UK - 2013 has seen a constant stream of heart wrenching news stories being broadcast, many involving building collapses caused by natural disasters such as earth quakes. More often, it is by specific man made destruction from rocket or high explosive shells as in Syria

However it was caused, people - men, woman and children were killed or trapped under tons of rubble.

"We are so lucky not to experience or live through such horrendous and simply unimaginable circumstances" quoted Stuart Gibbons, managing director of Le Mark Group including the Dirty Rigger work glove brand. "However, my parents and in particular my mother, did live through the London Blitz of 1940/41, I have never forgotten the stories I was told as a child."

Watching people scrabble through rubble with their bare hands, Gibbons realised Le Mark could, in a very small way, help.

Having r

UK - Working alongside Creative Director, Oli Metcalfe, as well as Production Manager, Chris Vaughan, TAIT provided both custom and rental elements for Muse's stunning stadium tour which opened in the UK this week.

Tait provided a large 61m by 17.6m rolling main stage for the production, with a thrust extending out 26m to the B-stage. The main stage and thrust were finished with specially treated marine wood, paired with a quartz treatment to prevent water damage and provide texture. Two key performance areas were finished with a high gloss treatment for performer movement.

Tait also provided two custom designed technical bunkers with an integrated water protection plumbing system. Housing the backline and sound technicians, the bunkers kept the technicians close to the band but out of audience view during performances. Two front of house bunkers were also manufactured by Tait

Belgium - A key player in the European flight case market K-Teg, has recently agreed a new distribution deal with Dirty Rigger to stock an extended selection of the rigger gloves & accessories range.

"Over the past year we have received a lot of positive comments from our clients about the Dirty Rigger range," says K-Teg's Joeri Swennen. "Confident our customers would benefit, we decided to stock a much wider selection from Dirty Rigger's tool pouch, rigger gloves and accessories range and display them in retail store for customers to come in and view up-close.

"We supply clients in various professional industries throughout Europe and the diverse work glove range that Dirty Rigger and K-Teg now offer gives greater flexibility of choice, allowing clients to select a more suitable glove for their working environment. The Dirty Rigger range seems to constantl

USA - J. R. Clancy has introduced a performer-flying hoist that brings together the company's 127 years of rigging expertise with safety features engineered for the twenty-first century.

Clancy makes this unprecedented move to develop a performer flying hoist as an outgrowth of its introduction of its new SceneControl 5000 line of rigging controllers. The new SceneControl 5000 family has the capability to control performer flying hoists as well as automated rigging for scenery, lighting, and sound equipment. Now users can purchase both the performer flying hoist and the controller from one manufacturer.

"Performer flying hoists are a natural extension of our product line," said Larry Eschelbacher, J. R. Clancy director of engineering. "As the industry develops ANSI standards for performer flying and best practices are being established, this is the right time fo

UK - Floors for dance and the performing arts will once again be showcased at London's Old Truman Brewery for two days this summer, with Harlequin Floors taking an exhibition stand at the ABTT 2013 Theatre Show on 12-13 June.

Visitors to Harlequin on Stand 144 will discover an exciting new service that the world leaders in sprung and vinyl floors is set to add to its market leading product portfolio.

With 50% more exhibition floor space than last year, the 35th ABTT is expected to welcome record-breaking numbers of visitors. On the Harlequin stand in the Orange Hall, visitors will have access to a wide selection of floor types - as well as expert support, guidance and advice from the Harlequin team.

"We have been exhibiting at ABTT for more than 25 years, "said marketing manager, Caroline Reilly, "and we are excited to once again demonstrate our latest product

Bulgaria - The second leg of Bon Jovi's current tour opened in Bulgaria earlier this month, revealing an exquisite Americana-themed set, designed by PEDG's Spike Brant. Serving as production / lighting designer / show director for the tour, Brant turned to Tait to create the 30m inflatable 1959 Buick Electra, which spans the length of the main stage.

Tait supplied all the staging for the tour, including a 34m wide main stage, a band riser and a 30m rounded b-stage catwalk. The Buick Electra's hood sits above the band and is made of three, cold-air inflatable pieces. The three separate pieces measure 30m in total length, and are capable of full inflation in 30 minutes. The inflatable surface has been scenically airbrushed and UV treated for the outdoor shows. It is externally lit from various lighting positions during the show, creating many different looks.

To complete the Bui

UK - The upcoming ABTT exhibition will mark the London launch for entertainment industry training centre Backstage Academy's new two-year BA Visual Production degree.

The ABTT show takes place from 12-13 June at the Old Truman Brewery in the capital city, where Backstage Academy will feature amongst the exhibitors showcasing products, services and training for theatre, covering the latest in things like lighting, sound, staging, seating, stage engineering, projection, textiles, flooring, scenic paints and more.

Backstage Academy, who will be exhibiting for the first time at the show on stand number 27, will also be showcasing its backstage short courses and bespoke skills training to visitors, who tend to come from a wide variety of disciplines across professional theatre.

The new BA Visual Production course will launch at Backstage Academy's Wakefield facility in January 20

USA - Global Truss America has named Kenneth Kahn president of the company, which sells products in North America under the DuraTruss and Global Truss brands. Kahn has been with the company since its inception in 2000 and has played a key role in building it into a major supplier of trussing and accessories for the stage, concert, club, house of worship, exhibit and retail display markets.

"Ken has been involved in every aspect of this business, from sales and marketing to research and product development," said Global Truss America CEO Chuck Davies. "He's excelled at every position he's held here, so we're very confident that he'll be able to guide our company to even more outstanding success in the future."

Kahn was instrumental in creating Global Truss America's dual branding strategy in 2012. Under this plan, the company markets DJ truss in the US under

UK - For a fast-applied, comfortable and decorative vinyl flooring system for virtually every temporary and short life application - Harlequin Showfloor offers the lightweight, stable and reusable solution.

Harlequin Showfloor is a loose-lay floor designed for any temporary event - from trade stands at exhibitions to display areas in shops, fashion catwalks and many more. It can be laid on any hard and smooth surface including plywood, chipboard, hardboard, tiles or concrete, and comes in a black, grey, white or red finish.

Mineral fibre reinforced with a thin cellular backing, Showfloor is just 2.8mm thick and weighs only 1.5kg/m². It quickly lays flat, stays flat and has an embossed display surface that helps to prevent scuff marks, whilst its cellular foam backing not only provides comfort under foot but helps to reduce noise pollution.

(Jim Evans)

UK - SES/Tempower supplied all the main power distribution equipment , cable and cable protection at Twickenham Stadium, for Chime for Change on 1 June.

The featured acts included Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding, Florence + The Machine, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez.

Tempower's client wasMike Ellen of MPE Power Solutions who installed all the production power and sub rented in the generator package which consisted of two 300 kva sets for broadcast power and six 500 kva sets for main stage power, all synchronised. These were supplied by Powerhire part of TGC International Ltd.

Tempower supplied the cabling and distribution for all the production and broadcast power including nine 400 amp 5-wire sets of power locks feeds for the main stage alone, one of these supplies splits out to the follow spot towers either side of stage with two 250 amp power locks supplies.

The equipme

UK - Unusual Rigging is broadening its service offering in the installation and capital projects sector with a new range of automation systems, which will be seen for the first time in the UK at this year's ABTT show (stand 34, Blue Hall).

The development gives the UK market another option in terms of power flying, says Mark Priestley, capital projects manager at Unusual: "The system, which has a real pedigree in control technology, can be tailored to suit the specific requirements of each client and each installation, bringing the Unusual magic to even more elements of theatre engineering."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Visitors to the Doughty Engineering, stand 130 in the Orange Hall, at this year's ABTT show will be introduced to a product that "is set to take the conference and events industries by storm".

The Doughty motorised lectern is fully DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant and will be in operation on the stand. Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty Engineering said, "We believe this lectern is unique - it will certainly be a real crowd-pleaser! It's been developed on the basis that not everyone who has to speak in front of a crowd is the same height, while enabling those who are unable to stand for long periods, or are wheelchair bound, to give their presentations while sitting down. All will be revealed at ABTT!"

Riggers who visit Doughty's stand will be able to discuss their specific needs with a member of the team while also viewing the new r

UK / USA - Lex Products Corporation - manufacturer of power distribution and control systems - has launched Lex Products Limited, the company's first international venture, based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Due to increasing demand in the UK and Europe, Lex Products will be able to more effectively deliver innovative, durable and reliable products to entertainment and industrial markets overseas, says the company.

"International demand for our products has significantly expanded over recent years, which has given us a much deeper understanding of how global our markets really are," said Bob Luther, CEO of Lex Products Corp. "Lex Products Limited is an incredible opportunity for our company to deliver a wide range of trusted and durable technologies to a variety of customers."

Mike Scala, president of Lex Products Corp. added: "Lex Products' innovative Ever

USA/UK - Tait has provided a variety of staging, rigging and scenic elements for the Rolling Stones' 50th Anniversary worldwide tour, continuing a long-standing relationship, spanning nearly three decades, since the artists' 1994 Voodoo Lounge tour. Mark Fisher was at the helm of the set design; a visually striking stage concept with a pert sense of authenticity for the artists' famed emblem.

Tait constructed a rolling MagDeck main stage that measured 25.6m wide by 12.1m deep, which provided full utilization of space underneath for storage of backline and band gear.

A custom, tongue-shaped MagDeck runway offsets the inflatable lips and teeth that are suspended above the band. Automated by 22 Tait Smart Winches, the massive lip is made from an inflatable printed fabric and measures 24.4m wide by 3m deep by 9.1m high and weighs 270 kg.

Scenically carved, painted lip she

UK - Theatre track systems experts at Triple E are inviting visitors to ABTT onto their stand to get hands on with the company's array of motorised solutions for curtains (Stand 138, Orange Hall).

Triple E will be demoing its new rearfold accessory and the TDRIVE motor both for Unibeam and Unitrack, the SDRIVE will be shown for the first time at ABTT, the multi-motor controller and its simple plug and play Wireless TracDrive unit, which attaches to the XLR socket on all Triple E motors and enables cable-free operation.

The company - which has a 30-year history of inventing engineering solutions for the entertainment industry - will also be debuting its totally new website showcasing its product lines and enabling customers and distributors to obtain instant quotes for any of the company's six main track systems including U shapes and perimeter tracks.

"We're inviting th

UK - S+H Technical's new 12 mm lightweight LED screen was specified by video and visuals designer Ian Holmes for the recent UK and European leg of guitarist Steve Hackett's 2013 Genesis Revisited II world tour.

Ilfracombe, Devon-based drapes, starcloth, LED and visual effects specialist S+H has invested in a large quantity of these new LED panels which are very light in weight at just 4.5 Kgs per panel and 9.5 Kgs per square metre, which is made up from two panels. They are also quick to deploy and exceptionally user-friendly.

This multi-purpose 12 mm pitch product has been specially developed for S+H and is manufactured in China to their spec.

Holmes first used the S+H screen last year, just after the first batch was delivered, for the Kim Wilde tour, and was so impressed he decided to use it again when Steve Hackett went out.

The current Steve Hackett tour design

UK - Entertainment engineering expert Triple E is inviting ABTT attendees to a new live discussion entitled The Right Kit and the Real Kit: Fighting Forgery and Specifying for Success on Thursday 13 June, 2:15 - 3pm, Seminar Room A.

Triple E's managing director David Edelstein - who founded the company in 1984 to supply the entertainment industry with mechanical products to aid the assembly and construction of stage scenery - is chairing the debate alongside prominent theatre design consultant Andy Hayles from Charcoalblue, arts and capital projects consultant Simon Harper, rigging expert Chris Higgs, and industry PR Sarah Rushton-Read of The Fifth Estate Ltd.

All five will speak at the event, highlighting their own experiences of either specifying the right equipment for projects, and / or the ongoing fight against counterfeit goods and how it is and will continue to a

UK - West London based rental company Entec is supplying lighting and rigging equipment and crew to the UK and European legs of singer songwriter guitarist and music producer Mark Knopfler's 2013 Privateering tour, with lighting designed by the also illustrious Simon Tutchener.

Entec made a major investment in the latest Clay Paky moving lights - buying 38 Alpha Spot QWO 800s and 20 Sharpy Washes - to ensure that Tutchener had exactly the creative tools he wanted for the tour, which plays 72 concerts in 65 cities and has already included a six night sold-out run at London's Royal Albert Hall.

It's the first time that Entec has worked with Knopfler, but Tutchener has designed his lighting since 2000. He and production manager Kevin Hopgood have both used Entec before on various projects and decided that they were the right company for delivering a classy lighting solutio

Europe - GearSource Europe has spent months duplicating their listing process from a desktop based application to a Mobile App for iOS and Android based devices. At the same time, the company has simplified the overall listing process and made it easier for both their first time sellers and power-users alike to list products quickly and without the wires.

This isn't another shopping app - this is a fast and easy tool that allows GearSource Europe users to better manage their gear inventories on the web site, says the company.

Clients no longer have to wait until they get back to the office to list their gear. Now they can list right on location as soon as a show or event is finished. In fact, the GearSource Europe Listing App doesn't even require a WiFi connection in order to create listings. Added listings will be retained in the device cache and will automatically sync to Ge

UK - Independent Studio Services will be exhibiting for the third year running at ABTT where it will be showcasing its range of services and products (Stand 108 Orange Hall).

Specialising in the design, supply and installation of stage engineering systems and offering inspection and preventative maintenance services, the Independent Studio Services' team will be on hand to discuss customers' upcoming projects and how they can be best serviced - be it an install or inspection, or a full design and implementation package.

As exclusive distributors for Tüchler, Independent Studio Services will be exhibiting the Tüchler Stage Platform Zoom 1200.

Milos Structural Systems representatives will also be present to speak with clients about their truss requirements for theatre, studio, exhibition or retail, all of which are also stocked by Independent Studio Services in the UK.

Ind

UK - Leading polymer specialist, igus UK, will be exhibiting its new e-spool energy-chain for the theatre industry for the first time at the ABTT Show in London. Visitors to igus' stand (139) will also see live demonstrations of its high performance energy chains and cable management solutions and meet industry experts.

e-spool is a next generation compact cable management system that has been designed in response to customer demand for a solution that is more flexible than traditional cable drums. It enables users to guide many different cable and hose types, for example power, BUS, data and even fibre optics, in one single compact system.

The innovative e-spool is easy to install and robust, providing cables reliably in any direction for travels of up to 14m. Users can now benefit from a system that provides reliable operation for a wide range of lifting and moving applicati

UK - When photographer John Aldred needed a reflective floor that could withstand wear and tear from the animals he was photographing, he discovered that Harlequin Hi-Shine vinyl display floor let his subjects shine.

Aldred spent weeks testing samples from various manufacturers to find a solution that was portable and sufficiently robust without compromising on shine - Harlequin Hi-Shine met all his needs from the very start.

"The more I work with it the more it impresses me. It's had no problems with big dogs jumping around on it, nor 5ft long, 40lb lizards with razor sharp claws, and is extremely easy to keep clean. If a more durable, more cost effective, effortless to maintain, glossier and portable surface exists, I've certainly never heard of it."

As the striking vinyl display flooring choice for television sets, high-profile entertainment, fashion shows, conc

France - Manchester- based lighting, visual and rigging specialists dbn Lighting delivered the lighting design and equipment for clients Medex-Media at EuroPCR, a medical exhibition and symposium held at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.

An inventive approach was needed due to the overall height restrictions imposed on exhibitors and the limited rigging permissible (5Kg per point!) for lighting and other flown elements. This was provided by dbn's unflappable Nigel Walker.

An environment was created offering two seminar rooms to accommodate up to 20 delegates and three meeting rooms for groups of up to six people. These spaces radiated off a central 'social' area where delegates could mingle and enjoy refreshments in a calm, chilled atmosphere.

Walker used 25mm conduit as the hung lighting bars, and specified Chroma-Q ColorForce 12s LED units fitted with Lee 216 diffusion as

UK - West London-based rental company Entec Sound & Light supplied lighting, rigging and crew for Paloma Faith's recent high profile one-off show at London's O2 Arena, preceded by warm ups at Liverpool Empire and Bournemouth BIC, once again working with lighting designer Tony Austin and the production team led by tour manager Neil Brighouse.

Entec's Noreen O'Riordan and Adam Stevenson project managed the massive one-off, which followed Faith's spring 2013 theatre tour, this time with an enlarged stage set and a more substantial lighting rig.

The O2 show required a completely new lighting design with versatility and flexibility at the core of the concept. The warm up shows utilised a smaller lighting rig, so only at the O2 did Austin have his full rig for the first time, adding extra pressures to the day.

An expanded version of Josh Grace's striking mirrored and gold palm lea

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