wire," says the company.

Steve Hayman, sales manager says: "Technora ropes are ideal for applications where low stretch and high strength are required. The product can be used at temperatures of 200 degrees centigrade for long periods and has a thermal decomposition of 500 degrees". He continues, "We are very pleased with the feedback we have received from rig

Ireland - Production Services Ireland (PSI)'s Dublin branch kicked off 2012 with the supply of full lighting production, trussing and associated rigging for two high profile TV series - Take Me Out (Ireland) and Family Fortunes - both recorded at the Helix Theatre, Dublin City University.

Andrew Leonard, lighting designer for both shows worked closely with console programmer and live visuals operator Peter Canning from High Resolution Lighting. PSI's project manager was Ciaran Tallon, and it was the first time that Dublin and Belfast based PSI has been involved with either show.

The series producer was Billy McGrath, and the production company in both cases was Sideline Productions for TV3. Twenty episodes of both shows were shot in two two-week slots, with a two-day changeover in-between, and the sets for each production were designed by Anita Barrett.

For

Denmark - UK-based automation and motion control specialist, Kinesys, has appointed Light Partner as its exclusive Danish distributor in the latest expansion of its global distribution network.

The Herning based company is celebrating its 20th year of being at the forefront of the entertainment technology industry.

Says Kinesys' business development manager Mark de Gruyter, "As always, we select our distributors very carefully. Ideally they should already have a good working relationship with a reputable hoist manufacturer, which Light Partner has with Columbus McKinnon. Apart from being a group of genuinely nice and dedicated individuals the company is very well established and respected and the perfect choice for our partner in Denmark."

Light Partner also represents James Thomas and Litec trussing ranges as well as other premium brands like Vari*Lite.

Light Pa

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