Finland - The Finnish visual technology company FogScreen was awarded the highly prestigious Plasa Award for Innovation on 12 September, at the PLASA 2005 show in London - Europe's foremost exhibition for the entertainment and presentation industries. The PLASA Awards focus on excellence in design and development work across these industries.

The awards, which are judged by a panel of professionals, attracted 66 nominations leading to eight technical awards and an additional award for environmental impact. The judges believe the FogScreen to be a genuine first.

The FogScreen is a penetrable projection surface consisting of dry fog made from pure tap water. The fog is cool and dry to the touch and can be walked through quite comfortably. Images projected onto the FogScreen take only seconds to reform.

"We are very grateful for this award as it represents another importan

Hong Kong - Lighthouse Technologies has received a Highly Commended Award for Exhibition Stand Design at IBC 2005, held in Amsterdam's Rai Centre at the beginning of September.

The award was given for a successful combination of powerful visual impact, combined with a user-friendly yet creative configuration that allowed visitors free access around the stand. The design featured Lighthouse's flagship ultra high resolution R6 6mm pixel pitch screen in a 2.88 x 5.12m format, the super quiet R10 10mm pixel pitch screen hung in three vertical strips and the new portable, self-contained PopVision based on the 6mm pixel pitch screen, as well as sister company OptiLED's Linear Optical Array flow above the R10 screens.

"The highly creative nature of our product really lends itself to a visually impactful stand," comments Lighthouse managing director Mark Chan, "and bein

UK - 5 Star Cases, the Cambridgeshire-based flightcase manufacturer, showcased its recent major investment into 3D modelling software at the recent PLASA Show. 'Solid Edge' from UGS, was demonstrated over the four-day event by 5 Star's Andy Stockdale, who has been implementing the system into the company's facilities over the past few months.

The main software capabilities were demonstrated including the fabrication of case fittings and hardware, case assemblies and photo-realistic rendering. Integration into other company facilities were also demonstrated, such as generation of production ready geometry for use with CNC machining systems. XpressReview, a free 'client-based' application was also shown.

Keith Sykes, 5 Star's works director, said: "The interest shown by both new clients and existing customers in this new software was fantastic. The company will be 'rolling

Hong Kong - Organized by Haymarket Publishing's AV Magazine and now in its fifth year, the AV Awards has become one of the AV industry's most important annual events. Lighthouse Technologies has been announced as one of the finalist in the Manufacturer of the Year category, the award for which will be presented to 'the manufacturer who has shown the most marketing, technological or application innovation'. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony held at London's Hilton Metropole on 10 October.

Lighthouse's cutting edge LED technology can be seen around the globe and has been used in prestigious installations such as the Coca Cola screen in London's Picadilly Circus, ClearChannel's NYC subway portal digital signage network, the set of the Queen's We Will Rock You show in Las Vegas, London, Cologne and Melbourne as well as hundreds of large scale events includin

Belgium - ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) 2006 has nearly doubled in size from the previous show with still over four months to go until the event itself in February 2006. At the Brussels Expo, more than 2000 sqm of extra space has been allocated to meet the increasing demand from new and existing companies. Key exhibitors who signed up over the summer were Eiki and Dataton.

These were astonishing figures for Mike Blackman, ISE 2006 managing director, he says: "We are delighted to see that the level of new business continues to grow each month. Even over the traditionally quiet summer months, we managed to sell over 200sqm of exhibition space. The interest levels and awareness of ISE 2006 is increasing all the time and, now that the website has gone live, we will be channelling our energies towards the visitor and press with a series of exciting roadshows, editorial and adv

Hong Kong - Denmark-based Dansk Data Displays (DDD) has found an increasing demand in the Danish installation and rental markets for Lighthouse LED video screens in recent months, in particular the R10 and P10i/o 10mm pixel pitch screens, for both indoor and outdoor use.

In Odense, one of Denmark's largest newspapers, Fyens Stiftstidende, has recently moved its head office to the centre of the main city, situated opposite Hans Christian Anderson Square, in a new building, of which the façade is made almost entirely from glass.

Fyens wants to let its customers know what the company does, as it not only produces a newspaper, but is also a radio station and advertising bureau. For this the company turned to DDD who worked in conjunction with the architects to install a Lighthouse LED video screen on the side of the building. This displays news to the city as it's produced by the

USA - XL Touring Video, in collaboration with video contractor, CW Productions, recently provided lighting designer Jim Lenahan, with the technical solutions to bring the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tour to life!

Jim Lenahan and CW Productions approached XL looking for a solution for a technically challenging concept. Chris Mitchell, XL's chief engineer, explains: "He wanted a wall of projection screens in geometric shapes, each functioning independently and framed with versa tubes. Based on our experiences with Destiny's Child and U2, we immediately suggested the Folsom Encore's Processors which could be controlled via DMX using proprietary software."

XL Touring Video put together a team, including Mitchell, CW Productions' video engineer, Shawn Reek, and independent programmer, Stuart White. "This was a very complex project and many, many hours of programm

UK - The PLASA Show has again proved itself one of the most influential events in the industry calendar. Around 13,000 (subject to ABC audit) key industry people visited London in early September to participate in what is now the major international gathering-point for the entertainment, event and installation industries. The emphasis was very much on business, with exhibitors not only generating significant leads, but also reporting an unprecedented number of orders being placed.

As in previous years, the Show had a strong international profile with a third of exhibitors based outside the UK, and an increasing international visitor attendance, which is now nudging the 30% mark.

One of the key reasons for the Show's continued momentum is its focus on new developments and its ongoing investment in interactive feature areas, awards that recognize the best design work in the indu

Australia - Newcastle Stadium, the home of legendary Aussie rugby league team, the Newcastle Knights, has upgraded viewing capabilities for its fans through the installation of a giant outdoor video screen, manufactured and designed by Lighthouse Technologies. The screen, a Lighthouse Technologies P12-ER high resolution LED display, will relay to rugby fans spectacular, live images of their favourite Newcastle Knights players in action. Spectators will also be able to view true-to-life images of instant replays, game statistics, player interviews and advertisements, all from different angles of the stadium's pitch.

Australian systems integrator Bytecraft Entertainment was Lighthouse's local partner responsible for the installation of the 5 x 4 panel (38.4sq.m) video screen, which is positioned centrally in the Newcastle Stadium grounds in full view of the main spectator stands.

Hong Kong - Lighthouse LED screens are set to play a key part in the broadcasting of the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. Renchen-based audio/visual provider Cassiopeia Veranstaltungstechnik is taking delivery of 16 panels of Lighthouse R19 LED screen this month.

"There is a large area of southern Germany where mobile LED screens are not currently available. We wanted the best product to serve that market and fit with our high quality lighting and sound portfolio," says Cassiopeia's Martin Heuberger. "You only get one chance to impress a customer, so it's vital that you get the best.

"Lighthouse is a global player," continues Heuberger. "We are the first to stock their products in this part of Germany and therefore fast technical support was very important. We asked other companies who own Lighthouse screens and they all said that the technical b

UK - For the staging of its annual Quality Awards ceremony and theatrical entertainment, an NHS Trust has called upon the services and expertise of PSL for the fifth year in a row, taking full advantage of the one-stop event production shop, project-managed by PSL's Mark Solomons.

The South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental healthcare to its local region, hosted its annual awards show at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon. PSL supplied all production design, sets, lighting and dedicated lighting designer John Montague, sound, vision mixing, a 2-camera DVD shoot plus a confetti cannon for the show finale.

Set designer Oliver Stewart comments: "I have to balance the musical elements with the fact that it is an awards ceremony in a theatrical space, and the design has to work in a multi-tiered theatre."

Video as shown on-stage on two 10ft x 7.5ft

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was appointed by Somerset House Productions to design and supply the giant projection screen for Somerset House/ Filmfour's spectacular The Summer Screen - a week of diverse outdoor feature film screenings, staged in the Somerset House's majestic 18th century courtyard.

The schedule featured a programme of classic films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Oscar-winning Japanese animation Spirited Away and the metropolitan premiere of the horror film Land of the Dead, as well as music sets from DJs as diverse as Asian Dub Foundation, Osymyso and Four Tet.

Blackout's Project Manager Kevin Monks collaborated with Somerset House's Events Manager John Howes to design and supply the integral giant cinema projection screen to his specifications.

Manufactured by Blackout France, the 17.5 metre x 7 met

UK - London-based event services company PSL has expanded its sales team with the appointment of David Hudson as head of sales. Hudson brings heaps of experience to the energetic PSL task force, having spent the last two-and-a-half years working for George P. Johnson, the world's largest event marketing company. As business development director, he was instrumental in establishing GPJ's new UK operation; prior to that, he spent 10 years working in the event production industry, always in a sales and marketing role and usually in the live environment.

Hudson says he welcomes the opportunities offered by PSL's wide-ranging skill-set and its massive inventory of technical equipment. With the mainstream corporate sector in his sights, he plans to co-ordinate the company's sales approach, emphasizing the 'one-stop shop' capability that is unique to PSL.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - For the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea which opens this month, Signwave UK has designed, developed and delivered advanced lighting control systems that run on Windows XP platforms.

Amongst the technology behind the exhibits are three Martin MAC250+ moving heads that can be positioned and controlled by a computer using the industry standard DMX protocol. "Multimedia developers ISO wanted a visitor-controlled trackball to move a spotlight in realtime over a projected map of Wales," says Adrian Ward, manager of Signwave UK. "We love a challenge and after a heavy period of research and testing, we showed that we could precisely position the spotlight on the map using custom software, and give the developers of the multimedia software a way to control the light in their code."

Signwave developed its DMXBridge software to bridge the gap between a visi

Belgium - In response to "an ever increasing market demand to utilise LED display technology in a creative way", Barco has launched three products - MiSphere, Creative MiPix and Creative Olite.

"Adding a creative dimension to LED technology attests Barco's technology leadership in the international events and architectural lighting industry. Most of the products have been developed in close partnership with leading show designers and can now be offered as a true solution to the market. Let's break the mold and unleash the creativity!" comments Stephan Paridaen, president of Barco Media & Entertainment.

A MiSphere consists of 4 full colour high performance LEDs that reside inside an opaque, light-defusing capsule. With 360-degree viewing angles, and the ability to play both full video & data, the MiSphere bridges the gap between existing video and lighting p

UK - Cambridgeshire based flightcase manufacturer 5 Star has taken delivery of its second CNC Machining Centre. Again, 5 Star chose the Thermwood Corp of Indiana, USA to supply the CNC Machining Centre, which joins the company's already installed Thermwood Model 40 which has been in use for over six years. Thermwood was chosen for its reliability, ease of use and excellent after sales support.

The move is part of the company's ongoing investment programme, and follows an exceptionally busy period over the last 12 months. "Six years ago, we took delivery of our first CNC system from Thermwood, and this was seen as a big step at the time!" says 5 Star works director, Keith Sykes. "Since then, the move to our new factory five years ago and investment into other CNC systems has continued. With the growth over the last few months, we didn't hesitate in purchasing anoth

UK - For the third successive year, Blitz supplied cutting edge projection and video solutions for the Liberal Democrats Autumn Federal Conference held in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens, last month. Blitz working, with Qwerk Ltd, supplied the event with equipment and expertise to help host the conference.

Blitz managing director Paul Hutton commented: "Blitz strives to ensure that it provides a total AV solution for its clients by combining industry expertise with the highest quality technology that meets each venue's unique requirements. Having worked with Qwerk on a number of projects, we understand their needs and are able to provide the company with a one-stop solution for projection, cameras and graphics. All this combined with the technical experience of hosting such large events successfully."

Equipment supplied by Blitz included two projection screens, digit

UK - Unitek Displays have supplied a 4 sq. metres V9 LED screen, with DVI processor to Gatecrasher for use outside the company's new £3m late-night development, Discotheque in Leeds. With a 17.5mm pixel pitch and impressive viewing angle, the V9 system is a direct descendant of Unitek's award-winning MS17 screen.

Gatecrasher managing director, Simon Raine, said the idea of beaming moving images out on the Leeds City Centre Loop came to him once he realised that 12,000 cars drove along the road every day. "You drive through London, New York and Tokyo and you get hit by moving images everywhere. It's a good form of advertising, particularly in the current climate where local authorities are clamping down on printed material being handed out. We needed a new idea, and this is it."

His production team reviewed the market alternatives, and many of the routes they pu

UK - Barco received the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the 2005 AV Awards ceremony held in London last week. Barco collected the award for its work, in conjunction with Innovative Design and rental partner XL Video, in designing and creating the MiSphere LED modules for U2's Vertigo tour.

The judges stated that Barco's technological innovation and the way it worked with the U2 tour designers to develop MiSphere was a good example of a manufacturer working with its clients to develop the market as well as an engineering feat.

Lee Spencer from XL Video comments: "The experience of working with Barco on this project was refreshing, as their professionalism, dedication and commitment to every aspect of the MiSphere 's production was inspiring."

Stephan Paridaen, President of Barco's Media and Entertainment division adds: "For the U2 tour, we have worked

Control solution provider ShowMagic showed its new suite of products - SL, SLX, AV and Vista. This suite of products allows for the synchronization of lighting, sound and AV elements from a single control package. It also makes use of multiple protocols, audio and video formats as well as PowerPoint files to give the user a single control interface.

Total Audio Solutions was very proud to be showing the brand new Anycast AWS-G500 A/V mixer from Sony at the show. The briefcase-sized device is an all in one solution with six video and audio inputs. The audio mixer has six real faders, a master fader and speakers all included in the unit. There is a high resolution 15" LCD monitor, VISCA camera control, iLink control and an intercom I/O. The company believes the unit will be a hit with theatre groups, churches and conference hire companies.

Visitors to PLASA 2005 who arrived by taxi may well have experienced the Cabvision system. Once inside the show they might also have seen another innovation by Devon Adsites' MD Jon Marquis - Adscreens. These are portable audio and video systems, worn like a rucksack, which can be used to promote a brand anywhere that a person can walk. "It's like a space-age sandwich board," smiled Marquis. Slightly less hi-tech is the AdJacket, following the same principle but featuring an illuminated panel which can carry a fixed advertisement poster.

Green Hippo, newly merged with Scenechange, launched its new versions of Hippotizer at PLASA. Features included new Dual Output with Pan mode option, PDoom MPG2 engine with ultra smooth slo-mo, and improved playback quality. In addition, new effects include edge blending, crop and trim, shifter and many more. Over the last year Hippotizer units have been out on tour with Basement Jaxx, Destiny's Child and the Foo Fighters amongst others.

UK - PSCo were awarded the AV Award for Rental Company of the Year at the ceremony in London last week. The judges commented: "PSCo's commitment to technical training and industry certification, allied to its use of customer surveys and performance measurement, helped it win this category - as did its introduction of new products to the trade rental sector."

Stuart Holmes, Director of PSCo added: "The 2004/2005 period for PSCo has seen a complete change in our business strategy which has set us apart as an innovative and service led company. The CASVP Gold Award recognised the work the whole team has put in to improve their technical knowledge and this award is a brilliant accolade for all their work this year."

PSCo will be showcasing its whole portfolio at Tech Event 2005 held at Reading Football Stadium Conference Centre on October 27.

(Jim Evan

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline