This latest strategic move leaves PCM’s German sister company, Augsburg-based Pfaff Stage Technologies (PST), free to concentrate on the design, sale and installation of major special projects. Recent examples of PST’s work in this area include a project for the Flora Theatre in Hamburg, a huge new theatre to which PST supplied 24 customized electric winches.
PCM’s managing director John Jones told us: "PCM’s European operation is now consolidated with the inclusion of Germany. PCM has always specialized in chain hoists, and having the European market under one roof makes economic sense and further improves efficiency. Frankfurt was also the obvious place to launch the new service."
At the show, PCM showed a selection of standard CM Lodestar and Prostar hoists as well as the BGV C1/ VBG 70 Lodestar hoists with special safety features such as double brakes, double safety factor with a chain safety factor of 10:1; four-position limit switches including emergency switches; under/overload electronic protection and a slack chain detection device. The FX Star range offers all these features as well as variable speed.
Special ‘monitored’ control systems were also shown in both manual and computerized variations. BGV C1 hoists are used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland when loads are moved over the heads of people. The safety features are required to be monitored to meet German regulations.
PCM business at Frankfurt was generally brisk and upbeat, says Jones. With three confirmed orders by the end of the show, and many enquiries ‘to quote’, it proved "The busiest Frankfurt for several years," he says.
A full round-up of the news from Frankfurt ProLight+Sound will appear in the April issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.
(Lee Baldock)
