Germany - UK-based automation manufacturer Kinesys will show its latest technologies in this specialist entertainment field on stand C98 in hall 12.0 at Prolight+Sound.
Products highlighted will include Kinesys’ powerful new Vector control console, the innovative Apex hoist system and LibraCELL/LibraNODE load monitoring - an invaluable tool to ensure that all static and dynamic loads are constantly and precisely monitored in real-time.
The popular DigiHoist fixed speed chain motor controllers and Kinesys’ industry standard Elevation range of vari-speed hoist drives will also be prominent on the stand.
Visitors will be invited to try out the new Vector console - to control a dual hoist Apex system flying a large screen above the stand.
Apex and Elevation hoists will also be available to control - via the console - for a side by side comparison of their

Europe - Global Truss has appointed Austrian Truss Constructions (ATC) as a sales partner in Austria, effective 1 January. The two companies have also forged a strategic relationship for heavy duty systems, stage roofs and special constructions, particularly the development of the iM- and iL-Type system by CAMCO.
Florian Schaaf from the Global Truss, comments: “Now we are able to rely on the long-time experience of ATC in the field of professional solutions and special constructions. The first results of this partnership are already visible with the Multi-Tower-Basement, the new stage roofs as well as our innovative F.O.H. We are looking forward to the cooperation with ATC on the technical and on the sales side. A win-win for the companies and the customers.”
Thomas Wagner of ATC adds: “We are looking forward to the cooperation with Global Truss where both compa

UK - Pearce Hire has claimed the Best Power Supplier Award at the recent Event Production Awards (EPAs), held at Novotel London West on 19 March.
The company provides production services and dry hire to over 2,000 events each year and is set to work on projects including Lovebox, Forest Live series, Classic Ibiza, Detonate Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival and Equifest in 2019.
“It is a huge accolade to have even been shortlisted for an Event Production Award, as we have also been a finalist for a TPI Award and a Festival Supplier Award this season. But to actually win the EPA for Best Power Supplier was really the icing on the cake,” says Shaun Pearce, managing director, Pearce Hire.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and commitment our dedicated staff and crew put into our projects throughout the year, and a big thank you goes to every one of them.

Belgium - Fisheye, Painting with Light, PRG Belgium and WIcreations - four of the technical partners involved in the 40-45 Spektakel Musical production - have been featured in a behind-the-scenes film.
40-45 Spektakel Musical is being staged at the Pop-Up Theatre in Puurs by Studio 100.
The short film, available for free on YouTube, was shot during the set up and first weeks of the production and features clips from the show as well as exclusive interviews with director Frank van Laecke, technical director Bart Caels from B-Art Production Design, creative lighting expert and video designer Luc Peumans, innovative entertainment engineering specialist Hans Willems, Fish

Europe - The new Litec Flyintower 10-1,600, provides safety, stability and rigidity for flying up to 1,600kg of audio equipment at heights up to 10m. Designed to bridge the gap in the Litec Flyintower range, which includes solutions with load capacities from 300 to 2000kg, the Flyintower 10-1,600 features a 15° inclined mast.
The Litec Flyintower 10-1,600 uses standard truss in its construction, instead of custom-made truss, making potential replacement of truss sections quick and convenient. The main vertical tower is constructed with QL40A truss, while QH30SA truss is used for the stabilizing legs. Sturdy fork connectors ensure all truss connection points are strong and rigid.
An electric chain hoist or manual winch can be used to lift a line array speaker system. Dedicated accessories are also available, while custom versions are possible on request.
(Jim Eva

UK - Lighting and video rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting equipment, rigging and crew to the latest UK and European leg of Good Charlotte’s Generation Rx tour, working with lighting designer Paul McAdams who is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and started designing for the band last year.
The tour, which culminated in a show at London’s Alexandra Palace - was project-managed for Colour Sound by Alex Ryan. Colour Sound’s Hadyn Williams was the touring tech, whom Paul has requested several times to be his main person on the road, due to his experience and willingness to 'go above and beyond' each day to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Encapsulating the gritty lyrics and reflections of Generation Rx, an album inspired by the current opioid crisis in North America and dealing with inner and outer pain,

UK - Rope Assemblies has supplied a range of Doughty kit to the Royal Albert Hall to help improve safety in the performance space. As a duty of care to performers on stage and to ensure that any falls from height are prevented, Doughty designed and fabricated some bespoke handrail braces to make the space as safe as possible.
Ian Redding, technical supervisor at the Royal Albert Hall explained: "While there were no incidents that triggered the need for these rails, our technical team are always striving to ensure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the safety of our performers, crew and audiences. The challenge was to design and create something that could work for our stage, but at the same time, not to look too intrusive.
“It also had to be strong enough to withstand the weight of an average person. We had a round, scaffold size connection on the off s

UK - Callum Wachowski has joined Fiend Productions to provide a primary point of contact for rental enquires. Callum, who is also principal at Rugby-based dry hire and event production company Genius Bros, will bring his knowledge of lighting, rigging and video equipment and projects to the Fiend Productions team.
Jess Mathews, Fiend’s MD comments: “Callum has joined us at a time of investment and growth for the business. We are building on our stock of MA and Avolites control equipment, wide range of intelligent lighting fixtures and LED screen this year and Callum’s arrival will help us provide a knowledgeable and consistent contact for our customers.”
(Jim Evans)

Poland - Intel Extreme Masters - one of the largest e-sports events in the world - features a multimedia stage that has become synonymous with the event.
The structure of the stage with its distinctive scaffolding was originally introduced in 2015, and the look has since become a signature feature of IEM Katowice.
For the 2019 edition, the design features large automated LED screens on the central part of main stage, from which pro gamers enter the stage. The catwalk where the IEM trophy is located, has been completely reworked and combined with the rest of the stage.
Despite set changes the lighting design has been completely renewed, featuring new lighting fixtures and LED bar frames built around the screens behind the teams. Almost 400sq.m of LED screens were used and 650 lighting units.
“Every year we are trying to introduce something new to the stage

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has launched a new website to showcase its portfolio of technologies.
Created to deliver a better overall user experience, www.ac-et.com features a cleaner design, improved menu functionality with faster navigation, and is now fully responsive, adapting to the best layout for viewing on mobile, tablet and desktop.
The website also reflects AC-ET's position as a one-stop supplier of lighting, rigging, video, audio and related technologies.
AC-ET's UK sales and purchasing director, Jonathan Walters comments: "We are delighted to share our new website with you. The team have been working tirelessly to create a high-quality website, which reflects our (AC-ET’s) world-class products and services. We are confident that the smarter, slicker design will enable easier and quicker browsing to ensure you find the right products

UK - Stage Electrics has been appointed as the UK distributor for Admiral Staging Products.
Based in the Netherlands, Admiral has been offering staging essentials globally since 1986. Its product range includes stage and rigging accessories, truss transportation devices, clamps and couplers, along with cables and connectors.
The Stage Electrics sales teams have undergone product training from Admiral, enabling them to offer the best solutions to meet the clients’ needs.
“We have decided to stock Admiral as their equipment fits into our inventory perfectly” comments Anna Western, sales director of Stage Electrics. “Admiral’s wide range of clever solutions is now available to our customers. With over £30,000 of stock on the shelf, and having received fantastic responses from our client base, we are looking forward to working alongside Admiral and build

UK - Unusual Rigging has worked its own magic on Magic Mike Live! (an in-depth production report is coming soon in a future edition of LSi).
When TAIT UK was tasked with a seemingly impossible feat, operations director Alex Hitchcock turned to Unusual.
"We were initially approached by Magic Mike Live! with an enquiry for an automation and engineering package at the theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Leicester Square", explains Hitchcock. "Some overhead rigging and staging, steel work structure, diversions and winches. We were already familiar with the venue having once done another show there. But at that time, installing a single winch was a nightmare - Magic Mike required about 18!"
The Hippodrome Casino is not a big venue - certainly not designed with the intention of staging elaborate productions like Magic Mike Live!. "The venue

UK - Absolute Motion Control has returned to The Bridge Theatre for the fourth time to provide the automation for Alys Always. The show started previews on 25 February, and has its press night on 5 March 2019.
The show is designed by Bob Crowley, whose set incorporates a large stage lift, a sliding floor palette and a cloth roller. As The Bridge doesn’t have a fly tower, any full height cloths need to run on a roller. In this production a roller is used as a ‘blinder’ to hide scene changes inside a large gauze box.
For the floor palette, Absolute has rented the production a zero-fleet winch. The compact zero-fleet design allows the winch to be used in a variety of situations. All Scene All Props, the production’s scenery contractor, built two custom decks that incorporated the pulleys required. These custom sections were then simply dropped into place, r

UK - Doughty Engineering is bringing its new Fifty Clamp to BVE in London. The clamp will make its show debut on stand E30.
Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty, comments: "We hope our customers in the broadcast industry will see the Fifty Clamp as a welcome addition to our existing range. Our Twenty Clamp is one of our best sellers and we realised that a clamp that could take an additional 30kg would be a bit of a game changer.”
The Fifty Clamp which is available to order has TUV approval, a SWL of 50kg and has been designed to fit tube diameter 38mm - 51mm. It is made from pressure die cast aluminium which prevents damage to thin wall truss. It is captive with M10 or M12 bolts and comes supplied with an M10 fixing kit.
Doughty will also bring its Lightweight Lighting stand to the show. This piece of kit which made its debut at BVE 2018 takes all the prin

South Africa - Urban Brew Studios was the home to The Voice South Africa. In time for the new season, Studio Ten - where The Voice was shot - as well as four other studios on the premises, received a massive upgrade ranging from walkways, trussing, hoists, curtain tracks and pulleys. DWR Distribution’s theatre manufacturing department were commissioned for the project by Protea Electronics.
Urban Brew has been in the television business since 1995 and has been responsible for a variety of game and reality shows, music and sport shows, documentaries and soaps.
“To me this project was all about the people, the achievement, the deadlines and challenges too,” explains Jacques Welthagen from Protea Electronics. “Protea Electronics was chosen as the preferred turnkey supplier to furnish the complete facility including grids, trussing and lighting displ

UK - The heady mix of highly tuned bikes, screaming engines, screeching tyres and brakes and supernatural speed races meshed with the breath-taking daring of motorcycle stunt acrobatics… indoor Motocross racing and Freestyle MX all rolled into a single adrenaline fuelled night of seat-edge action complete with pumping soundscape . . . and you have the heartbeat of
Producers and organisers Arena Sports Live presented Arenacross (AX in three of the UK’s leading arena venues – Belfast, Birmingham and Sheffield – for their 2019 AX tour, with HSL supplying a full production package – lighting, video and rigging – plus sound in partnership with Nitelites.
Additional venue ‘sports lighting’ was also provided by HSL for the two Birmingham shows at the Resorts World Arena (NEC).
HSL’s project manager was Ben Perrin. He and the team were delighted to be

USA - For a third year running, TAIT has been included in Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Live Event for 2019. The list honours businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture.
“Receiving this recognition again is a great reminder of just how important teamwork really is and how influential innovation is in creating extraordinary experiences,” says Adam Davis, CCO at TAIT.
“Live events create shared experiences that are community building and binding. Some are in-person communities others are digital communities. Because the ability to experience a live event has multiplied in form, it is essential that we continue to challenge ourselves, our clients and the industry, to be even more innovative when creating. This is an exciting time, we are at the advent of revolutionizing the live event experie

UK - Free registration is now open for PLASA Focus Leeds, PLASA has reported.
The sold-out event, taking place at Leeds' Royal Armouries Museum on 14-15 May, will feature 120 exhibitors and is ideal for professionals working across live events, concert touring, production, performing arts and installation.
Present will be lighting companies including Elation, Robe and Philips Entertainment Lighting; pro audio firms including d&b audiotechnik, Funktion-One and Shure; and rigging, staging and production specialists including Area Four Industries, Gerriets, Hawthorn and J&C Joel. The trade show will also welcome several new exhibitors, including loudspeaker manufacturer Wharfdale Pro Audio and US sound masking company, Cambridge S

The Netherlands - Multi-national rigging and staging equipment specialist Sixty82 has partnered with Dutch distributor Senci. Working with the existing distribution network in the Netherlands, the Dutch company will offer customers optimised access to the full range of Sixty82 products. This partnership will focus on expanding the Sixty82 product line across the Netherlands as well as enabling the company to provide the growing demand for craftsmanship and technical know-how.
Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82, comments: “We are excited that we can name Senci as our new distribution partner, as it is a highly regarded player in the industry. They have a dynamic and experienced team, that can deliver the expanding demand for top level support.”
Carlos Rego, CEO of Senci, comments: “It is impossible to miss the growing success of Sixty82. With their in-house experience

UK - The BAFTAs welcomed film stars and royalty to London’s Royal Albert Hall in February, as the industry honoured those making waves on the big screen. The all-important red carpet - where the paparazzi anxiously awaited famous faces - was flanked by a rigging and lighting solution designed and delivered by TSL Lighting.
The British weather proved to be another well-known guest at the proceedings, with high winds and heavy rain in the run-up to, and on, the big night. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a who’s who of the global film industry for the ceremony, which was broadcast live.
TSL's Neil Harvey, worked alongside colleagues Ali Morris and Rory Mackay to realise the challenging and prestigious project, working to a brief from event designer and producer Lucy Smail, of WD&P. The red-carpet arrival area required the construction of 12 TSL custom-des

UK - AED’s Luxibel Expo Tools range makes its UK debut at the AED Customer Night events this week, alongside a spread of new kit covering sound, lighting, rigging, display and accessories.
The AED UK Customer Nights will be held on Wednesday, 20 and Thursday, 21 February at the company’s UK office, from 4pm onwards. On both nights, visitors can enjoy the best local brew and curry whilst experiencing Luxibel’s Expo Tools.
The Prolyte range, the new Show Lift AED-SL18 - an automated motorised tower lift that can be controlled by DMX - and the AV Stumpfl Pixera range will also be on show.
“In this fast-paced industry, it’s important for us to inform our customers about the latest products, technologies and services,” says AED commercial manager, David Baker. “It’s a great occasion for our customers to meet the AED team in person and to discover our A

UK - Attracting over 1000 attendees, the Women in Data conference features addresses from high-profile speakers plus a range of supporting events. Held within the grand surroundings of Central Hall Westminster, London, the event included presentations, development sessions and an exhibition, designed to inspire the WiD community.
Technical production specialists LFPS collaborated closely with the client and production manager Dave Parker to design the look and feel of the entire event.
Providing a complete production package covering both equipment and logistics, LFPS supplied lighting, audio, video, rigging and staging. Working to precise schedules beginning with a 6pm time slot for overnight load-in and build, the team were ready for rehearsal at 6am, with everything in place ready for doors open at 9am.
Commenting on working with LFPS, WiD co-founder Roisin Mc

USA - The Entertainment Technician Certification Programme (ETCP) reports that ETCP Paper and Pencil rigging examinations will be offered in conjunction with the Jay O. Glerum Rigging Masterclasses in San Diego on 3 April.
Any qualified rigger over 21 is invited to apply to sit the exams. Applicants should fill out the exam application form at http://etcp.esta.org/riggerapplicationmaterials and submit it to the ETCP office by Monday, 11 March.
 The Jay O. Glerum Masterclasses now have three tracks of learning: advanced, intermediate and entry level. Held at San Diego State University’s Done Powell Theatre, the entry-level courses will take place from 30-31 March, and the intermediate level will be taught on 1-2 April. All courses carry full ETCP Renewal Credits. To register, please visit

USA - Prolyte’s Verto Truss system was used by Creative Technologies (CT) at three separate stands during the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
During the show, CT installed 3,200 linear feet of black powder-coated Verto truss to create booths for the new Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia automobiles. Prolyte’s Verto truss low self-weight allowed for more creative lighting options and flexibility in designing the stands. The Verto truss quick assembly, silent connection, and low self-weight also translated into a significant savings of at least 50% on drayage and labour costs.
In addition to the LA Auto Show, CT also relied on Prolyte’s Verto truss for a Volvo product launch at the new US plant in the Carolinas. CT built a stage inside the warehousing facilities to release a new car model for Volvo’s Worldwide management team.
Ian Dobson, project manager/

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