MAD Lighting has gained an out-of-court legal settlement to stop UK distributor Terralec Ltd importing the Pearl River Tornado - a product which is practically a look-a-like of its own MAD Scan. The settlement followed MAD's decision to register the design for its MAD Scan fixture and, in particular, its plastic casing (reg. 2058915). As a result, Terralec has given an undertaking not to import, sell, and advertise infringing goods in the UK, nor can it infringe the design or assist others to do the same. Full story August L&SI.
Geoff Jones of Laser Studio and Illuminatum, has teamed with Dublin-based Kevin McCarthy (AVL) to form a new company, JMC Lighting. The new enterprise will be dedicated to providing an exclusive UK and Irish dealership for the full range of Coef intelligent lighting products and will operate out of both the UK and Eire. AVL has already used an assortment of Coef products for a series of high profile venues in Ireland, including many of Dublin's major recently opened venues.
PJ Lighting has been granted a full patent for its PLASA Award-winning Multi Truss Adaptor - the CD146. The product, which was highly commended in the 1998 PLASA Awards, is a heavy-duty, multi-use truss adapter for mounting trussing to tripod or trussing stands. The main feature of this product is its unique ability to hold trussing in all of its differing angles - apex up, apex down, ladder truss and box truss. As well as holding trussing to stands, the adapter can securely clamp light or sound products to trussing.
The high-profile circus of the Republican National Convention 2000 in Philadelphia, which ended yesterday with George W Bush's nomination as the Republican Presidential candidate, featured an extensive entertainment lighting system, composed mainly of High End Systems fixtures. Lighting designer Bill Klages specified 44 Cyberlight Turbo units, 40 Studio Color 575s, 30 Studio Spots and 40 Dataflash AF-1000 xenon strobes, supplied by the Production Resource Group (PRG), to enhance the stages, seats, ceilings and spectators in what is literally a political arena. Performers during the four-day event have included Jimmie Vaughan and his Tilt-a-Whirl Band, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, The Delfonics, Jon Secada and Lee Greenwood.
PLASA Exclusive: In a move which aligns DHA's international marketing strategy with its UK business practice, DHA and Rosco have redefined their long-standing marketing agreement. Effective from September 10 - the opening day of PLASA 2000 - the new agreement will enable DHA to market direct its catalogue of 900 plus metal gobo designs and its range of moving effects products, in all countries except North and South America, Canada and Australia, where Rosco maintains its exclusivity. The decision to redefine the partnership, which gave Rosco exclusive worldwide (except UK) marketing rights for DHA gobo designs and moving effects, and DHA the right to market the Rosco images, recognises that design and international business practices have changed dramatically in the 16 years that the two companies have worked together. The gobo design of DHA's business will also continue to devel
Our telephone numbers at PLASA Publishing have changed. The old number - 01323 642639- has now been replaced by a new number - 01323 418400. Callers to the old number will, for the time being, be redirected to the new one automatically. The PLASA office number remains 01323 410335, although each member of staff at head office will now also have a direct line. The fax number for the entire office - 01323 646905 - remains unchanged.
Registration and sponsorships are now being accepted for High End Systems' Third Annual Gary Whittington Memorial Golf Tournament, in conjunction with LDI 2000 in Las Vegas. The shotgun/scramble event tees off at 8am on Thursday 19 October at the Las Vegas Paiute Resort at Snow Mountain, 10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd. Team prizes will be given, with individual prizes for longest drive men's and longest drive women's, closest to the pin and hole-in-one. If you would like to participate, the cost is $179 per player and deadline for registration is 1 October.
Reel EFX Inc, the original manufacturer of the Skydancer Fan, has announced the availability of the first disposable air tube puppet - now seen at various trade shows, parties and many other types of special event. The puppets are made of the same polytubing used for the original Skydancer Fan. The company currently produces 11 at very reasonable prices, and more are on the drawing board.
As part of the ongoing development of international sales, and following the announcement that it is now marketing its full range of products direct to overseas customers, DHA has restructured its sales division to incorporate four international regional sales managers. As well as seeking out new international stockists, they will also arrange joint product training and workshops for end users. Three of the regional sales managers have been appointed from within the company: Louise Robson-Tester will be responsible for stockists and dealers in the UK and Eire, while Nigel Sadler assumes control of Benelux and Scandinavian countries. Julie Harper, previously head of DHA's marketing, will now concentrate on the development of sales in Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East. The appointment of the fourth RSM, who will cover middle Europe and Eastern Bloc countries, will be announced later
Following a period of rapid expansion, the changes at board and senior management level at Lighting Technology Group, announced in January, have been followed by a further stage of restructuring. Business development director Paul de Ville is to leave the company. De Ville, who has been with the company for over 15 years and has made a valuable contribution to its progress, is off to explore new challenges.In the meantime, several new members have been appointed to the sales and administration teams. Jonathan Price, who has a wealth of technical experience in the theatre, conference and exhibition industries, joined the company in April to cover entertainment field sales in the South East. Joining the sales team at Park Royal is Anil Talwar, who moves in from ETC Europe, bringing with him excellent knowledge of the ETC product range. Sarah Davis, late of Stagetec, has been employed to ha
California-based Lumenyte International Corporation, a specialist in the development and manufacture of plastic fibre optic lighting systems, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings with the confirmation on 3 August of its Plan of Reorganization. The case was filed after LIC's secured lender, Imperial Bank, declared a default claiming that LIC tangible net worth did not increase at the rate called for under Imperial's loan documents. Imperial subsequently moved for the appointment of a state court receiver which compelled LIC to institute the bankruptcy proceeding. The Board of Directors of LIC decided to institute the proceeding to allow LIC to restructure financial affairs through a plan of reorganization. LIC had approximately $1 million of general unsecured debt, as of the bankruptcy petition date, which was all current within agreed upon terms with LIC's vendors. LIC has
As part of its ongoing expansion programme, Northern Light has announced that Colin Cuthbert is to join the company in the key role of regional sales manager. Previously with Strand for three years, Cuthbert's experience will make a significant difference to Northern Light - Strand's largest distributor. His professional career started in lighting and technical management with companies such as English National Opera, the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Glyndebourne. Based in London, he will be responsible for development of Northern Light's business in London and South of England.
Gearhouse has underlined its expansion by setting up a new base in Bournemouth. The move will enable the company to service both the hotel trade in the seaside town, following the contract it signed recently with De Vere Hotels, in addition to events in mainland Europe. Heading up the new operation is the experienced Chris Eveleigh, whose background includes hotel management, a stint with British Airways and work for the AV and conferencing industries for AVA Europe. Gearhouse project manager Alex Quarterman, who will relocate from the company's Birmingham office, joins him in the new venture.
Vari-Lite International has sold its operations in Madrid to an investment group led by Pablo Galindo Aragon and Sonia Martin, the managers of VLPS Madrid. Terms of the transaction are being kept under wraps, but we understand it includes the sale of Vari-Lite Production Services SL, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary in Madrid, and all the Vari-Lite automated equipment located in Spain and Portugal. Additionally, VLPS Madrid has been appointed a dealer for Vari-Lite International in Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa.
Laser Grafix has welcomed Paul Sadler back to the fold. Sadler first began working for them in 1988, progressing to hire manager before leaving to join Stagestruck as project manager. He returns to the company as technical sales executive.
Seelite has organised a series of workshops. The first covers the fundamentals of the software programme WYSIWYG. Lars Nissen and Leif Hellberg will introduce participants to WYSIWYG demonstrating how it was used on earlier projects such as the Danish Eurovision Song Contest 2000 and the Danish Grammys 2000. The briefings will take place in Aarhus on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 October and in Copenhagen on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 October. The company is also organising a rigging course, led by Martin Svane and Martin Corneliussen. Participants will become acquainted with subjects such as suspension of equipment, personal safety, choice and use of gear, and, finally, use of truss systems. The course is mainly theoretical, but includes a few practical features. This takes place on Copenhagen on Wenesday 1 November and Aarhus on Monday 2 November.
The Acclaim Axial is the latest addition to Selecon's Acclaim range of 500-650W luminaires, incorporating the superior efficiency of the latest compact filament lamps, axial configuration and custom lens designs. The result, says Selecon, is a high-performance variable Zoom luminaire a precise and even beam. As well as the standard safety features, the Axial also benefits from safe and easy adjustment of the light distribution from a centre peak to a flat field and two interchangeable beam angle choices for short or longer throw applications. The heat management system uses hot mirror technology: the lamp socket and wiring are contained in a separate compartment, isolated from the direct energy of the light source by a substantial heat sink. Air moves through the two zones dissipating the heat, maximising component life. The Astral Axial model, meanwhile, combines a high-quality projecto
When Kvaerner Masa-Yards, builders of the Costa Atlantica for Costa Cruises, were specifying equipment for both the ship's 1,170-seat main theatre and the 320-seat show lounge, they sourced the entire requirement of colour-changers from Wybron, supplied by Foki Oy of Helsinki. The main Caruso Theatre has Wybron Coloram IIs fitted on to 74 ETC Source Fours and 43 Source Four Par and Wildfire UV fixtures, while the Salone delle Feste Corallo, the smaller show lounge, has another 16 Coloram IIs. The Coloram II offers lighting designers up to 32 colours, which on the 7.5" model will scroll end to end in 2.5 seconds. The Costa Atlantica, which is now the flagship of the Costa line, will initially cruise the Mediterranean, operating weekly cruises from Venice to Greece and Turkey. In November she will transfer to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin seven-day cruises in the Caribbean.
High End Systems fixtures have been chosen to illuminate the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games on September 15 and October 1, respectively. Designed by LD John Rayment, the ceremonies at Olympic Stadium in Sydney's Olympic Park will be seen live by about 120,000 spectators and on television by an estimated three billion people worldwide. Rayment and lighting director Rohan Thornton are using 300 Cyberlight Turbo and 40 Cyberlight fixtures, as well as 136 Studio Beam luminaires, and 132 Studio Color 575 luminaires. To control the multi-layered system, the designers are using 14 Flying Pig Systems Wholehog II consoles. Bytecraft, the exclusive Australian distributor for High End Systems, is the event's general lighting contractor, and is working with two German companies, Procon and Sound and Light, to pull the massive lighting system together.
A new nightclub - Möndo - has opened in the town of Oban. This is the first purpose-built club in the Strathclyde town and the technical specification and installation contract for lighting and sound was won by Jools Hodgkinson and his new company Fairway Entertainments Ltd. Hodgkinson is a technical director and resident VJ at The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh and also one of a new generation of club installers. He compiled the specification in conjunction with Lightfactor's team of Bill Jones, Dave Hartley and Peter Loosemore. This featured High End lighting fixtures for the core of the rig - six Studio Spot 250s and six Technobeams. Control for all dancefloor lighting fixtures is via a LightProcessor QCommander. Lightfactor also supplied the audio rig, consisting of Electro-Voice speakers - MTH mid tops, MTL1 subs, plus SX 300s for infills and the DJ booth; QSC PLX 1602 and 3402 amplifie
Martin Professional is expanding its touring and theatre division with the appointment of Mark Ravenhill as stage lighting manager. Ravenhill, who previously worked with Martin at the company's Danish HQ, joins them from AC Lighting where he was marketing manager. One of his first roles will be to oversee the launch of the new MAC 2000 at the forthcoming PLASA Show. The company has also strengthened its technical department with the appointment of Steve Chimarades as technical manager. Chimarades brings with him a technical background and was most recently with a telecommunications company.
OmniSistem of Wahington state, has added Rick Poole to its sales staff. Poole joins the company from Guitar Center in Tukwila, Washington, where he managed the DJ and lighting department. He has been a mobile and club DJ for 10 years, as well as a successful club systems installer/contractor. His experience with lighting products for the DJ and club level will be a great asset to bolster sales of the Programmi Sistem Luce (PSL) products, the COEF MP250 series, and La Novalight Booster and centrepieces.
On August 1 Stig Poulsen took over as Martin Professional's new R&D director replacing long-time head of R&D, Finn Kaellestrup. Poulsen joins Martin from building control company Danfoss where he was technical manager. His principal role will be to develop the R&D department's flexibility and design capabilities, as well as to strengthen the company's infrastructure.
LG Corporation's new performing arts centre in South Korea is one Asia's most technically-advanced performance facilities, and features a state-of-the-art ETC dimming and control system supplied by ETC Asia, through Samhwa Yang Heng Co, ETC's Korean distributor. Much of the remaining performance lighting equipment was supplied by TMB Associates. This included a load distribution system, using over 2,000 metres of ProCable PC1214 six-circuit, 20A cable, plus 76 breakouts and break-ins, as well as various ProPlex control cables, including 1,000m of PCCCT colour-changer cable. TMB also supplied 400 ETC Source Four luminaires, 68 Wybron Coloram II colour-changers, 500 assorted City Theatrical Source Four accessories and an Aquafog 3300 CO2 fogger, two Altman 703 Blacklight fixtures, 70 ProCan Par 64 fixtures and various atmospheric effects from Le Maitre.
