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Rigging / Staging

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Europe - Area Four Industries has created The Rigging Commandos, a rigging & trussing team with a mission to “elevate event engineering & safety practices in the entertainment industry through continuous education programmes”.
Made up of six team members, the Rigging Commandos will use their knowledge and practical experience in a series of rigging & trussing videos, which will be produced throughout the year and released to on Area Four's video channel A4i.tv.
Members of the Rigging Commandos team were chosen not only for their knowledge and experience in entertainment production, but also for their ability to communicate directly with riggers and technicians, says the company.
Eric Porter, British rigging consultant and head Rigging Commando, leads the group. Norbert Tripp, German structural engineer and Area Four Industries’ technical directo

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UK - Hundreds of television buyers from across the globe headed to ACC Liverpool on 9-11 February for BBC Studios Showcase 2020 international television market. For the 14th year running, creative technical event production company Hawthorn supported the distributor to showcase its premium programmes, delivering two evening events.
The events previewed some of the BBC’s top programmes including Doctor Who, A Perfect Planet and The Watch. Led by the BBC Studios team, Hawthorn’s head of creative technical Peter Harding helped to produce and deliver a production design for the two evenings.
This year’s format saw a considerable shake-up with the construction of a curve-fronted 1000sqm 5m-high platform over a section of the arena’s tiered seating and floor. Hawthorn worked with specialists Acorn Event Structures and Steeldeck to create the stru
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Belgium - WIcreations used its new WImotion system - motors, tracking and control - to automate five ski lift cable cars as part of a visual extravaganza for the two-day Moose Bar XXL event at Antwerp’s Sportpaleis venue, Belgium’s only après ski party.
The brainchild of organiser and lBelgium night scene inspirator Yves Smolders, Moose Bar XXL ran for two nights this year after 2019’s inaugural event, and featured an epic scenic production design and a slew of music and live entertainment that transported 20,000 party-people to the mountains over the two nights.
A total of five cable cars were involved - sourced from an original ski lift in Tignes in the French Alps, reconditioned and re-branded as highly visible Moose Bar props.
Four cable car gondolas were positioned in each corner of the Sportpaleis and these were flown up and down 6.5m into the venu

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Czech Republic - The 2020 edition of Rigger’s Voice turned its ear to voices from the north of Europe, as experienced riggers and production professionals from Scandinavia travelled to Area Four Industries headquarters in Roudnice nad Labem for this annual conference.
Arriving from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, attendees took part in high-level rigging and support structure discussions that were led by Area Four Industries technical director Norbert Tripp from 11-12 February. Many questions were asked, various rigging, truss and support structure discussions held, and even truss stress tests conducted during the two jam packed days. Participants were also treated to a grand tour of the Milos factory.
Ideas and recommendations from these experienced professionals, for helping steer future product development by Area Four Industries brands, were also provided d

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UK - Doughty Engineering celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary this year.
The company first registered as Doughty Trailer Sales Ltd in February 1970 and spent the first 10 years of trading manufacturing trailers, before metamorphosing into the Doughty Engineering that is well-known in the entertainment industry today.
Julian Chiverton, sales director, comments: “We are extremely proud to be celebrating half a century in business. When Russell Doughty, Mervyn Lister and my father George Chiverton started out in 1970, little did they know that the Doughty brand would become synonymous with clamps and other kit relied upon by riggers and lighting designers across the world. Their business was trailers, then designing and manufacturing attachments for rough terrain and forklift trucks in the farming and construction sectors. But by the mid-eighties it was clear tha

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Germany - Milos provided the design, static calculation and delivery of Milos truss products for a high wire bike climbing course for client, On The Ropes.
On The Ropes is based in Radevormwald and has been led by owner Hajo Muller since 1995. Their main focus is on the planning and building of rope courses at height that are in-tune with the natural surroundings. They also plan and build climbing walls, adventure stations and customized structures. One of their past standout projects includes the Big TeePee complex, which is the world’s biggest teepee, that was designed and constructed for Expo 2000 in Hannover.
The High Wire Bike project started with a rough concept provided to the A4I Germany office by On The Ropes. With this rough idea in hand, Area Four Industries technical director Norbert Tripp designed a feasible structural solution and carry out all structur

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The Netherlands - AV technology tradeshow Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2020 completed a 15-year residency at the Amsterdam RAI expo centre with a special event held on the show’s last day, 14 February (Friday).
Politicians and executives saluted the venue and the city of Amsterdam while looking ahead to the future, with the tradeshow set to move to the Fira de Barcelona for its 2021 edition.
Despite health concerns brought about by the coronavirus outbreak and major travel disruption caused by Storm Ciara, ISE 2020 took place as planned, but with markedly lower attendance of 52,128 unique visitors compared to 81,268 in 2019.
Mike Blackman, MD of Integrated Systems Events, comments: “This year’s show demonstrated to us just how determined our attendees were to come to ISE. Many of our exhibitors exceeded their targets for customer engagement and lead gen

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UK - Eighteen of Zero 88’s new RigSwitch cabinets - for controlled and synchronised power switching - have been installed at P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen, a new multi-million-pound flexible entertainment, exhibition, event and conference facility delivered by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Henry Boot Developments (read more on the development in LSi February 2020).
The building was designed by architects Keppie and constructed by the Robertson Group. Theatre Projects were commissioned to define and specify the site-wide technical infrastructure for Hall C and Conference Suites 1 and 2, and the tender for electrical contractor for these areas was wo

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UK - As the Strictly Come Dancing Live! 2020 tour draws to a close, crew and artist catering specialist Eat to the Beat has received positive media feedback from the celebrities, professional dancers, judges and crew.
With 33 dates in major venues throughout the UK and Ireland from 16 January to 9 February there was plenty of scope for Eat to the Beat’s culinary team to get creative and cook up a feast. Whilst menus always featured tasty healthy options, including plant-based meals, to fuel the dancers ahead of each performance, there’s no doubt that the amazing array of tempting desserts on offer were also a definite hit.
Mary Shelley-Smith, global operations director for Eat to the Beat comments: “The Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour is always a highlight in Eat to the Beat’s calendar, the whole team really enjoy working with the celebrities, professional d

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Europe - EXE Technology has announced the release of its 2020 catalogue that features all of the latest standard EXE RISE D8+ hoists, EXE DRIVE Controllers and EXE DST (Dynamic Stack Tracks) ranges, as well as some new additions.
As live load monitoring is now a key requirement in rigging environments, the EXE Cell range has now been expanded to include both integrated load-cell chain hoist solutions AND separate shackle-based wireless technology components for easy deployment and monitoring. The catalogue is available through info@exetechnology.com.

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UK - Stage Electrics has been appointed a UK distributor for Prolyte Trussing and Staging which is now part of Area Four Industries.
Fons van Teijn, Prolytes CEO, signed the deal with Stage Electrics operations director Adam Blaxill at the company’s Bristol-based offices.
“Stage Electrics have been a good ambassador for Prolyte for the past 15 years, we plan to build on that heritage and develop a strong working relationship,” comments Fons.
Blaxill adds: “We were a natural partner for this new incarnation of Prolyte in the UK. We are able to hold large stocks of trussing and staging and distribute the Prolyte product range across the UK on a next day service. Our sales team are already familiar with the product range and we now increased our Prolyte product managers to three with the appointment of Rob Foster as Prolyte technical sales consultant.”<

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UK - Unusual Rigging has achieved a series of compliance standards that will provide its customers with the guarantee that its products and services consistently meet their requirements.
The Northampton-based company achieved both ISO 9001 which sets out the criteria for a quality management system, and ISO 14001 which focuses on environmental systems. Unusual is currently working towards securing ISO 45001 for good health and safety practice.
At the forefront of steering Unusual towards achieving these new standards are operations manager Lizzie Richmond and technical manager Tom Nightingale.
Richmond comments: ““We are extremely proud to have secured these ISO standards, which, though not compulsory, demonstrate to our customers that we are leading the way with our policies and processes. When we tender for work we are increasingly being asked to demonstrat

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UK - Southampton-based lighting rental specialist Liteup supplied lighting, video server and control plus rigging equipment for all technical departments for the recent UK and European leg of Björk’s Cornucopia tour, for which the dramatic lighting was a co-design by Bruno Poet and Richard White.
Bruno is well known as a theatre and opera LD and for his creative lighting for bands like avant-rockers Sigur Ros, also from Iceland. Richard White has worked for Björk as a programmer and lighting director on the road for the last six years, and together the two enjoyed a fantastic synergy that has produced some stunning lighting.
The focus of the Cornucopia show - initially produced as a series of one-off shows at new arts venue The Shed in New York, mid-2019 - was nature and the environment, touching on some of its frontline issues.
The visual start

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UK - Bristol-based specialist hire and events business SLX has completed the move to a new warehouse as a result of planned growth and continued investment.
The business, which has heritage dating back more than 40 years and serves the live events, hire and broadcast markets throughout the UK and Europe, remains in a Bristol location, moving from its warehouse on Third Way, Avonmouth, to another nearby Avonmouth location.
SLX CEO Alastair Currie comments: “After only four years since our previous warehouse upgrade, we are moving again to allow for further expansion. We’re doing so as we believe this is essential for the ambitions we have for the business. It will see improved preparation spaces, improved flow of equipment into and out of the warehouse, and markedly better facilities for both our team and those who come to prep shows and events at the warehouse.

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Germany - The Area Four Industries Direct Germany office organised an EXE Technology training session.
Held in Emsdetten and led by sales and marketing manager, Carsten Pfeiffer (Area Four Industries Direct Germany), and EXE Technology automation manager, Gianluca Ferrari, the training provided the attendees with a complete overview of EXE Technology’s range of chain hoists, load cells, controllers, and DSTs (Dynamic Stack Tracks). The session then moved on to specific facts and detailed information about models within the EXE Rise and Vario chain hoist ranges, which included classifications, key features and components.
To gain a better understanding of how EXE hoists work, attendees witnessed a complete strip down of the chain hoist and learned about its operation from the inside out. After the mechanical heart of the hoist was put back together, a complete overv

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UK - Marking the finale to the flat racing season, QIPCO British Champions Day is renowned within the horse racing community. Bringing together leading jockeys, horses, trainers and owners from Europe and beyond to compete in six top class races, this event has become a key fixture in the UK sporting calendar.
The 2019 Champions Day concluded with a lively musical celebration for over 500 guests housed in a giant Igloo domed roof structure, provided by Fews Marquees, built directly adjacent to the Ascot Racecourse Main Grandstand.
Returning to Ascot for the second year running on behalf of clients Generate Events, LFPS once again provided full technical support to the exclusive QIPCO closing party. In creating the suitably glittering venue the team handled all aspects of the lighting, audio, video, staging and rigging requirement, along with the design and fabrication

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USA - The 2020 New World Rigging Symposium will take place 31 March - 1 April in Houston, Texas, in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo.
The event provides an opportunity to learn from those at the top of their field, to network with their peers, and discuss current issues and new technologies. A complete schedule, session descriptions and a link to register are available at www.esta.org/nwrs.
Jeanette Farmer kicks off the symposium with the keynote address. Her career spans more than three decades of professional theatre technical support, show production, concert/theatre lighting design, theatre design consulting and themed entertainment project management. She will be followed by a session on video wall rigging, featuring three speakers with extensive experience in this area: Joe Clayton of Stage Rigging, Tony Galuppi of PRG, and Stefan Pries of Cre

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Switzerland - Prolyte has appointed DJP Diffusion as its official distributor in Switzerland. DJP Diffusion becomes a Prolyte distributor after joining forces with Prolyte's most experienced ambassador, Rose Oberer.
"Together we will keep Prolyte as the number one in Switzerland. In Prolyte you can trust” said Oberer.
Oberer has more than 25 years of partnership with Prolyte and the Swiss market. "No matter what happens, Prolyte is the standard in quality and safety. After more than 25 years of collaboration, I know what I am talking about," she adds.
"We are so proud and glad we can continue with the experiences and energy of Madame Oberer, who is known as the best in the Swiss Market," says Bruno Lerminiaux.
DJP Diffusion will primarily focus on the venue, theatre installations and the rental fleet business.
(Jim Evans)

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Europe - Next Truss has appointed AED Group as its European master distributor for the complete product range.
The AED Group will make the complete Next trussing and staging catalogue available at competitive pricing and with optimal stock levels. A professional discount structure aligned with AED Group’s rental department “will benefit every professional customer”. Besides the popular 30cm and 40cm truss ranges, Next will also offer ladder, rectangular (36/100) and 52cm square truss, ground supports, towers and stage decks.
Glenn Roggeman, CEO of AED Group, comments: “For nearly 30 years we’ve set the industry standards with a leading brand in a loyal relationship. Despite this, recent events have resulted in an uncertain situation, without guarantees for the future vision, organisational structure, distribution policy, production capacity and delivery term

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UK - After enjoying an informal relationship with Backstage Academy stretching back many years, Manchester-based STS Touring Productions has now put the relationship on a formal basis.
The Academy’s industry partnerships director, Miles Marsden, confirms that the rental company has been supplying a vast range of equipment, including Litedeck staging, PA, lighting and backline as required, virtually since the Academy set out its stall a decade ago. “But my relationship with [director] Pete Dutton goes back to the late ‘80s,” he adds. “They are an established supplier and we are delighted that they have now signed a partnership agreement.
“This provides them with the potential to give masterclasses, which we would welcome, leading to work experience and employment opportunities. In fact a lot of our industry partners are looking at career potential.”

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Europe - The Eurotruss Group has launched NEXT Truss, a new company that will operate under the group’s umbrella.
NEXT Truss already offers a variety of truss systems and decks. In addition to the 30 and 40 multi-purpose truss systems, there are rectangular 36cm and 100cm heavy/ pre-rig trusses, plus a 52cm square truss. Also available are ground support towers and Stage Deck series with accessories.
Ralph Stockley, who leads the new operation, comments: “NEXT Truss allows entertainment industry professionals to have access to purchase truss the way, they want it. I am 100% sure immediate availability and a market-compliant price will ensure that the entertainment industry will benefit from our arrival. The professionalism, high quality standard and dynamic customer approach as known within the Eurotruss Group will be carried throughout NEXT and gives it the foun

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USA - Kinesys has relocated its US sales office, warehouse and training facility from Lithia Springs to TAIT’s HQ in Lititz.
The move completes Kinesys’ transition to the TAIT group of companies. The new address is: Kinesys USA c/o TAIT, 401 West Lincoln Ave.,Lititz, PA, 17543.
David Bond, Kinesys COO and head of sales, comments: “We’re very excited for our base of operations to be moving and after joining the TAIT family it just makes sense for us to take advantage of their enormous headquarters. Lititz has long been the very centre of entertainment technology in the US, and we cannot wait to be a part of it.”
The transition has been completed without any impact on any outstanding orders in the USA, Kinesys has said. The company’s email and phone details will remain the same, as will the shipping and ordering process, whilst goods will now be sold a

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Europe - Area Four Industries Direct UK has issued a clarification statement in respect to the continuation of supply of Lightspace deck & truss products supplied via Impact Products (Europe) Ltd, who were placed into voluntary liquidation procedures at the end of last year.
“Contrary to recent reports, these products have not been discontinued,” says Area Four in a statement. “Milos, which is part of Area Four Industries, has exclusively manufactured Impact OEM brands Spacedeck and Lightspace for the past five years from their production facilities in the Czech Republic.
“Area Four Industries UK owns the rights to Spacedeck and Lightspace products and will continue to provide full sales and technical support from their design and distribution centre in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. All truss & staging stocks have now been transferred from Northampton to Wi

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Saudi Arabia - A Swedish House Mafia show staged by Live Nation Middle East at the Diriyah Festival in Riyadh featured a specially designed touring stage. It was created by SHM show designer Samuel Tozer, working under the Vision Factory brand, recreated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Gabriel (Gabe) Fraboni, founder and creative director of LA-based design studio PHNTM LABS.
Full technical production - audio, video, lighting, rigging, trussing - for the Diriyah Season Stage, the Festival’s headline stage and international music venue, was supplied by Dubai-headquartered mediaPro International.
This included a Kinesys automation system, used to move three 5m diameter signature circular trussing rings made from Alutek 40x40cm heavy duty product, each symbolizing the three artists - Steve Angello, Axwell, and Sebastian Ingrosso - making up the Swedish House Mafia.
  1. Litecad Evolution released in French and German
  2. Doughty on board for YouTube London
  3. LFPS returns to Women in Data 2019
  4. Milos plays key support role in Paris project
  5. PAP becomes Sixty82 Doughty Asia
  6. Sixty82 appoints distributor for Hungary
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Showlight - MPU - June-July, Oct-Nov 2024

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