The first operational units - a DGS 250 & a DGS 500 - are working in the Milton Keynes Theatre and will be touring the UK and Europe over the next few months, supporting Hall Stages 2005 Exhibition schedule.
"Once installed, the venue saves the time and effort involved in loading and unloading counterweight cradles," says Hall Stage director Phil Wells.
DGS installations are designed to "massively reduce" the time taken on fit-ups and show rigging. A bar is available immediately as required and can be loaded and flown in minutes, without the need for re-weighting. "Although not currently illegal as such, various aspects of the tasks involved are definitely inhumane and the practice has already been outlawed in Holland," adds Simon Caldwell, Hall Stages' senior project manager.
"The last three years have been leading up to this launch", says Charles Haines, Hall Stage MD. "We came up with the simple concept back in 2001 and spent a year just looking for the key components. We soon realised that only one material was suitable - the patented ASM steel band - then signed a deal with ASM Steuerungstechnik in Germany, to develop the practical solution we now have."
(Jim Evans)
