Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon, as well as TOMCAT's own Dave Sowa, coached participants through the Lodestar electric chain hoist. Rocky Paulson of Stage Rigging, a Freeman Company and Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances stressed safety in rigging techniques and fall protection equipment while Keith Bohn, Tomcat design manager, and Will Todd, Tomcat project manager, offered a course in truss theory and design. Not only did participants receive four days of power-packed, informative classes, but also four nights of fun filled entertainment, including the traditional factory night at TOMCAT USA, with extensive tours, demonstrations, contests and a graduation ceremony.
In addition to the traditional curriculum, the new Advanced Workshop was held this year for the first time ever. Since Tomcat USA began its annual Hoist & Rigging Workshop, there has been a demand for more training.
Bohn taught a one day course on advanced concepts in truss usage, including: grid design, applying loads, ground support system considerations, structural design concepts, inspection techniques plus live demos of truss destruction. Dimitroff led this intense, one day course. He discussed hoist design and theory as well as what's new for the Lodestar. Participants were also able to disassemble, inspect then reassemble a one ton CM Lodestar and worked on live advanced troubleshooting scenarios. Dimitroff was assisted by Sowa.
With it being such a smashing success, TOMCAT will continue to add the Advanced Workshop to the curriculum in 2006. Recognized worldwide as the most comprehensive training course of its kind, the Tomcat Hoist and Rigging Workshop is a learning opportunity for those new to the entertainment industry, as well as veterans of the business.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
