Germany - ETC is getting ready for its first appearance at Berlin's Stage Set Scenery show, 9-11 June, in Berlin. The company is set to make a big splash, giving Europe its first ever look at ETC Rigging, on stand number 208 in Hall 2.2. ETC will also have a second stand at the show - number 210 in Hall 1.2 - to demo its popular lighting products, giving show visitors a lot of new gear to experience.

Introduced in the US in 2009, ETC Rigging has made a deep impression on the industry, with some of the best quality and most versatile equipment available. ETC designed its rigging family with the user in mind, with dealers able to supply turnkey hardware packages tailored to the customer's unique needs, budget and venue size. ETC Rigging includes innovative controllers and motorized hoists that have sophisticated technical features - such as slack-line detection and live status fee

Germany - This year's Stage Set Scenery will provide the stage for J&C Joel's global project team to unveil a number of new acoustics solutions this June.

J&C Joel, one of the world's leading manufacturers of flame retardant fabrics and flooring for the entertainment and event industries, will also be celebrating its rich textile heritage at the Berlin show.

The theme of J&C Joel's stand - The inspiration behind the performance - will see the company showcase its new brochure, website and rebrand as well as a number of new product innovations. In addition, the company's global project team will be demonstrating products used on some of the company's most high profile projects, including The New York University in Abu Dhabi.

J&C Joel will use the show to present a collection of new products designed to maximise the acoustic properties of any space, including: acoustic

UK - Blackout installed a kabuki drop system to reveal Paul Cummin's latest sculpture to the national press and her Majesty the Queen, as it was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 18th May 2015.

Inspired by the show's 2015 creative, the sculpture stands at 8m high and is covered in thousands of hand-painted ceramic tulips. Paul Cummins is well-known for the now-iconic Tower of London poppy installation.

Located in the 12,000sq.m Great Pavilion - filled with more than 100 beautiful floral displays - the sculpture was hidden from view by a large cylindrical drape, dropped via solenoid kabuki. Paul Cummins himself pressed the 'go' button, revealing his latest work to the crowds.

Blackout was contracted by RHS head of shows, Nick Mattingley, to design and build the system. Ian Moody, Blackout's installation technician, led the project and oversaw the all-important drop its

The Netherlands - Working for show designers BIND Film, Jurlights were tasked with providing a technical concept for the captivating launch presentation of Maasvlakte II Terminal, Rotterdam on 25 April 2015. On an unprecedented size and scale, the launch ushered in a new era in port operations at APM Terminals with a little help from BlackTrax real-time motion tracking solution from CAST BlackTrax Ltd.

The opening of the world's safest, first fully automated, zero emissions container terminal was attended by The Netherlands' Monarch King Willem-Alexander and 500 senior representatives from the global shipping industry and world governments.

"The only way to accurately track the Lift-Automated Guide Vehicles (AGV) across the 400 by 200ft area was by using BlackTrax," explains Menno Broere, creative director at Jurlights.

In describing the project workflow, Broere sa

China - Star Events will design and supply a world-class rigging system to STU Sports Park in Shantou, on the south east coast of China.

Set within Shantou University, the Sports Park includes a multi-use arena with incorporated hotel and conference facilities. Star Events is contracted to design and install two rigging mothergrids, which will cover three-quarters of the arena floor and can lift and hold production equipment weighing up to 70 tons. The company will also provide the perimeter rigging system that will hold 33 large format, high-definition projectors supplied by American company Obscura Digital. All 80 of the hoists will be controlled by Star's Active Roof Technology (The ART of rigging) system.

STU Sports Park general manager, Greg Turner, said, "We wanted a venue that could host a diversified event schedule and allowed promoters to move in and out as effic

Belgium - Engineering specialist WIcreations provided a complete automation solution for the 2015 live special broadcast of popular Belgian TV show 'Tegen de Sterren Op' (Against The Stars) which parodies celebrities, other TV stars and public figures.

This included the supply of two customised WI laser controlled wagons - now available from rental stock - which proved an ingenious method to ensure the lightening quick scenery changes needed for the fast paced show were realised.

Three live shows were produced at Antwerp's Lotto Arena over one action-packed weekend by producers Studio 100 and Dedsit for the VTM channel. Wi's project manager was Geert Stockmans.

WI also provided one of their suspended WItrack systems to move a large two-part video screen at the back of the stage, together with a flown tracking system with a moving winch to aid two aerial performers.

The sho

USA - J. R. Clancy is a lead sponsor of the Jay O. Glerum Rigging Master Classes, planned for a summer 2016 launch by USITT.

The series of classes honours master rigging expert and instructor Jay O. Glerum, author of the definitive Stage Rigging Handbook and one of the industry's most knowledgeable professionals and teachers of rigging use and safety. Glerum passed away in 2014.

"Many theatre technology professionals point to Jay Glerum as their teacher and mentor in the proper way to use rigging technology, from counterweight to automated systems," said Mike Murphy, J. R. Clancy president. "Naming a series of master classes after Jay is a fitting tribute to one of the most influential people in our profession. We at J. R. Clancy are honoured to have this opportunity to remember him."

The annual training sessions will be offered in different locati

UK - This year's Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) show will see J&C Joel unveil a number of exciting new fabrics and drapes.

J&C Joel, one of the world's leading manufacturers of flame retardant fabrics and flooring for the entertainment and event industries, will also use the show to celebrate its rich textile heritage.

Located on stand C41, J&C Joel will be screening an exclusive film about the company's rich UK manufacturing history. The business - thought to have the longest tradition of textile manufacturing in the entertainment industry - has come a long way since its early days, which can be traced back to 1847. At the show the company will be exhibiting a new catalogue, website and rebrand as well as a number of new product innovations.

J&C Joel will use the show to present a fabric rack of new products, including: acoustic drapes, stage velvets, she

Germany / USA - Just in time for the first infoComm participation of Sommer Cable as an exhibitor in Orlando, FL, the German specialist for professional, high-quality cables and connector technologies has introduced a variety of new products in its Cardinal DVM electronics line.

The increasing demand for larger bandwidths and higher resolutions of AV products was the main driver behind the development of these products. All new devices are fully 4K compatible. The highlight in the new product range is the HDMI Engineers kit with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 support.

Peter Rieck, key account & distribution manager at Sommer Cable states, "We look forward to our first-time participation at infoComm as an exhibitor, and will arrive with many new products in our luggage. Together with our North American colleagues Nina Jolly and Martin Ucik, I will be available to interested custome

Canada - Further strengthening CAST BlackTrax's growing global network, DWP Live has added BlackTrax real-time motion tracking solution to its projection mapping technology offering to corporate clients, agencies and designers.

Ben Ryle, chief technologist at DWP Live notes, "I love BlackTrax's plug and play design as it fits seamlessly into our workflow. For example, we can place the BT Beacons on a projection surface or performer, calibrate BT Cameras, build 3D models using a media server and then take everything into a 3D environment - all within minutes which is a valuable asset for live events working to increasingly tight time scales."

Ryle notes that BlackTrax can track a virtually unlimited amount of objects so large or small projection surfaces can be moved in and out and off stage. "Traditionally, introducing new pieces would be cumbersome and time con

UK - To mark the arrival of their new Luton van, Showforce has launched a competition on social media. Anyone who spots the van onsite or in transit should take a photo and upload it to Twitter or Instagram. The posts should mention @showforcegroup (Twitter) or @showforcegram (Instagram) and include the hashtag #vanspotting. They will then be entered into a prize draw to win a free four-hour 'Man and Van' call. The prize worth £250 is available to anyone with the Greater London area. The winners will be announced via Twitter and Instagram on 1 July.

Anya Roszkowiak, Showforce's business development director said, "Our 'Man and Van' service can be booked by the hour and has proven extremely popular with clients. An experienced driver is on hand to ensure goods are delivered and loaded both securely and on time. It's perfect for last minute pick-ups and deliveries, the

Germany - ETC is taking two stands at this year's Stage Set Scenery show in Berlin - with one purely to premiere ETC Rigging in Europe.

ETC Rigging, which can be seen in Hall 2.2, stand number 208, is another layer to the company's extensive lighting and power control portfolio. By working with local dealers to provide complete wire rope winch packages, ETC Rigging is among the easiest to install and most versatile available. This is the first time the product has been available outside the US.

Sold as complete packages, each winch is easily customised for non standard layouts, and can lift up to 900kg. To ensure its integrity, every hoist is individually tested under heavy load at ETC's factory in Wisconsin, USA, and each electrical component examined and checked.

To go with the new rigging packages are QuickTouch, QuickTouch+, and Foundation controllers, designed to provid

Germany - Movecat, the specialist in kinetic solutions for stage and studio, is launching the LoCo LCS, a shackle version of its active load-measuring sensors. Among the most impressive features of the new device are highly sophisticated sensory elements and a unique test and calibration system.

In most respects, the LoCo LCS units are standard load shackles and can be used as such. The essential difference lies in their special load-measuring pins, which are made from a special high-quality steel, and feature integrated active measuring system with sensory elements. These determine the forces applied by the suspended loads and transmit the data to electronic processors that are also integrated.

Depending upon the model, the rated loads range from 3.25 to 4.75 metric tons. Currently three models are available: LCS-AX - the simplest model, which is based on the LMS-M series wit

USA / Canada - Another draft American National Standard has been posted for public review on the PLASA TSP website at http://tsp.plasa.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php: BSR E1.51 - 201x, The Selection, Installation, and Use of Single-Conductor Portable Power Feeder Cable Systems for Use at 600 Volts Nominal or Less for the Distribution of Electrical Energy in the Television, Film, Live Performance and Event Industries in Canada. Its public review period runs through 3 August, 2015; the review is over and the links to the review materials disappear when 4 August starts.

BSR E1.51 is intended to offer guidance in accordance with existing applicable standards and regulations in Canada on how to select, install, use and maintain single-conductor portable feeder cables used to supply power for television, film, live performance, and special events in Canada. Materially affect

Canada - Staging operator TAIT has brought Limpet safety and access systems on board to support the World's biggest band on one of the biggest tours ever seen. U2's Innocence + Experience tour kicked off in Vancouver's Rogers Arena on 15 May with Limpet E5 units being used as access and safety systems for the innovative video wall that is the centrepiece of the tour's stage effects.

Frank Aguirre, president of Innovative Access Systems struck the deal and commented, "Awareness of Limpet systems is growing fast among professional stage riggers in the USA. More folks are now seeing them out on tours and are getting wise to the access, safety and rescue benefits of bringing them into touring shows.

"As with many of its projects, Tait is at the front of innovation. The use of Limpet to be redirected through custom bracket with multiple pulley points to help cover the who

Spain - VMB has released the new TL-A400 and TL-A500 line array lifters. Both lifts have been manufactured to be as compact as possible whilst retaining all the features of the rest of the line array series.

The TL-A400 lifts 400kg (882lbs) to 6m (19.7') and with a stowed height of just 1.67m is extremely compact. The TL-A500 lifts 500kg (1102lb) to 7m (23') and is the companies most powerful lifter. Both come with the ALS (Auto Lock Security) system, a safety feature which automatically locks the lift masts as they rise. The lift also has the SRS (Sequence Retainer System) built-in to it. The SRS means that the sections of the lift rise and descend in sequence, one after the other.

The masts are manufactured from highest grade aluminium for low weight. Steel outriggers & base as well as lateral support bars add further security and stability to the lifts. The special design m

UK - The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has issued a warning to UK employers about the risks of being misled regarding their obligation to undertake periodic thorough examination of all lifting equipment.

The advice reflects growing concerns within the lifting industry that some companies are being tempted to cut costs by not conducting thorough examinations as frequently as required by LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations).

Geoff Holden, chief executive of LEEA, said: "All UK employers are subject to LOLER, which clearly states that, once in service, lifting equipment for lifting persons or accessories for lifting must be thoroughly examined by a competent person every six months. Lifting accessories include commonly used items such as shackles, steels, hooks and round slings. Only for lifting equipment that does not fall into one o

UK - Hylec-APL, the specialist supplier of electrical and electronic components, enclosures and rack systems, has announced the Techno TH392 waterproof connector with X-Dry technology. All cables are hydroscopic to some degree and will therefore absorb moisture that can collect inside the cable sheath, moving along its length and even crossing terminations in the cable. The X-Dry technology blocks moisture transmission across terminals, protecting electrical and electronic equipment.

"The special barrier prevents moisture condensation, which runs through the cable, from entering the connector, protecting the system in critical conditions of use," said Mark Severn, director of sales for Hylec-APL.

The connectors have screw or piercing terminals and can accept cables with diameters from 8 to 12mm; maximum cable cross section is 4mm2 for screw terminals and 0.5 to 1.5mm

Canada - KRE Electric has announced the availability of a unique tool to serve all industries where the use of single pole cam lock type connectors is common.

"Like many great inventions, once seen, everyone remarks 'why didn't I think of that, it is so obvious'. For anyone who has run a 500-foot, five-wire cam lock feed made up of 100-foot lengths, relief is here. The Cam Wrench is designed to remove the pressure on your wrist and elbow to delay or avoid the onset of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). This type of injury is caused by the repetitive motion of tightening (adding pressure) of the cam lock devices and golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis), which is caused by the release of pressure (un-tightening) of the cam lock devices," says KRE.

This simple tool allows individuals working with cam lock type connectors to avoid repetitive stress and apply leverage

UK - Track expert Triple E is launching a construction arm to its business under the name EEE-Build at the ABTT Theatre Show.

The first product to be launched is a new 'universal building system' best described as full size Meccano, set to "revolutionise the theatre staging, set building, stage machinery, scenery, construction and event markets".

Known as ModTruss, the system features lightweight aluminium construction and a repetitious hole pattern, meaning applications are "practically unlimited". The ModTruss product line "lends itself to create endless configurations using standard accessories, and makes ideas that once took extensive custom design and fabrication to be constructed incredibly simply, easily, and speedily".

The product will be launched on an Art Deco-inspired theatre structure designed for Triple E by architect Konstantinos K

UK - Unusual Rigging has opened a new warehouse at its headquarters in Northampton as the business continues to grow.

The 22x48m building, which is 12m tall and provides additional 1056sq.m of space, will be used to store the company's ever increasing rental stock. It also enables Unusual to build and test rigs more easily than before, as well as allowing for continued expansion. In line with company policy, Unusual has made every effort to ensure the new unit's 'green' credentials, constructing the building from an existing truss structure, cladding it in composite paneling and employing solar PV panels.

Unusual's Jim Dugan, who was behind much of the planning and overseeing of the new building, said, "As a company, Unusual Rigging aims to operate an environmentally friendly policy and we immediately saw potential to create a new space that would meet our green criteria.

UK - The School of Creative Arts at Queen's University in Belfast boasts some of the most desirable undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the country. With demand for spaces on the practical film making course drastically outstripping supply, the University recently built a new centre for students on the film studies pathway, complete with a purpose built 'black box' to give students the opportunity to film in a multi-purpose, professionally equipped studio.

"The facilities used by the School of Creative Arts are regarded as among the best in the British Isles while certain facilities within the School (such as the Sonic Laboratory) are unique in the world," explained Ross McDade, production manager of the Brian Friel Theatre within the School.

With this in mind, Ross called on the expertise of Doughty Engineering to supply a system of 15 lighting hoists for a

UK - A new website with enhanced features, a fresh new look and easier navigation has been launched for the PLASA Show 2015 (4-6 October, Excel, London). With the redesign of the PLASA Show branding, plasashow.com aims to complement the fresh look with improved features to help visitors find information quickly and efficiently. "Following months of development, the website has been released to truly reflect the position that the PLASA Show has as a business event for the fast-paced and innovative entertainment technology industry," says PLASA Events.

Exciting new initiatives include focused hubs, sector specific seminar streams, 150+ industry leading speakers, workshops and demo areas. Many more exciting new developments will be announced in the coming months, don't miss out - make sure you

USA - TRUSST has introduced a new swivel coupler clamp, model CTC-50SC, that is rated to handle heavy-duty loads up to 1,650 pounds (750 kg), while providing "the ultimate in flexibility, safety and easy installation".

Designed to connect two sections of 50 mm truss or piping, the CTC-50SC features captive T-handles that make installation quick and easy. With a T-handle, the clamp can be tightened much faster because it is more ergonomically friendly to the hand than the typical nut used on most swivel couplers - thereby shaving time off the rigging process. Another convenient feature on the CTC-50SC is that the end of the bolt is flared so that the T-handle and washer cannot spin all the way off and become lost.

The CTC-50SC coupler features a 360° wraparound design that completely encircles the truss, providing extra stability and security. An added advantage o

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