CEG boosts Robe stock with RoboSpots
- Details
Founded by Ben Bowles and Gavin Thorrold in 2008, the company has weathered the challenges of the pandemic with some smart thinking and fiscal agility and continues to be constantly busy.
CEG has been investing steadily in Robe moving lights and LED products since 2012 – when LEDBeam 100s first joined the inventory which has seen a steady flow of purchases since 2015, with the addition of Pointes, Cyc FX8s, LEDWash 600s, and BMFLs to stock.
The most recent Robe purchases have been Spiiders, Esprites, LEDBeam 150s and RoboSpot systems. The 13 x RoboSpot systems mean CEG holds one of the largest rental-only stocks in the UK, and these make up over 500 Robe luminaires currently available.
“CEG’s business is driven by specifications and demand,” explained Ben, adding that Robe products have proved solid assets in recent years as popular choices from a market leading manufacturer.
The first pair of RoboSpot systems was acquired shortly after the product was launched in 2016, but it was in the last 12 months that most of the others were acquired, ahead of what Ben and Gavin correctly predicted would be a crazy summer 2022!
“RoboSpots have become massively in demand post-Covid,” observes Ben, conjecturing that this is partly fuelled by industry-wide crew shortages. RoboSpot systems save dramatically on time, trucking and crew needed for the set up, and while they still need operators, the system is less idiosyncratic and more user friendly and easily learnable than conventional follow spots.
He notices two other trends, one for having fewer people working at height where possible on an event, with the second offering more flexible and creative follow spotting elements to shows. “A system like RoboSpot is great for touring shows playing different sized venues each day.”
Typically, CEG’s RoboSpot systems will go out paired with BMFL WashBeam fixtures, but Ben notes that ESPRITES and T1 Profiles are also a popular option to use with the remote BaseStations.
Being able to use the system with multiple different light sources makes it even more adaptable for different scenarios.
CEG has separate motion cameras for their RoboSpot systems allowing the fixtures to be utilised for other duties as well as remote follow spotting.
Service and support have been critical to decisions to keep investing in Robe over the years says Ben, adding that the products have a good warranty and that the backup from Robe UK is “second to none”.
CEG currently has a team of full-time employees, and this year has been hectic amidst a welcome return to full speed and beyond! “It’s fantastic to see the industry bounce back the way it has,” enthused Ben.
