UK - The Midlands branch of Rigging Services has re-located to larger and more central premises in Birmingham. The move of the business from its previous premises in Dudley, took place over the Christmas break and now offers an improved service, with easy access, more space, more Rental and re-sale stock immediately on hand.

Located directly on Junction 5 of the M6, the ease and speed of transport to the local venues and beyond to the motorway network was a major factor determining the choice of site.

Director Paul Fulcher states: "The re-location was an inevitable and overdue requirement for the Midlands branch which is an excellent local service provider but will also prove to be a 'hub' location for further planned Rigging Services branches in the NW and SW of the UK, complementing the main office in London."

The new contact details are: Rigging Services, Unit E

UAE - This year's PALME Middle East expo takes place on May 20-22, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, set within five halls and hosting three distinct vertical exhibitions. Organisers IIR Entertainment & Installation Technology Group have embraced a wide universe of technology applications, spanning architectural lighting and audio visual contracting, live event technology and staging, home automation and musical instruments.

Install @ PALME will be staging the inaugural Middle East Lighting Design Awards (MELDA), which represents a unique opportunity for the region to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the world's leading lighting designers. Winners of MELDA (which includes the Middle East Lighting Designer of the Year), will be presented at an extravagant Gala dinner held at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai on May 21.

MELDA is endorsed by the world ren

USA - ESTA's Technical Standards Program has announced that three draft standards have been posted on the ESTA website for public review through to March 12, 2007. The draft standards, BSR E1.22, Entertainment Technology - Fire Safety Curtain Systems; BSR E1.35-200x, Standard for Lens Quality Measurements for Pattern Projecting Luminaires Intended for Entertainment Use; and SR E1.36-200x, Model Procedure for Permitting the Use of Tungsten-Halogen Incandescent Lamps and Stage and Studio Luminaires in Vendor Exhibit Booths in Convention and Trade Show Exhibition Halls, can be accessed atwww.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.

BSR E1.22 - 200x, Entertainment Technology - Fire Safety Curtain Systems, describes the materials, fabrication, installation, operation, testing,

UK - When the Mela came to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, PSL, one of the UK's leading production services suppliers, was pleased to let a bit of the Bollywood magic rub off. Billed as the Ultimate Asian Experience, the huge three-day event occupying three halls of the NEC represented a fresh challenge for PSL.

Contracted by Clarion Events, PSL's Birmingham team, based at the NEC itself, provided all of the technical production for three main stages, from creating the specification for the stage areas and building them, to designing and providing all lighting, sound, and projection.

In the Bollywood Cinema area, which was run by BAFTA, some of Bollywood's leading stars were appearing, and PSL set up a 20ft x 15ft screen, using twin projection producing 24,000 lumens of brightness. In the vast space of the NEC's Hall 3a, capable of housing crowds of 5,000, PSL also fl

UK - Vertigo Rigging played a major role in bringing together the biggest double change in the 53-year history of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. The December 10 broadcast was the first to open its doors to the public - and the first to be televised from outside London. 3,000 people snapped up the first ever public tickets to the event within minutes of the announcement that this year's show would be staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham.

With a completely new format and arena-style seating, the event was designed by Imagination with lighting designer Gurdip Mahal for BBC Television. The BBC's production managers, Karen Dorling, Jon Sweeney and John King, along with Imagination production manager Lee Wateridge, called in Vertigo Rigging to design and rig the enormous lighting grid required to cover both stage and audience.

Vertigo pro

UK - 5 Star Cases has supplied leading professional lighting company Ianiro with a selection of flight cases to house their tungsten open-faced lighting fixtures, designed specifically for location video shoots.

The Italian company has its UK base in Redditch, and was established in the 1950s. it manufactures its own classic Ianiro product line as well as distributing leading lighting brands primarily in the film, video, TV and photographic markets. They were looking to reduce the lead-time and shipping costs involved in sourcing certain flightcases from Italy, and so initially asked 5 Star to produce three different designs - all in their traditional Ianiro red colour.

5 Star's Dave Harris recommended that their 'Light Industrial' specification would suit the application, made to house different combinations of the tungsten lights. Ianiro's Nick Allen-Mills says: "We're

UK - Exhibition Specialists Silver Knight worked with luxury boat maker Sealine to produce a stunning, technology-led exhibition stand at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show 2007. The 1400sq.m space was designed by Silver Knight to not only display several ranges of boats, but incorporate VIP areas, an under-floor conference room, catering, office and storage facilities. The stand also provided the international launch platform for Sealine's newest boat, the SC38, to the international press attending the show.

It incorporated 12 boats, creatively lit to ensure they were the star of the stand with a fully integrated AV solution to ensure the lifestyle messages and brand were communicated effectively to the visitors at the exhibition. The central area was dominated by a 'lighthouse', which incorporated four 1x4 portrait Infinite plasma walls sourced from PSCo, to create strips of

UK - Severe weather the length and breadth of the country meant that a number of events Star Events Group were involved in were cancelled, but one New Year celebration that went ahead as if the sun were shining was Brighton's Big Beach Boutique 3.

Headlined by Brighton's own resident DJ, Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, the spectacular New Year's Day party attracted a crowd of 20,000 - a number that was agreed between Cook and the local authorities after the chaos of 2002, when more than four times the expected number of people turned up - and went off without a hitch.

"We supplied a two bay, 15 metre Obrit Flexidome stage plus a screen support system and projector platform for PSL's screen," says Mike Goodwin, Star Events Group's Orbit product manager. "We also provided four small delay platforms. All five of these structures were strung out along Madeira Drive, t

UK - Hawthorn has announced that Paul Stear, formerly of Stage Electrics, has joined the Company in a business development role for its hire and sales operation.

Stear, has extensive experience and an excellent reputation within the Market having been a lighting, sound and video designer and worked for more than four years as head of lighting and sound at Nottingham Playhouse prior to joining Stage Electrics.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to be part of the Hawthorn Team" says Stear, "The Company provides an exciting environment to work in as it continues to rapidly expand and I look forward in my new role of business development, to making my contribution to that continued growth."

"Paul is a valued addition to the growing team at Hawthorn," says general manager Simon Wood, "In his role as business development he will be spending

UK - For the fifth year in succession Hawthorns were contracted by Worcester based DRP Group to supply some of the technical needs for Thomas Cook's annual overseas conference, held in Malta. This year's was different in many ways as they opted to use Malta's all new 130m x 50m structure, recently erected by Arena Structures.

Hawthorns were responsible for all the lighting, power, sound, trussing and drapes. Once again the structure had to be multi functional in terms of hosting conferences, talent shows and gala dinners, and the lighting and sound systems had to be versatile.

Because of this factor, Hawthorns sound designer, Iain Reinhold opted for the new Yamaha Digital desk, recently added to Hawthorns hire stock. The desk proved an invaluable tool, as it allowed Reinhold to store each show and recall them with minimum fuss.

A seven-man crew that included sound, lighting

USA - Nemetschek North America hasannounced the launch of vLearning webinars, a new virtual trainingseries delivered to VectorWorks users over the web using WebExtechnology. vLearning webinars provide VectorWorks users with convenienthour-long training sessions on a variety of VectorWorks topics,including instruction on how to use specific feature sets andfunctionality, as well as techniques and workflows to enhanceproductivity. Each session is live and concludes with time for questionsand answers.

"vLearning webinars are perfect for users who are looking for short,self-contained workshops on VectorWorks topics they'd like to learn moreabout, at their own convenience," says Frank Brault, Nemetschek NorthAmerica's director of training and technical support. "Our new virtualtraining series is designed as another option for users who might notprefer to devote several

UK - This year's A.C. Lighting North Tradeshow is moving to a new purpose-built exhibition hall with 50% more space to facilitate an expanded exhibitor line-up and rising attendance levels, the company reports. The event takes place on 1-2 May in the new Saviles Hall at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, which is adjacent to the original location and now the city's largest exhibition venue.

As well as accommodating the show's expansion plans, the improved facilities also enable the organisers to provide the main exhibition, complementary theatre seminars programme and buffet lunch with a bar and dining area, all within the same hall.

Full show details will be confirmed in the coming months, but visitors can expect the same popular format, "including exclusive 1st UK showings of new products, the latest innovations from over 70 leading brands, one to one demonstrations a

UAE - Dubai-based production company HQ Creative, working closely with Done Events, delivered the opening ceremony of the 18th Gulf Cup in Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium. The show, conceived by HQ's creative director Katie Veira, was a 37-minute mixed media spectacular, and the largest opening event to date for a football tournament.

The performance featured 1200 live performers, 55 horses and an international production team of over 400, working with around 1700 local crew over the build period. The show was enjoyed live by 55,000 excited spectators and a TV audience of 50 million who tuned in to Dubai Sports.

The building of the complex technical infrastructure was co-ordinated by production director Jo Marshall, working with his key HQ team including project manager Jo MacKay, production co-ordinators Ian Greenway, Candice Dalziel, Nadine Manning and site manager Nig

USA - Total Structures, Inc., a manufacturer of industry standard truss, custom set and structures and a Columbus McKinnon hoist distributor has announced a new initiative to benefit The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes Programme. Total Structures will donate $10 to Behind the Scenes for every Lodestar and Prostar Columbus McKinnon hoist they sell.

Adrian Forbes-Black, vice president operations, made the announcement to Lori Rubinstein and Bill Sapsis, members of the Behind the Scenes Committee, during the recent LDI exhibition.

"Behind the Scenes is a wonderful programme and we wanted to find a way to help," said Forbes-Black. "There are a number of people and organisations that have put together programmes to benefit Behind the Scenes, and this idea seemed to be a good way for us to do our part." Forbes-Black also noted that "this initiative is fo

UK - Plans for a National Skills Academy for the creative and cultural industries have been boosted with the addition of more influential supporters. PLASA - the Professional Lighting and Sound Association - is the latest organisation to join the unprecedented alliance of employers and industry bodies backing the project.

The Academy is designed to address shortages in offstage and technical skills for live music and the performing arts. Detailed plans being prepared by Creative & Cultural Skills, the employer-led Sector Skills Council, will be submitted to the government in April 2007.

"PLASA's support is hugely significant," says Tom Bewick, chief executive of Creative and Cultural Skills. "Its wide membership of leading specialists in professional audio, lighting, staging, rigging, communications and related disciplines fully understands what skills are neede

Czech Republic - Students and graduates of art schools and young beginning artists have until the end of January to sign up for workshops that are being prepared within the framework of the Scenofest - Student Section of the Prague Quadrennial 2007. The international competitive showcase of scenography and theatre architecture, PQ 07, will take place from 14-24 June 2007. The Scenofest program is one of the three main sections of the event.

Workshops and informal meetings with authors working in the field of theatre will occur over the entire ten day event. The rich program will include scenography, lighting design, sound design, theatre costumes, puppet theatre and various types of theatre technology. The workshops will be held in the Central Hall of the Industrial Palace (in the centre of the Scenofest exhibit), at the Alfred in the Courtyard Theatre and the NoD Experimental S

UK - A 22-way Kinesys Elevation motion control system was in action on the final leg of Kylie's epic Showgirl Homecoming tour - using an additional 10 Kinesys motors over and above the 12 on the original tour. The system was specified by lighting designer Vince Foster.

The 10 new motors - a mix of half and one tonne Liftkets - were used to control four extra high resolution video screens, two punchbags that dropped in for one song, plus the tips of a massive pair of wings that opened out at the end of the second encore.

The 10 original Kinesys 500kg 400mm/s vari-speed motors were utilised to suspend five lighting trusses, supplied as part of the lighting rental package from Neg Earth Lights. The other two 1 tonne Kinesys hoists flew the centre hi-res Barco I-12 screen that was in the original show.

For the updated Homecoming tour, all five video screens glided

UK - Mojo Barriers UK office ended 2006 in Aberdeen, supplying their Line-Up gates for Scotland's only Hogmany event to survive terrible weather, and then began 2007 at the opposite end of the country in Brighton for Fat Boy Slim's New Year Day Big Beach Boutique show.

Over 15,000 people attended Aberdeen's Hogmanay Party, at which Wet Wet Wet were the headline act. It was the only large-scale event to take place in Scotland on the 31 December 2006, with others falling foul of the Scottish weather the event.

Dorothy Anderson, Aberdeen City Council's events officer says: "This year for the first time we decided to implement an entry control system to monitor the numbers attending and to ensure public safety at the event. We were looking for a quick to assemble solution that would assist us in doing this and decided that the 'Mojo Line Up Gates' would be ideal. On the night

South Africa - Gearhouse (PTY) Ltd and Ashraf Omar (AV Network) this month announced the launch of a new company, Inhouse Venue Technical Management (Pty) Ltd (IVTM). Part of the Gearhouse group of companies, Inhouse VTM was formed to facilitate the supply and management of technical equipment and personnel within key venues across the Western Cape. The service enables venues to rent in the latest equipment and technical expertise without incurring expensive capital outlay. Cutting edge lighting, audio, staging, audio visual, daylight screens, power and rigging equipment coupled with experienced technical staff ensure that the event is seamless and there is also the additional benefit of an onsite branch to resolve any last minute eventualities.

The joint venture is the culmination of years of discussion between Inhouse managing director Ashraf Omar and Gearhouse directors, whic

UK - For the 12th successive year, Hawthorns were contracted by East Midlands based The Christmas Company to provide the technical solution for it's Christmas party events held at Marquee venues in Bracknell, Leicester and Nottingham.

The Christmas parties take place over 20 nights in December and attract up to 1200 guests per night at each venue.Each Marquee is individually themed for the parties, with Bracknell hosting One Night in Bangkok, Leicester with its Russian-themed Gatecrash the Kremlin and Plunder the Pyramids in Nottingham.

Hawthorn provided all lighting, sound (Bracknell only), power distribution, drapes, star cloths (not Bracknell) and rigging.

80 days of manpower and effort were required by the Hawthorn team to rig each marquee and 30 days for de-rigging once the party schedule has been completed. Furthermore, Hawthorn provided operating

UK - Just a week before the second anniversary of his arrival at Total Solutions Group (TSG) and Mervyn Thomas is appointed MD of Total Fabrications Ltd (TFL). "If more evidence were needed of the impact this man has had, this is it," said Group chairman Chris Cronin. "He's a great team leader, a superb operations manager; I have every confidence in him."

Thomas was equally enthused, commentin: "This will relieve Chris of the day-to-day running of TFL," he said, "leaving him free to concentrate on what he does best; steering TSG strategically, and addressing the increasingly complex engineering demands placed upon us. So much of our work is now project led, and that's where Chris excels; with enough metal you can engineer your way out of any problem, but Chris creates elegant solutions that are lightweight and efficient."

TFL is the core

UK - Summit Steel supplied a Kinesys automation system for the English National Ballet's recent UK tour of their acclaimed production, Alice in Wonderland which culminated in a run at the London Coliseum.

Summit was asked by ENB technical director Al Riches to come up with a tourable solution for accurately flying in and tracking the house - a large scenery piece weighting almost a tonne - diagonally across stage at a 45 degree angle; an effect specifically required by the production's choreographer Derek Deane.

Summit's Chris Walker came up with the method of using a vari-speed, position encoded, motorised beam trolley and two Kinesys-modified Lodestar hoists. The system was supplied for the ENB crew to be able to operate it themselves with Summit providing a technician to oversee the installation into each venue.

In previous tours of this production, the house has b

USA - PRG drew on its experience with theatre and other staged events for the scenic and lighting innovations that helped draw crowds to exhibits for Hyundai, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge at Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). PRG also provided lighting and rigging for press events for other top automakers at the expo, which ran January 7-21 at Cobo Hall.

"Being a broad-based company allows us to draw on a wealth of experience and innovations in all areas and apply these to meet our customers' needs," says Jere Harris, founder and chairman of PRG.

To dramatize the sleek durability of Hyundai Motor America's new concept car, the HCD-10 Hellion, Hyundai asked its partner, Exhibit Works Inc, to design a turntable that tilted while it rotated - an eye-catching contrast to the flat, earthbound motion of typical auto show turntables. Putting Hyundai's ide

Qatar - Stage One pulled off one of its greatest technical challenges ever, putting their extensive engineering capabilities into practice for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in December. Both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies were produced and created by David Atkins Enterprises (DAE) of Australia and told the story of a young man on a voyage of discovery through Asia, guided only by the stars and his Astrolabe.

Stage One was commissioned to supply all the aerial engineering and associated automation for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies along with three of the Opening Ceremony's' main stage trucks. Working closely with the director of ceremonies and Cultural Events in DAGOC Sharif Hashisho, producer David Atkins, director of design Eamon D'Arcy, technical director Paul Bates and production designer Michael Scott-Mitchell,

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