Triple E's managing director David Edelstein - who founded the company in 1984 to supply the entertainment industry with mechanical products to aid the assembly and construction of stage scenery - is chairing the debate alongside prominent theatre design consultant Andy Hayles from Charcoalblue, arts and capital projects consultant Simon Harper, rigging expert Chris Higgs, and industry PR Sarah Rushton-Read of The Fifth Estate Ltd.
All five will speak at the event, highlighting their own experiences of either specifying the right equipment for projects, and / or the ongoing fight against counterfeit goods and how it is and will continue to affect the industry.
"As a company with a strong brand and equipment being used widely around the world, the possibility of having parts or complete systems copied is worrying," says David Edelstein. "Bringing the problem into the open so that consultants and end users are aware of the potential problems that acquiring copied and untested equipment into their building is the objective of this discussion. The panel all have different takes on this area from not getting what was specified to the real dangers of using untested rigging equipment."
Chris Higgs adds, "The issue of counterfeiting in my world is very real. Many people aren't aware that lifting equipment and PPE used in Europe must satisfy certain requirements. There have been instances of counterfeit equipment being bought online which adds another dimension to the issue. If some simple checks are made and we don't completely rely on sourcing gear via the internet we can reduce the risks significantly. We all want cheap trainers and probably don't care where they come from, but fake karabiners or shackles is a completely different proposition."
(Jim Evans)
