The show consolidated its core theatre roots, firstly by changing its name to the ABTT Theatre Show 2001, and secondly by widening its appeal to complementary sectors and actively targeting architects, consultants and specifiers of front-of-house services. This inevitably led to a broader range of products on the show floor and alongside the lighting, audio, AV and staging equipment, came front of house goods and services - principally seating, but also training, recruitment and licensing. This, in turn, led to more visitors and first indications are that the visitor figure was up a massive 72% over last year’s registered numbers . . .
The talk on the AC stand was of the company’s new HQ, the finishing touches to which, are being applied as we write and since we’re heading to High Wycombe in the next few weeks, you can read all the statistics in the next issue of L&SI.
Flightcases remain ADDA’s mainstay, but it has found a growing market in the range of all-weather protection systems that it distributes on behalf of OXO. The latest - Upside’Dome - has been modified since we saw it at PLASA and 34 were employed to protect the Vari-Lites at the Christmas illuminations of the London Eye.
Garwood’s range of in-ear systems were on the Amber Promotions stand. Garwood has recently introduced a new wireless microphone system to its range, as well as the new Airstream custom earpiece/microphone.
Andolite introduced a system which allows for the custom-construction of dimmers. TD-CARCASS uses a collection of standard and custom modules to enable the unit to be tailored to a specific requirement.
Specifically for theatre users, the Avolites Azure Shadow incorporates a suite of theatrical programming and playback functions, and can control a mixture of up to 200 intelligent fixtures and 200 dimmer channels.
AVW Controls was announcing recent success for its stage automation control system at the prestigious Glyndebourne Opera House, where the company’s Impressario system is used to control the opera’s three electrical bridges.
Anybody who attended Siel in February would know that Blackout Triple E has been appointed the UK distributor for Amelia’s ShowLED starcloth. And what better way to demonstrate the new product than by sponsoring the ABTT Dinner and using a massive starcloth to add a little sparkle to the event? CCT Lighting launched the Freeway radio dimming system - the finished version of a product we first saw in prototype form at PLASA. This is essentially a stand-alone battery-operated dimmer which relies on wireless technology utilizing 433MHz radio signalling. The hand-held control unit can control luminaires up to 100m away.
Making its debut on the d&b audiotechnik stand was the third generation E-PAC power amplifier controller, which offers full control of all functions via a digital rotary encoder (a knob!) and a liquid crystal display integrated in the front panel. E-PAC uses a switched mode power supply with power factor compensation that enables worldwide use without the need for mains voltage switching or conversion (85-265V). There are also additional set-ups to enable E-PAC to drive all d&b C, CI and E-series loudspeakers.
Enlightenment’s ABTT Show debut provided a chance for them to demonstrate their commitment to the ADB range of luminaires, control desks and dimmers. The focus of the stand lay very much with the Phoenix 10, ADB’s latest arrival, which features full ethernet networking and a touch-screen to aid moving light programming.
The ABTT Product of the Year Award went to the Headlock from Flint Hire & Supply. Designed by Nigel Hollowell to prevent the pan locking bolt rotating independently of a lantern’s trunion arm, the Headlock can be fitted quickly to most current luminaires. The objective is to eliminate the need for a sec
