Lighting

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10 September 2024

UK - Event production company NL Productions has been awarded the contract opportunity to deliver Dundee’s Christmas Village for the next three years. This development promises to bring festive magic to the heart of the city, “offering a vibrant celebration that will engage the local community and attract visitors from far and wide”.

The contract will run for further years until Christmas 2026. Earlier this year Dundee City Council announced they were looking to partner with a professional event management company to run the festive attraction in December.

The Christmas Village will be designed to appeal to all ages, offering something for everyone. The centrepiece is a 10m x 20m real ice rink where visitors can glide into the festive season. The Christmas Market will showcase local traders and caterers, offering unique gifts and seasonal treat

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10 September 2024

UK - Australian manufacturer LSC Control Systems enjoyed a successful PLASA Show in London this year. The company showed its renowned solutions alongside its UK distributor, A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET), and also on the stand of its new owner (and headline PLASA Show sponsor) Robe lighting s.r.o.

“PLASA this year was a really positive experience,” said LSC’s founder and managing director, Gary Pritchard. “Being in two such high-profile locations allowed us to get the full benefit of the show’s top-quality visitor base. The level of interest in our products, and the awareness of their advantages, was very satisfying.”

As a leading specialist in data distribution, power and lighting control, LSC’s increasingly popular solutions offer advanced protections and monitoring capabilities, giving the benefits of safety, reliability an

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10 September 2024

Europe - Follow-Me has announced the appointment of Thijs Bruins as global sales manager. Bruins will oversee the Follow-Me global sales network, aligning existing partners, expanding the network to improve customer experience and providing a strong base for the company’s future growth.

“We are really happy Thijs is joining Follow-Me,” Marc van der Wel, managing director says. “He brings lots of technical and commercial knowledge, industry experience and enthusiasm to our growing company.”

Bruins has a wealth of technical expertise. Starting out at a young age as a lighting technician and continuing to juggle this freelance work and training, his early experience underpins his deep understanding of the live events, theatrical and AV industries.

After years of freelancing, Bruins moved on to the role of manager of special projects at

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09 September 2024

USA - Texas-based rental and event production solutions company LD Systems has invested in 32 new Robe iForte LTX moving lights, purchased specifically to pair with their existing 14 RoboSpot remote follow spotting control systems.

“The iForte LTX is a proper ‘Swiss Army knife of fixtures’ – highly versatile and very robust,” commented LD Systems’ lighting operations manager, Nathan Brittain.

The company already has substantial quantities of other Robe products – Pointes, MegaPointes and Spikies – in its rental inventory which are in constant use on touring, concert, and festival systems as well as special events, spectaculars and one-offs, plus the RoboSpot Systems which up to this point had been working with BMFL LT fixtures.

Brittain explains that they were looking for an IP-rated high-powered moving light, especially for t

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09 September 2024

USA - Production/lighting designer Rob Sinclair is using Elation Proteus Maximus LED Profile lighting fixtures to support country star Zach Bryan on his ongoing Quittin’ Time tour. Playing North American dates in support of his fifth studio album, The Great American Bar Scene, which was released in July, the Proteus Maximus has been instrumental in supporting Bryan’s live performances in the challenging conditions of outdoor stadiums.

The Quittin’ Time tour marks a significant milestone in Zach Bryan’s career. His rise to country music stardom has been meteoric, and his production has grown alongside him. The artist took a big step last year when Rob Sinclair came on board as lighting designer as the production grew from a bus and a trailer to playing arenas in-the-round to now sold-out stadium shows.

Sinclair has h

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09 September 2024

UK - At the PLASA Show 2024, Highlite showcased a wide range of products from several of its brands including Infinity, Showtec and DAP. The range included some of Highlite’s most popular products as well as some impressive new offerings.

New additions to the Infinity Raccoon range included the Raccoon S420/4 strobe with over 70,000 lumens strobe power, Raccoon W40/4 wash with over 41,000 lumens RGBW wash light, Raccoon P7/7 high-end par with 7 RGBCALDB LEDs, Raccoon Junior P4/7 high-end par with 4 RGBCALDB LEDs and Raccoon Junior P7/4 high-end par with 7 RGBM LEDs.

Showtec's new products included the Titan Strobe Flex FX and the Octostrip Flex Set - 1 m. The Showtec Titan Strobe Flex FX is a set of eight high-power LED strobes and a dedicated controller, each pod containing a powerful 100W cold white COB strobe LED and a ring of 12 individually co

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09 September 2024

The Netherlands – “Delivering innovation and connecting communities” is a rallying cry for IBC 2024 on the show’s website. The Chauvet family of brands – Kino Flo, ChamSys and Chauvet Professional – will be embracing this concept at the convention by showcasing a selection of products developed around the company’s goal to “reach across worlds and see the physical and digital converge.”

Among the first things visitors will encounter at the booth is the special demo area created to showcase the multi-award-winning Kino Flo Mimik image-based video lighting tile. Using patented technology to connect ‘worlds’, Mimik projects light that mirrors video content while applying a higher tonal and colour rendering range.

With its capacity to translate incoming RGB video signals into five individual colour emitters, Mimik generates synchron

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06 September 2024

Europe - Goldensea has announced that it has agreed to acquire the business of SGM Light AS, and that SGM is now under the ownership of Goldensea. In the coming days SGM will restart trading under a new legal entity, retaining the SGM name.

Established in Italy in 1975, and now located in Aarhus, Denmark, SGM is a well-respected lighting manufacturer pioneering the use of IP65 moving lights before, more recently, focusing on architectural lighting. Both these aspects create strong synergies with Goldensea, which is investing heavily in both entertainment and architectural IP65 solid state lighting products.

SGM has always focused on technological innovation, being one of the first in the industry to launch all-weather waterproof moving head fixtures. It has experienced R&D, creative, operations and sales teams alongside mature sales channels and

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06 September 2024

UK - Following a “resounding success and sell-out event” in Bristol earlier this year, Stage Electrics has announced that their showcase is hitting the road. The first destination is Brighton, promising an opportunity for people interested in entertainment technology to connect, explore, and experience the newest products from leading brands.

On confirming the next Showcase location, Dave Coull, Group CEO, said: "We are excited to bring the Stage Electrics Showcase to Brighton. This is a chance to connect with our valued customers and demonstrate many of the market-leading products and services we provide.

“But the Showcase isn't just about the latest technology; it's about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and helping our clients find the right solutions for their performance spaces and venues. Showcasing the innovation and expertise

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06 September 2024

Italy - In the summer of 2024, Italian musicians Francesco Renga and Filippo Neviani, known as Nek, embarked on a tour that celebrated the best of their extensive discographies. This highly anticipated tour, aptly named Renganek Live 2024, blended Renga’s soulful rock with Nek’s dynamic pop-rock, offering audiences a musical experience grounded in a shared rock matrix.

Designed with flexibility and sustainability in mind, the tour utilises a semi-production setup that integrates essential aspects of a full-scale production with a more efficient and simplified approach. This combination ensures smooth execution across numerous tour dates, while also providing the adaptability to address the unique challenges and opportunities of each venue.

At the heart of the tour’s lighting setup is a sophisticated control system managed by renowned l

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06 September 2024

France - Since 2024, visitors to the Cité Immersive Viking in Rouen have been able to delve into the fascinating world of the Vikings. The multimedia exhibition retraces the Viking invasion of Normandy in the ninth and tenth centuries and brings the culture and history of the region to life in a multimedia and immersive way.

The organisers behind the exhibition have commissioned a specialist for the technical planning and implementation: the event technology service provider Novelty. Mathieu Cabanes was responsible for the lighting design of the various exhibition rooms. The French lighting designer originally comes from the world of opera, but has also made a name for himself with major corporate and sporting events. In the Cité Immersive exhibition, Cabanes relies on the versatile LED bars from the Cameo Pixbar G2 series and the RGBW PAR spots from the Q

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05 September 2024

USA - For this year’s Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama, production company TMS chose to go with the proven IP protection of Elation’s Proteus line of multi-environmental luminaires for the Shoreline Stage. With summer heat, frequent thunderstorms and a windy salt-spray setting to deal with, TMS sought the robust durability and weather-resistant performance of the established line of IP-rated luminaires.

Held 17-19 May on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, with production management provided by Lambda Productions, the annual three-day music festival serves as the kick-off to summer with both established artists and emerging talent playing on five different stages. The event is produced by AEG/Hangout Music Fest.

TMS has handled lighting production for the festival for many years and this year chose a nearly all Elation Proteus rig for the

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05 September 2024

USA - The annual three-day Northern Nights Music Festival takes place in and around the Cooks Valley Campgrounds in Piercy, CA.

Adding to the atmosphere this year was a new lighting rig designed by Brian Willison that featured 160 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by 4Wall Entertainment. Included in this mix were 22 Maverick Force S Spots, 12 Maverick Storm 2 BeamWashes, 32 Color Strike M motorised strobe-washes, 14 Rogue R1 FXB units, 62 Colorado 1QS RGBW wash lights, six Rogue R1 Washes, and 12 Colorado PXL 16 motorised battens.

The colour rendering prowess and intense output of these fixtures were used to create a variety of deeply evocative looks that contributed to the transformative vibe of Northern Nights. When designing the rig, Willison strove to create a harmonious balance between the lights and the 31.3’ by 18.8’ video wall.

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05 September 2024

USA - Based in San Diego, California, turnkey production design studio and rental company Maktive says it is “dedicated to bringing the GLP fixture experience to the masses”.

The company has been quick to back up this pledge by ordering large quantities of the German company’s latest generation of IP65-rated fixtures, all on the advanced X5 platform.

When it “blind purchased” 150 of the new JDC2 IPs after seeing prototypes at the LDI booth last November, it became its single largest investment in one type of fixture. And by then it had already bought 100 each of the impression X5 IP Bar 1000 and Fusion by GLP Exo Beam 10s, as well as 50 of the new impression X5 IP Maxx.

The IP fixtures already serve the company well in all elements, as they travel coast-to-coast during the outdoor event season. But Bryan McClanahan, who set up the p

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04 September 2024

South Africa - Production designer Wilhelm Disbergen has completed an array of video-focused shows across his home country, utilising tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers to transform the look and feel of each piece.

Disbergen – who has served as video and production designer for dance and ballet, musicals, opera, theatre and corporate projects – focused on two of Johannesburg’s National School of the Arts (NSA) productions recently, using Hippotizer Media Servers on both to raise the bar on visual design.

One of these was Project 24, which invited audiences to experience a new generation of emerging choreographers from the school to showcase new choreography. During the production, the students gave shape and form to abstract concepts and ideas as they offered a unique perspective and window into the mindset of young

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04 September 2024

Europe - Elumen8 has announced the release of their new Tour Batten IP, a powerful fixture equipped with integral pivoting brackets, omega clamps and a rugged, rental-ready IP65 housing. It’s ready to be taken on the road with the optional eight-way batten flight case.

Ten 10W tunable warm white LEDs produce a variable colour temperature from a rich warm white (1,600K) up to a realistic halogen (2,900K) tone. The temperature can be preset via the rear menu or DMX. When dimmed, the fixture can emulate a traditional halogen lamp with a rich amber glow similar to a sunstrip. Colour temperature processing is handled automatically via the battens CPU.

Chris Beesley, product sourcing manager says: "The Elumen8 Tour Batten has been revamped and is now IP rated – preparing it for use in outdoor events, concerts and festivals. The LED and collimator combi

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04 September 2024

USA - When Kelly Feild returned to Bandit Lites as the director of personnel, she referred to it as “coming home”, working alongside Bandit Lites vice-president of business and innovation, Jake Tickle.

Feild now serves as the second in command at the Bandit International Facility in Nashville. This continues the Bandit move into what the firm calls Gen8 at Bandit. “A new generation of young, talented people are taking the leadership positions to guide Bandit through the next 30 years,” said Bandit Lites chair and founder Michael T. Strickland. “Kelly and several other younger people are now in the critical roles at Bandit. They both follow the established Bandit Standards, but with a point of view and outlook for how to improve every day. The one constant is change, and Kelly is a big part of the Gen8 change at Bandit.”

“I started at Ba

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03 September 2024

UK - The winners of the 2024 PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show, currently running at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.

44 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products. And, for the first time in a number of years, the judges were delighted to also award the sustainability award. This year’s judging team comprised 13 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.

The winning products and judges’ comments are listed below:
Glensound for GTM Mobile  
The judges felt that this f

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03 September 2024

Portugal - Europalco leveraged the power of Kuka robot to create a memorable experience at the 36th Deloitte IRGAwards 2024. Held at the Carlos Lopes Pavilion in Lisbon, the event, organised by Desafio Global, welcomed 270 guests.

This year, the IRGAwards focused on technology and artificial intelligence, creating an atmosphere that showcased the harmony between humans and machines. Europalco’s Kuka robot played a prominent role in this narrative. The evening began with a performance where a Kuka robot played the piano alongside a pianist. A highlight of the event was the captivating dance performed by a Kuka robot and a professional dancer. These demonstrations showcased the impressive capabilities of modern robotics.

The IRGAwards 2024 stood out for its innovative use of visual and scenic elements. Of particular note was the 360-degree immersive

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03 September 2024

Canada - MDG Fog, manufacturer of fog, haze, and low fog generators, has announced the availability of GDTF (General Device Type Format) files on https://link.mdgfog.com/GDTF

GDTF files are crucial for lighting professionals who seek to streamline and enhance their workflow. The General Device Type Format (GDTF) is an open standard used in the entertainment industry to describe the capabilities of lighting fixtures and other stage equipment in a standardized format. By using GDTF files, lighting designers and technicians can ensure seamless integration and accurate representation of MDG Fog’s products in their lighting control systems and 3D visualization software.

The addition of these GDTF files underscores MDG Fog’s commitment to supporting the industry with the latest technological advancements, enabling users to create more precise and dynam

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02 September 2024

Australia - It was confirmed at PLASA Show 2024 that with effect from 1 September, Melbourne-based manufacturer LSC Control Systems will become the Australia & New Zealand distributor for UK-based lighting controls and visual systems manufacturer, Avolites.

Both companies are owned by Czech Republic-based moving light and LED manufacturer, Robe lighting s.r.o.

This significant development will be mutually beneficial to both brands in Australia & New Zealand – and to the market as it signals a new period of opportunity for the region’s professional lighting industry.

It also brings these two renowned brands full circle. Although in robust competition for more than 30 years, the two enjoyed a successful partnership back in the 1980s, when LSC provided certain products under OEM license to Avolites.

As Robe businesses, both c

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02 September 2024

UK - Follow-Me BV, the Dutch manufacturer of 3D performer tracking solutions for the AV and entertainment industries has announced the launch of its Track-iT Weatherproof Anchor. This new product is being showcased by Entedi, Follow-Me’s UK sales partner, on stand G33 at the PLASA Show this week.

The Follow-Me Track-iT Weatherproof Anchor is designed to integrate seamlessly with Follow-Me Track-iT systems, using ultra-wideband technology, multiple anchors are strategically positioned to pinpoint tags placed on the performer, building on scalability and improving tracking capabilities in outdoor environments.

Its IP65 rating ensures the Track-iT Weatherproof Anchor can withstand anything from dust and downpours, delivering consistent and reliable results whatever the weather. Built to perform reliably in a variety of conditions, the units meet rigor

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02 September 2024

UK - Claypaky is unveiling new models in the Tambora and Mini-B families as well as on other latest products such as Arolla Aqua, HY BY-EYE K15 Aqua, Volero Cube and Rhapsodya.

The stand will feature a pre-recorded product presentation, with video content displayed on the LED Wall. In between product presentations you can request hands-on demos from both Claypaky and CP Wave technical staff.

Tambora Rays is a blend of volumetric effects and single pixel mapping for unparalleled performance: the 9x3 rows of high-power RGBWW LEDs will inspire your creativity. With pixel-to-pixel control, a total of 27 single LEDs can be managed for ‘creative potential and stunning lighting effects’.

This compact and lightweight powerhouse can be used in grids, as a stage or screen border, arranged in vertical or horizontal arrays, or as columns or flying ba

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02 September 2024

UK - Sound Technology has announced its appointment as the UK and ROI distributor for the Sumolight Groups’ Sumomax lighting system.

Sumomax is a 500W full colour RGBWW LED soft light luminaire designed for film, television, and photography professionals. Known for its high output, adjustable colour temperature, and compact design, the Sumomax has rapidly gained traction in the global entertainment industry.

Steve Fay, managing director of Sound Technology, stated, "We're excited to represent Sumolight in the UK market. Its innovative lighting system perfectly complements our expanding portfolio of lighting brands and reinforces our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to creative professionals."

Tim Zur, managing director of the Sumolight Group, commented, “We are delighted to be able to start our journey with Sound Technology