Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

With UK and worldwide bookings well up on last year and with a strong international flavour to its speakers and seminar sessions, the PLASA Rigging Conference confirms its status as the premier event worldwide dedicated to all things rigging.

Opening with an unmissable speech from original 'Disney Rigger' Roy Bickel, one of the founders of the modern rigging industry and closing with Question Time hosted by Alan Jacobi LVO, MD of Unusual Rigging, the conference is packed with sessions from industry experts.

On Monday 10 September, the thorny issue of developing standardised common practice will be debated by Rinus Bakker and Roy Schilderman from ARGH in Holland along with panellists Cris

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14 March 2016

The Baby Quick Trigger clamp is designed specifically for smaller truss sizes, being adjustable to diameters of 25mm-38mm and, with TUV approval pending, comes in polished aluminium or satin black.

Recently appointed the UK distributor for Reutlinger, Doughty will be showing their range of cable holders, in two sizes to suspend loads of up to 130kg and 330kg on wire rope. Reutlinger cable holders have been specifically designed for applications which demand compliance with BGV C1 accident prevention rules.

Also new are the Lightweight Pantograph, Follow Spot Mount, TV bracket - and much more. stand 1-E7.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The design and testing period which ran over the last 12 months saw the new Venta-Cool rigger gloves sent to some of the hottest climates in the world including South Africa and Israel for their most gruelling punishment.

Dirty Rigger's product manager Steve Marshall says: "The results from the Venta-Cool testing has been really positive. The 'sweaty hand effect' is a more common term than

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14 March 2016

Linda Gibbons, Le Mark, sales director, explains, "We had been working on this major project for over four months but, along with all other ceremony suppliers, we were asked to 'save the secret' by Danny Boyle - but now we want to tell the world.

"We have also been collaborating with UK Trade & Investment to try and find overseas markets for our products and services and we were hoping that as the opening ceremony was the biggest shop window we could possibly ask for it would br

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14 March 2016

This new flexible fabric panel is proof that stage technology and the environment can go hand in hand.

Independent laboratory research confirms the Acoustic Baffle from ShowTex achieves better sound absorption of very low frequency sound levels than any other baffle on the market today with just half the fabric thickness of other systems.

Made from 100% recycled material, the flame retardant baffle provides an ecological solution for sound absorption.

An in-house recycling program for fabric cut offs in the ShowTex sewing workshop was the first step towards developing the baffle.

Ongoing research into acoustic properties of ShowTex fabrics led to the combined matting and cover quality that would produce the best acoustic results. Finishing and modu

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14 March 2016

Founded in 1990, MILSO originally began as a specialist supplier to the professional photography industry where they have since rapidly grown to be one of Poland's prime TV, Film & Photography equipment suppliers.

MILSO's Justyna Gaudziak says, "We really appreciated Hannah & Stuart visiting us here in Poland and it gave us even more confidence in their customer support. The response we've had from our customers throughout the initial Dirty Rigger trial period has been fantastic. We're really excited to now be able to offer our customers the full range of rigger gloves, tool pouches and accessories."

Dirty Rigger MD Stuart Gibbons says,

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14 March 2016

This stunning floor was printed and installed by the Le Mark team and revealed to a global audience of over 4 billion people during the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

Many will remember the 'Pandemonium' section of the ceremony and how this floor was slowly revealed . The jagged design bounced and reflected the light of the molten rings being formed . An image captured by both TV and photographers and transmitted worldwide ,proving that Britain could host the world's most emotive and stunning events.

Le Mark are very proud to welcome visitors to their stand 1- D4 and offer the opportunity for PLASA visitors to take home a FREE A4 piece of this Olympic 2012 memorabilia.

Each piece of Harmony 2012 printed stadium floor is totally unique , th

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14 March 2016

Le Mark's expanding dance floor installation team will also be showcasing the new Nocturne dance vinyl, a multipurpose floor covering that is fast becoming the standard for theatre and performing arts venues.

A major feature to the stand this year will be a specially commissioned printed floor using Le Mark's unique Coda flooring system. Members of this year's London stadium floor fitting team will also be on hand to help and provide advice on large scale image installations and project management.

A major feature to the stand this year will be a specially commissioned printed floor using Le Mark's Coda flooring system. Members of this year's London stadium f

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14 March 2016

The latest wysiwyg release, R29, has so many new features and improvements, your job instantly becomes more proficient, more professional and more profitable, says the company. New features in R29 include the ability to touch select fixtures and manipulate in Shaded View, create camera flies in 6D, a new six degrees of freedom camera system, drawing purge, truss end indicators, multi-rotate, enhancements to the Layer Database Window, gyroscope, world grid and more.

BlackTrax V1 is an Ethernet-based, powerful, fast, and accurate solution that tracks objects or people in a defined 3D 'space' and "delivers the dynamic positional data in realt

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14 March 2016

Steve Marshall Dirty Rigger project manager commented, "Strongest sales on day one came from the new fully EN rated Tool Lanyard system , in particular the interchangeable clip and carabiner system. This allows for tools to be pre connected before commencing work. Strong export interest has come from the new pulsing or fixed beam LED Radio and accessory front of body radio and equipment carrier.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

During the show's opening two days, 47 products were judged 'live' in front of a crowd of show visitors and camera crew by an independent panel of expert judges who toured the show floor to view each product presentation.

John Meyer of iconic pro audio brand Meyer Sound was honoured with this year's Gottelier Award in recognition of his life as one of the pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry.

Eight Awards for Innovation were presented - including a final Gold Award for Innovation - along with a special Award for Sustainability.

Nominees are asked to demonstrate a new style of thinking, an improvement in technical practice, an aid to safety, energy-s

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14 March 2016

5 Star highlighted samples of its most popular product ranges for the entertainment industry, concert touring, television and theatre markets. Over the four days of the show these all attracted plenty of interest, with some deals also completed on the stand. 5 Star's MD Keith Sykes comments that visitor quality was "Generally very good".

5 Star's latest Drawered Racks attracted plenty of interest and were a prominent element of the stand display.

Three types of Drawered Racks are offered as 'standard' - two hinged versions and one with removable doors.

There's a choice of two dynamic styles for the hinged option - one with a fixed top and one with a hinged top, complete with very cool gas strut supports to prevent accidental closure.

The hinged top version also features a workstation a

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14 March 2016

Peter Rieck, key account & distribution manager for Sommer Cable commented, "This year the PLASA show was again a big success for Sommer Cable. We were able to reach many customers and attract new customers. Next year the fair will move to the Excel Exhibition Centre and we have already confirmed stand space."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The DigiHoists were specified by the National Theatre's rigging resources supervisor, Matthew Wheeler.

The National Theatre (as it is generally known) is one of the UK's two most prominent public funded theatres, and is located on the South Bank of the Thames in central London.

It has three theatres: the amphitheatre-shaped Olivier seating 1100; the 900-seat proscenium arch Lyttelton; and the Cottesloe, an adaptable studio space designed by Iain Mackintosh, holding up to 400 people depending on the seating configuration.

The sale follows on from the purchase of a 21-channel Kinesys Elevation 1+ motor system - supplied in two phases comprising 14 half tonne Liftkets and seven one tonne Liftkets plus Kinesys Vector control - which is used

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14 March 2016

It was the first time that the Czech Republic headquartered Milos has presented itself at an exhibition in its newly expanded format, following the recent acquisitions of premium brands Litec from Italy and Tomcat in the USA.

The key international sales and marketing teams from the main Milos brands were all present on the stand, meeting new contacts, touching base with existing ones and gathering plenty of information and feedback.

Collectively, they represented the future of MIlos which is now the largest aluminium trussing and staging manufacturer in the world, with major manufacturing bases in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, the US, Mexico and China.

The contemporary 'universal'

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14 March 2016

Although the show attracted fewer visitors than last year, following a quiet - and gloriously sunny - Sunday, numbers picked up again for Monday and Tuesday, and after an unusually busy final day the overall visitor attendance reached 11, 500 (subject to ABC audit). Despite anecdotal reports of reduced international turnout, the overseas attendance was in fact a robust 25% of the total footfall, compared with 26% in 2011. The overall response from exhibitors, however, was vintage PLASA - excellent quality visitors and good levels of business - plus a strong sense of the buzz returning to

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14 March 2016

In addition to the latest ideas from Penn Elcom, the newest products from Pro Audio Stash, Rackz and CLD Distribution all attracted interest over the four day show.

Penn Elcom chairman Roger Willems states, "It was a good opportunity to meet many of our existing customers from the UK as well as make some new contacts."

The integrated stand also highlighted Penn's quality metalworking and manufacturing capabilities in the UK, and how this and other synergies help fuel the development of innovative and cost-efficient product lines across the sister companies.

"Overall this enables us to offer a very 'joined-up' range of complimentary products," confirms Wille

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14 March 2016

Le Mark's technical flooring manager Dave Cartwright said, "The progress Le mark has made over the last few years is phenomenal. Originally supplying floors to professional TV & Film studios, Le Mark has steadily grown and developed its range into what has now become one of the UK's most trusted brands in the professional dance industry too.

"With the honour of being selected to provide the flooring for the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, new installation contracts for some of the UK's largest dance venues and record levels of interest for our new Woodland Spring sprung floors

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14 March 2016

For over 30 years, MDG has created fog and haze generators for entertainment, industrial, firefighting and military customers. Based in Montreal in Canada, the company's philosophy is to develop and produce the best generators on the market.

"We chose ULA Group as our distributors because their degree of dedication to our industry matches MDG's own," says Martin Michaud, president & CEO of MDG. "Coupled with ULA's unsurpassed knowledge of the Australian market, we believe this to be a very exciting, effective combination."

ULA Group marked the new appointment by introducing the MDG fog generators during Entech Connect show in Melbourne (18 - 19 July 2012), where they received positive feedback from visitors.

The MDG machines are well respected and

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14 March 2016

"A tape with such diversity allows us to carry one roll for everything rather than a stock pile of hundreds, it's marvellously sticky and the perfect tape to carry when on tour" Says Richard Linford, associate producer & general manager for the tour.

Le Mark's Sharon Marshall adds, "I've grown up hearing David Essex songs, it's so strange to be supplying our products to a childhood icon. If you read this David - I'd love some tickets."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Triple E's managing director David Edelstein, who formed the company in 1984 to supply the entertainment industry with mechanical products to aid the assembly and construction of stage scenery, unveiled SDRIVE, a track mounted motor for moving stage curtains, on Monday 24 September.

And in a generous offer, Triple E presented the King's Theatre, which is relying on the kindness of volunteers and businesses to help restore it to famed architect Frank Matcham's original vision, with the motor. The theatre is now the first in the UK to have the system installed.

"SDRIVE is the result of demand from the industry and our distributors for a budget motor aimed at smaller

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14 March 2016

The month-long ballot will decide places on PLASA's European and North American Regional Boards, together with a single seat on its over-arching Governing Body.

The role of the Regional Boards is to represent the interests of members affiliated to those regions, ensuring that PLASA offers strong on the ground support to members. Both the North American and European Regional Boards are looking to fill a number of places for 2013.

For the European Regional Board, Martin Hawthorn of Hawthorn's has put his name forward for a second term as Treasurer, Chris Parry-Jones of Gallowglass and Mark Surtees (incumbent) of Outback Rigging have put their names forward to represent Production Services members, Gerry Francke of Creative Technology and Noreen O'Riordan of Entec So

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14 March 2016

The VIGIL voice alarm system was activated, triggering pre-recorded messages to inform and guide the crowds. The systems emergency and fire microphones were used to broadcast live information ensuring everyone was up-to-date with the situation and how they should react.

Dave Unsworth, Northern sales person for Baldwin Boxall, was at the event and, seated in the control room, had a full view of the unfolding exercise and reports, " I took part in a staged major disaster at the Etihad Stadium home of Manchester City FC and can report that the

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14 March 2016

The Academy took many enquiries for its Foundation Degree in Live Events Production, for which there are still places for this November. It also had a lot of interest from overseas companies wanting training delivered in their home country.

Said sales & business development manager Sara Gleadhall, "What was surprising this year was the number of enquiries we had from companies and professionals abroad who are desperate for us to take our training overseas.

"We are currently looking at developing packages of training in essential backstage skills and certificates to deliver in foreign countries."

The Academy launched a student competition to win a week's work experience on the set build of a major