Upbeat start for
PLASA 2002
The 2002 PLASA Show got off to a positive start Sunday
as the industry congregated in Earls Court, London. With another bumper
crop of new product innovations on show the PLASA Show is providing an
unmissable opportunity to see and discuss the state of the art in entertainment,
communications and presentation technology. Comment from exhibitors was
upbeat - one first-time exhibitor told PLASA Media he had been overwhelmed
by the attention his company had received on stand, and wished he had
more staff to deal with enquiries.
On Sunday night, PLASA’s 25th anniversary party took place to round
off a highly successful day on the show floor. The event - staged at The
Bridge - was attended by over 500 exhibitors and visitors who participated
in numerous side shows at the Party including a bucking bronco, sumo wrestling,
boules and the highlight, a full-on seventies disco.
On the show floor itself, a record 64 products are nominated for this
year’s PLASA Awards for Product Excellence, all of which are featured
on the New Technology Gallery, sponsored by Lighting&Sound International
magazine. Technical editor James Eade, who is chairing the judging panel,
said yesterday that the first day’s judging process had so far been
an "absolutely excellent experience", adding "I’ve
been really impressed by the enthusiasm with which our panel of eight
judges have taken on this task. It’s been a fascinating and - at
times - quite heated process!" Once the debates are over, the Awards
will be presented on Tuesday evening at 6pm, with Awards for Technical
Innovation and Design Excellence available in each of the four broad categories
of Lighting, Sound, Stage Engineering and Audio-Visual products. Among
the nominations are the latest intelligent lighting fixtures from leading
manufacturers Clay Paky, Vari-Lite and Martin Professional, state of the
art lighting control systems from Flying Pig Systems and Martin, the new
D5 Live mixing desk from DiGiCo and the new Aztec desk from Audient, decorative
lighting effects from Bright Lighting, Anytronics, Spacewriter and Xilver,
and many, many more. Eade says: "The interest in these Awards has
been better than ever this year, and with so many high quality products
to assess, these choices are very hard to make."
For more information on all the nominated products, go to www.plasa.org/show/awards.
Clay Paky, the Italian manufacturer of intelligent lighting products, has relocated to brand new premises near Bergamo, with effect from 26 August. The company’s new contact details are as follows: Clay Paky S.p.A., via Pastrengo 3/B, 24068 Seriate (Bergamo). While the telephone and e-mail contacts remain unchanged, the company does have a new fax number - to fax Clay Paky you must now use +39 035 301876.
www.claypaky.it
Martin
Professional’s highly advanced professional lighting console, Maxxyz,
is set to hit the market in a matter of weeks, and the company is laying
the groundwork by training and certifying Maxxyz instructors worldwide.As
part of a comprehensive introduction strategy for what is the most advanced
stage lighting console on the market, Martin began conducting dedicated
Maxxyz training classes at its Danish headquarters for instructors. The
first round of participants completed a 2-day certificated training program
at the Martin headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark in early August.Martin’s International Education Manager Gerald Heise led the classes aimed at educating Martin’s Preferred Partners throughout the globe. He commented,
“With Maxxyz Martin has made a significant move into the controller business for concert touring, theatre and television. The Maxxyz is set to demonstrate its awesome capabilities and prove its reliability. This counts for our staff as well. A positive integration into the market requires dedicated product and market knowledge on behalf of sales and after-sales personnel.
“We’re taking care of this by asking them to join an in-depth product and market training in which personnel in every market complete a Maxxyz Instructor certification. Their task will then be to convey their knowledge to their local market. In a separate training we are educating Maxxyz Operators with a focus on artistic skills. They will be employed as support personnel on larger events or productions.”
A new group of instructors will be trained every two weeks so that by the end of September Martin’s worldwide distribution network will be well prepared for customer demos and the commencement of Maxxyz Operator classes.
On view as one of the highlight products at the upcoming Plasa exhibition in London, Maxxyz offers a string of intuitive and expandable characteristics unparalleled in the lighting control market such as customizable LCD buttons for tailored programming, a built-in 3D Visualizer with real-time PREVIEW mode, full multimedia capability, and much more.
www.martin.dk
Australian Distributor: Show Technology www.showtech.com.au
Richard Mead,
pictured with High End's John Wiseman, has been named Flying Pig Systems
product manager "for all things Pig," announced John Wiseman,
vice-president of worldwide sales for High End Systems. Mead, who has a
physics degree from Oxford University, has been with UK-based Flying Pig
Systems for four years. During that time he was instrumental in the design
and development of the Wholehog III lighting console, which is currently
shipping in the marketplace. He was also a key code writer for the product.Says Wiseman: "Richard brings with him a lot of unique knowledge. We are happy that he will be the point of contact for all Flying Pig products. His appointment to this position is a key part of the further integration of HES and FPS from product development to product support and all aspects in between. Richard's depth of knowledge from Wholehog II as well as up to and beyond Wholehog III gives our clients and end users an unprecedented access to the FPS line of products."
Mead is currently based in the London office of Flying Pig Systems, but will soon relocate to the automated lighting manufacturer's headquarters in Austin, Texas. "Stay tuned for more exciting FPS product release and product support announcements in the very near future," Wiseman adds.
www.highend.com
Software provider Stardraw.com is to launch the world's first web-based CAD system. Stardraw.net is a tool that allows users to design and document integrated systems through a browser using an on-line library of over 30,000 industry-specific symbols.
Stardraw.net represents the introduction of web-based technology which incorporates tools and data for all of the niche markets addressed by Stardraw's conventional software packages including Stardraw Audio, Stardraw AV, Stardraw Lighting 2D, Stardraw Professional and Stardraw Radio. As a result, users can now customize their symbol sets drawing from any or all of the above libraries according to individual requirements. Stardraw MD David Snipp explains: "Our conventional applications have established the sorts of tools that integrators find easy to use and valuable for system design and documentation. The web-based application has been written from the ground up to provide comparable functionality, but it is designed to run within a web page. Furthermore it encompasses everything we have ever done within our conventional 2D applications across a variety of markets, making it all accessible under the single heading of Stardraw.net. This is brand new technology and we believe we are the first company in the world to offer full CAD capability via the web."
Where traditional software is shipped on CD and installed, Stardraw’s web-based application is delivered through HTML pages, using tools which download themselves as and when they are needed. All of the functionality, for instance Cut, Copy, Paste commands or drawing lines, is executed on the client side for speed, whilst symbols libraries, pricing etc are stored in databases on the server. Even if the internet connection is broken, users can still continue to work and save files locally.
Snipp continued: "We are showing this new technology to manufacturers and other corporate clients who are looking for flexible, scalable, custom software solutions. The beauty of a centralized, web-delivered application is that it’s very easy to maintain and update, and it can link to real-time data like pricing, stock levels and special offers. Our first custom web-based application, PanelBuilder, which went live on the RCI Custom website in June, has already been a huge hit."
Stardraw.net has been nominated for a PLASA Award for Product Excellence.
www.stardraw.com
The list of Lighting Product Nominations for a Plasa Award has been published:
Anytronics Ltd - Anycolour (lighting system)
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd - DMX-Split RDM (data distribution system), Power-Hub 4 (ethernet hub), and Power-Pipe II (low voltage dimmer)
Avolites - ART2000i (installation dimmer), Diamond 4 (lighting console)
Bright Lighting Ltd - Color Stream (LED lighting effect)
Clay Paky - Stage Profile Plus SV (beam-shaping projector)
Compulite - Rave (lighting console)
DTS Illuminazione srl - Par 64 Watertight
E\T\C Audiovisuel - Pigi’S 700 (4kW HMI projector)
ELC Lighting - focus Brain Mkll (lighting controller)
ETC Europe - Emphasis (lighting control system), MultiPAR (theatre batten), and SmartPack (dimmer)
LDR Luci della Ribalta srl - Gobo Wizard (software)
Le Mark Group - GEL-Tak (fixing film)
Lightfactor Sales Ltd - Droplet (automated luminaire)
LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty Ltd - maXim with PaTPad (lighting control module)
MBN Eventproducts - MBN Airbase/Aircone (architectural lighting system)
Roscolab Ltd - ImagePro (gobo slide projector)
ShowLED by Amelia nv - ShowLED Starcloth System
Spacewriter Ltd - FanScreen (image display system), iBall (image display system)
Vari-Lite Inc - VL1000 ERS Luminaire
For more information on any of these producs go to: http://www.plasa.org/show/awards/category.asp?ID=Lighting
Leading design and documentation software specialist Stardraw.com has launched an Affiliate Program in a move that is designed to add value to the websites of all Affiliate members. The program, which is free to join and open to everyone, allows Affiliates to earn income from all online purchases at www.stardraw.com that result from a click-through from their site. The process is simple: having registered to become an Affiliate, Stardraw then supplies a link that is unique to each Affiliate to place on their website. Any customer that follows the link will be identified and logged, and any purchases they make will be attributed to the Affiliate's account. Commissions will then be paid on a quarterly basis.
According to Stardraw marketing director Rob Robinson: "We're very excited about the Affiliate program because it is such a simple way for anyone that has any connection to or interest in Stardraw products to add value to their site and at the same time earn them money. It also has the benefit of introducing Stardraw to a wider audience, so everybody wins."
www.stardraw.com
Stage Technologies, the pioneering scenic automation experts, have supplied the automation equipment for both Oliver! and The Witches of Eastwick.
Both Australian production companies have chosen similar automation systems, each of which include numerous award-winning Big Tow Winches and the Acrobat control console both ideal for touring applications. Oliver!, which opened in May in Sydney to critical acclaim, will shortly be joined by Witches of Eastwick, which starts previewing in Melbourne in August. The latter uses Stage Technologies' Pathway - a specially developed software application which allows objects (in this case the three witches) to move in space along complicated, pre-programmed curved trajectories. The Pathway software will enable these complicated performer flying sequences to be re-created in other venues on a tour which visits Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney in its first six months.
Since launching the Pathway software, Stage Technologies have further developed it to produce the magical flying sequences for their latest project Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in London's West End.
www.stagetech.com
Leading technical design consultancy LDPS has opened an office in New Zealand, to service clients in Australasia, the Pacific Rim and the Far East. The move follows four years of LDPS operation in Ireland and the UK, which will continue to be directed from the Cork office. LDPS’s Grant Collie told us: "I’ve had incredibly positive feedback on the New Zealand office and on the business we will be doing in these territories. I’m already working on several projects."
LDPS NZ will concentrate on the company’s core business as a performance venue technical consultancy. The team specialises in all aspects of design including sound, lighting, multi and mixed media facilities, audio-visual and stage technology. Working in the Southern Hemisphere will also give LDPS the opportunity to expand it's service to sports facilities, in particular the design of public address and broadcast video infrastructures.
LDPS also supplies its services for other areas like interactives at heritage projects, visitor attractions and museums, co-ordinating with specialist manufacturers of themed rides and similar facilities. Collie is expecting to continue this element of the business in the new territories, where LDPS can either work directly from the conception of a project, or with a client’s existing specialist consultants.
The company can also assist in the preparation of entries for architectural design competitions. Grant Collie says: "We’re often called into a project when it’s at a fairly advanced stage, which can prove to be false economy, unless someone on the team already has extensive specialist knowledge of production industry technicals. Obviously, we’ll be encouraging organizations and individuals to get us onboard at the early planning stages of a project."
www.ldps.ie
Lighting By Design and The Gobo Factory are joining forces. The Directors of both companies have formed a new company called GoboTech. GoboTech will be based on the Gold Coast in new premises that are due to open this Spring. A full press release will follow soon.
www.lbd.com.au
www.gobo.com.au
Matrix Lighting Productions of Perth are proud to announce the acquisition of 4 Clay Paky Golden Spots boasting a 1200 HMI lamp and various glass and steel rotating gobo's. To compliment these units we have also purchased 4 Clay Paky Golden Colours also featuring a 1200 HMI lamp, full CMY colour mixing and variable colour temperature correction.
These new lights will compliment theirr already extensive intelligent lighting inventory including:
Clay Paky Golden Scan 3's
Clay Paky Mini Scans
Clay Paky Mini Scan HPE's
High End Techno Beams
High End Track Spots
Martin MAC250+
Abstract Future Scan 3's
Abstract Future Scan 3 CE's
Abstract Future Scan 1's
Constella Astro Stars (DMX FX)
Matrix Lighting Productions a call on 9371 1551 or fax 9371 1552.
Selecon, led by company directors Jeremy Collins and Andrew Nichols, has gone from strength to strength during the 16 years since it's inception with company growth of 78% and staff numbers jumping from 35 to 82 over the last 3 years.
This rapid growth lead to an uncomfortable bulging at the seams in their 8,000 square feet Grey Lynn premises (not to mention in the second factory site just down the road) and the decision to move was made! After much searching Auckland wide the perfect solution presented itself in the guise of an existing building on the North Shore - 33,000 square feet!
On Monday, 8th July Selecon moved into their swanky new premises (see below) and soon had everything in ship shape order!
Selecon
19-21 Kawana Street
Northcote
Auckland 1310
New Zealand
Tel: 64 9 481-0100
Fax: 64 9 481-0101
Emails and web addresses remain the same.
www.seleconlight.com
The first five U.S. Wholehog III consoles and DP2000 DMX processing units were passed through High End Systems' Austin Quality Control before being shipped to their various beta test locations nationwide. This delivery follows the placement of several beta consoles throughout the UK and Europe. HES' Brad Schiller is managing the beta launch in the U.S., while Lee House handles the U.K.
The response from the beta test program led to the release of Wholehog III software version 1.0.
Says Robert Mokry, Wholehog III product launch manager, "We're very happy the Hogs are now shipping. The hardware is complete and the beta test program yielded great results that has ensured a solid version 1.0 release. The idea behind V1.0 software is to release a reliable build that offers the core features users must have to do a show, with features such as XYZ positioning and Hog II show import scheduled for delivery later this year."
"The response has been overwhelming from our WHIII beta sites, along with programmers, lighting designers and theatre consultants worldwide who have seen the console. We're also releasing WHIII console launch program materials such as a new website (check out www.flyingpig.com for the new look), an Ethernet system design guide, system risers/examples, pricing, etc. Wholehog III training classes will be announced soon, as taught by HES' Vickie Claiborne in the U.S. and Lee House in the U.K. Keep an eye on www.highend.com for more info."
www.ula.com.au
(18-07-02)
Lance Stewart of Creative Lighting has a chronic illness (autoimmune disorder) which has forced him put his business up for sale. The parts of the business that might be of separate interest are the sales and hire business (similar to most reseller operations with major brands represented, but only dry hire and a small hire inventory) - this business has been going 13 years as Creative and prior to that goes back to the days of Harvey theatrical in the sixties.
The second part of the business is the manufacturing including r&d and intellectual property for a number of unique products like Showpro, Touch-Tell, rainbow dynamic signs and a few others.
The last part is the freehold premises, which a buyer of the business might or might not like to buy and which consists of one of the best showroom/office setups around approx 350m2 on a corner position, high volume traffic past the door, in North Ipswich Queensland. Or a buyer of the business might want to move it or rent the building - options aplenty!
If you're interested in any of the above, please email Lance lance@creativelight.com or call him on 07 3282 8777.
(09-07-02)
Selecon NZ Ltd's new address and contact numbers as of Monday, July 8, will be:
Selecon
19-21 Kawana Street
Northcote
Auckland 1310
New Zealand
phone: 64-9-481-0100
fax: 64-9-481-0101
www.seleconlight.com
(28-06-02)
Rosco has been in the entertainment industry nearly a hundred years and so PLSN Magaizne visited with Stan Miller and Stan Schwartz, the veteran top brass of Rosco, for a frank discussion of the company's legacy and bright future. Rosco Interview.
www.rosco.com
(28-06-02)
Switchcraft Inc, the US manufacturer of a broad range of connector products, including a DMX compatible 3pin to 5pin XLR adaptor, has appointed Connection Technologies Limited as its new authorised distributor for New Zealand. Connection Technologies is run by Lewis Woodward, who has a wealth of experience in the connector and patch panel markets, and the company can be contacted at the e-mail address given below.
E-Mail: lewis@connectors.co.nz
www.switchcraft.com
Hollywood-based theatrical lighting company GAM Products Inc. announces the launch of its redesigned website at www.gamonline.com. The site now offers almost 200 short videos of its products, complete pricing information, technical data, specifications, instructions, and a photo gallery contributed by designers (enter the Photo Gallery Contest to win $50 in GAM products). There is also a Virtual TwinSpin where designers can preview animated patterns. The Color Theory section offers tutorial information, explanations of CIE chromaticity charts, Kelvin color temperature measurement, and more. You can also, of course, order GAM products online as well, or find your local dealer's address, phone number, and other contact information.
Australian Distributor: CLS www.clsa.com.au
Australian Distributor: Miller www.miller.com.au
ULA already has offices in Queensland (Head Office) and Victoria, and now with the addition of Sydney, ULA now covers the three major cities and states in Australia, each with a permanent sales and support presence.
The Sydney office is headed up by ULA Sales Manager, Justin Knox.
Contact details for Sydney are:
Phone 9818-4677
Fax 9818-2477
Email syd@ula.com.au
" This exciting expansion is demonstration of ULA's continued client focus," says ULA Managing Director Con Biviano. "There is no substitute for being one-on-one with clients - Sydney clients have been looking strong support from their suppliers, and ULA has stepped up.
"Indicating the growing strength of ULA's business in the Sydney market, we have been taking strong note of increasing demand for our products and services from the industry in New South Wales, and certainly the time is right - ULA is looking forward to building relationships and meeting the demand in the marketplace."
www.ula.com.au
ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.) and German lighting company transtechnik Lichtsysteme are combining to better serve the European entertainment-lighting market. ETC has purchased the division from the parent company transtechnik GmbH, Holzkirchen, Germany, effective May 31, 2002.
With headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin, and offices worldwide, including London, Copenhagen, Rome, and Hong Kong, ETC is the emerging global leader in the lighting industry. Over 15,000 venues, including Broadway shows and high-profile clients like Royal Caribbean cruise lines; the Royal Opera House, London; the Staatstheater Opernhaus, Hannover; SAT1, Berlin; and Legoland Germany, employ ETC lighting products. ETC sees a strong synergy in the new union with transtechnik Lichtsysteme, which has a high reputation for professional lighting systems and studio automation in the central European market. According to ETC Chief Executive Officer Fred Foster, "We have long had great respect for transtechnik's reputation and technology in our industry. The two companies share the same dedication to serving our customers. By the combination of transtechnik Lichtsysteme with ETC, we will be able to increase our range of products and services to the German as well as the global markets."
transtechnik Lichtsysteme will continue to offer their brand-name products and turn-key/project-management services to clients like theaters, opera houses, and TV/broadcast studios. ETC will support transtechnik Lichtsysteme to continue to deliver high quality service to their customers and to further build on their product offering. Operations will continue to be based in Holzkirchen [30 kilometers south of Munich]. The headquarters for ETC's European sales will remain in London and provide continued service to ETC customers throughout the region.
ETC will maintain their current established channels of distribution and dealers, including in Germany Lightpower as exclusive dealer of the Source Four® line, and Arcus for the WYSIWYG lighting-design software line.
As part of the overall business agreement, transtechnik GmbH retains its ownership position of avab transtechnik France and avab Scandinavia. transtechnik Lichtsysteme will, however, continue its business relationship with those formerly affiliated companies and will proceed in the development, sales and support of their avab control and dimming products.
Combined, the three brands ETC, transtechnik Lichtsysteme, and avab are poised to be able to offer the most extensive product range within the entertainment- and architectural-lighting industry.
www.etcconnect.com
With the exploding LED revolution, it is appropriate that a brand new lighting concept—and company—based on these brilliant little devices is to be launched at Lightfair 2002 in San Francisco. Nils Thorjussen, coming from a successful background in the entertainment lighting industry, has set up Bright Lighting LLC along with industry veterans Chris Varrin and Jeremy Hochman. The new company will market innovative LED based lighting products. LEDs deliver long life, minimal maintenance and high energy efficiency, while providing extraordinarily bright colors. The Bright Lighting team sees the potential to bring entertainment pizzazz into the architectural lighting arena.
“The double meaning in the Bright of the company name is deliberate,” says Thorjussen, “Our products are extremely clever, highly innovative and very eye-catching!”
Color Stream™, the first product from Bright Lighting, looks like a fluorescent tube but changes color, generates patterns and moves them along the tube. “It’s just like neon with pixels,” says Thorjussen, “Color Stream rivets your attention with flowing and ebbing streams of saturated, colored light. It’s stunningly beautiful. In fact, when I first saw Color Stream, I was floored. I couldn’t actually figure out what was creating the effect.”
The intriguing lighting effect is created by a linear array of LEDs housed in an IP66 weatherproof tube suitable for interior and exterior applications. When multiple tubes are linked together, pre-programmed or custom effects cascade down the daisy-chained units. A variety of shapes, lengths and widths make Color Stream suitable for a wide variety of applications.
Color Stream has been licensed to Bright Lighting by UK based lighting designers, Wynne Willson Gottelier (WWG), who developed the system some years ago. “We had to wait for LEDs to become more accessible from a cost point of view before we had a viable product,” says Tony Gottelier of WWG.
Color Stream enables lighting effects that were previously impossible to achieve. To better understand what streaming color looks like, view the images at www.brightlighting.com
As part of its long-term strategy to address the industry’s concerns over training, PLASA has appointed a full-time training and development manager. Nicky Greet, who joined the PLASA Head Office staff at the start of May, will be tasked with collating current training information, identifying and addressing areas in which specifically-tailored training schemes are required and helping to implement them in conjunction with relevant bodies.
PLASA’s managing director Matthew Griffiths commented: "Concerns about the lack of suitable and relevant training in the entertainment technology industry have been voiced for some time, and PLASA originally scheduled this appointment into its long-term strategy as part of its first five-year plan in 2000. During 2001, we conducted an extensive programme of research into the issue with the aid of our members, which enabled us to move on to the next stage."
He continued: "I am very pleased to have now reached this point in the process, and I welcome Nicky to our team at Eastbourne. I’m sure that by working principally with our members and drawing on their experience and expertise in their own fields, we can go a long way to addressing the lack of dedicated skills training that our research has identified."
Nicky’s first task will be to formulate a Training & Development Plan, which will outline the best way forward in meeting members’ training requirements. Amongst other objectives, the project will involve the creation of a searchable online database carrying detailed information on existing training courses, which will be freely accessible to PLASA members, and will also examine the possibility of establishing schemes for subsidising training courses in conjunction with training and educational bodies. While it is envisaged that the main focus of the plan will be on technical training and continued professional development, the remit will also cover other important business-related areas, such as management training and IT.
Nicky has a broad experience of training: she began her career studying microbiology at Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) where she took on responsibility for training issues. From there, she was employed as a trainer at Laura Ashley, focusing on sales techniques and design. For the past five years, Nicky was course leader in interior design and three-dimensional design at a further education college, during which time she has taught on Btec National Diplomas, Higher National Diplomas and City & Guilds courses. Nicky has also run training courses for local Enterprise Centres aimed at helping small retailers.
Commenting on her new position, she says: "This will be a broad-based role which will require feedback and active involvement from PLASA Members. I would ask all PLASA members to contact me with their views on training issues - they don’t have to wait for a formal research document to arrive - I’ll be happy to hear from them at any time."
www.plasa.org
ALIA would like to extend its unreserved apologies to John Offord, etnow.com and all of its international licensees (including Connections Magazine), for the inadvertent use on our web site, of their edited versions of industry media releases. The items in question were immediately withdrawn when we were advised of this error, and have since replaced by material directly from the original releases. We are sorry for any distress that may have been caused by this unintentional breach of our own intellectual property policy.
LSC
Supplies Vision to ABC TV
After an exhaustive market research conducted by the Australian National
Broadcaster, ABC TV, to find a suitable lighting desk for their recently
digitised Studio 31 in Melbourne's Ripponlea complex, an order was placed
for a Vision 10/ST console from ADB-TTV in Belguim. The desk will be supplied
by ADB's Australian Distributor - LSC Lighting Systems of Melbourne.
The Vision desk provides 1024 control channels on 1024 DMX output channels
expandable out to 2048 DMX channels; 48 Submasters over 2 pages; full
A/B playback facilities; moving light control module; special effects
module; standard outputs for keyboard, mouse, SVGA monitors, MIDI, Audio,
IR or HF remote control units, printers, worklights; and can be expanded
for ethernet connection.
The Vision fulfilled a number of key criteria that the ABC were seeking…"The
ADB Vision certainly provided what we were looking for in a desk; intuitive,
predictable operation with fast on-the-fly recording of memories and separate
channel and memory keypad modules. This is essential for our fast-paced
TV production often using freelance console operators…..and of course
it fell within our budget".
ADB-TTV is a wholly owned Siemens company and has developed an enviable
reputation in Europe, South America and Asia for their high quality lighting
control systems, hoists, suspension systems and luminaires. Their reference
list reads like the who's who of major theatres and Television Studios
throughout these regions. LSC Lighting Systems was appointed the Australian
Distributor in an effort to establish the ADB name in Australia. The collaboration
was a natural progression for LSC to expand its product base and market
coverage throughout this important region.
www.adb.be
Australian Distributor: LSC Lighting Systems www.lsclighting.com.au
ASX listed lighting distributor, Lighting Corporation Limited (LCL), has agreed to acquire Sylvania Lighting International Pty Ltd (SLi) for a consideration of approximately $23 million.
The transaction is subject to LCL obtaining the funding on acceptable terms and approval of the transaction by shareholders of LCL at an extraordinary general meeting to be held in June 2002.
The acquisition is to be financed by a combination of bank debt and a share placement to investment institutions and sophisticated investors. SHAW Stockbroking and Wilson HTM have been retained to manage the capital raising.
LCL Managing Director Mr Dov Mowszowski, said that this acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings per share positive, even before the attainment of significant synergies which are expected to be progressively realised over the next 3 years.
"The business of Sylvania Lighting is complementary to those already operated by LCL. This acquisition is a significant step in a carefully planned and executed expansion program and a unique opportunity for LCL to strengthen its operating base and become the largest lighting supplier in Australasia." Mowszowski stated.
The LCL group markets and distributes a comprehensive selection of lamps, lighting fixtures and lighting systems throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Rim. The range now includes Sylvania, Concord, Lumiance and Marlin in addition to its existing brands of Crompton, Expo Light and Inlite.
www.sli.com.au
Melbourne based Lighting Lab has taken delivery of the SGM Giotto Wash 400 fixtures, building on the company's already impressive SGM rental inventory. Lighting Lab now have Giotto Wash 400, Giotto Spot 400 and VictoryII 250 fixtures available for rent.
www.sgm.it
www.lightinglab.com.au
Universal Lighting & Audio are now distributing Robe Show Lighting of the Czech Republic. Robe Show Lighting offer a range of competitively priced moving heads, scanners, colour changers, effect lights and DMX Control Systems.
www.robe.cz
www.ula.com.au
Leading Italian pro audio manufacturer Proel has announced a major expansion with the formation of a new lighting division, Proel Lighting. Product manager for the new venture will be Roberto Meggiolaro, formerly head and major shareholder of lighting manufacturer M&L srl of Milan, which has been merged with Proel to form Proel Lighting.
The new division was officially launched at the SIB 2002 show in Rimini, where a new master catalogue of lighting products was available. The company is now able to offer a complete lighting range which includes theatre lighting, fibre optic lighting, display lighting, lamps, wired lighting bars, ancillary equipment and more.
Proel spa is now the third largest audio industry manufacturer in Italy, with exports to 104 countries.
www.proelgroup.com
Selecon has established a stock base for its product line in Boston, MA. This move, along with the appointment of a New York-based rep, Mark Burlace, is aimed at increasing the company’s US market share.
Burlace is an experienced international theatre lighting professional, with credits as a designer and technician in both the UK and Australasia. He has a long association with the Edinburgh Festival for whom he has managed the lighting in one of the venues at the Assembly Rooms.
Speaking of the moves, Selecon’s Jeremy Collins comments “The US market is looking for better solutions to meet the ever increasing challenges of entertainment lighting. The combination of performance and operational innovations along with the unique safety features and lower cost of ownership delivered by Selecon fixtures are increasingly appreciated by the US market. These measures will assist in spreading this message while ensuring we have the stock holdings in place to meet the immediate demands of our industry.”
The best-known item in the Selecon range is the Pacific, a fixed-beam profile unit that uses a cold mirror at 45 degrees to the beam of light. Selecon’s dealer in Hollywood, CA, Angstrom Lighting, recently supplied 20 Pacific units to the Hollywood Bowl. Other venues taking the Pacific have been New York’s Metropolitan Opera, USC and Indiana Universities, the Manitoba Center for the Arts, Jubilee Hall in Edmonton, among others. The units are also employed on the national tour of Mamma Mia!
Mark Burlace can be contacted at mburlace@seleconlight.com.
www.seleconlight.com
Coemar
drop prices on their entire CF Range!
Against
all current thoughts and trends, Coemar have now dramatically reduced
all pricing on their "CF" (Carbon Fibre) Range up to 28%! Who
said just because the Americans are now involved prices would rise?
Products include:
· CF1200 Wash Light Moving Yoke
· CF 1200 HE Hard Edge Moving Yoke
· CF7 WZ Wash Light Moving Yoke
· CF7 WZX Wash Light Moving Yoke
· CF7 HEX Hard Edge Moving Yoke
These products are being specified by many world famous lighting designers
for many worldwide tours and events, to name a few; Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City, Britney Spears, Creed, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Weakest
Link, Who wants to be a Millionaire, Footy Show, Logies, Motor Shows (worldwide)
and many others.
Call Coemar
De Sisti Australia now on 03 9467 8666 for further information.
www.cdaust.com.au
It's not every day that an entertainment-lighting company surpasses the production of one million luminaires in a product line - not to mention within the short 10 years since it was introduced. But that's what ETC has just achieved with its acclaimed Source Four range! The company is so proud to have sold more than one million Source Fours that it plans to share the celebration with some very lucky customers.
Sometime between 1st June and 1st August 2002, ETC will ship four winning Source Four luminaires, representing the millionth-unit made, to their UL/cUL, CE and 100V markets. Four lucky end-users will receive a prize-winning Source Four in their orders. (Sorry to all ETC employees, dealers, representatives and distributors but the promotion is for end-users only!)
If you are one of those winners, you will find a rare etched gold-wrapped Source Four inside your box, along with a special Certificate of Authenticity signed by ETC's entire Source Four luminaires assembly crew. Just return the golden luminaire to ETC and you will receive the real grand prize - a wonderful collection of ETC's Source Fours. The prize will include a 5° Source Four, a 10° Source Four, a classic Source Four with lens tubes for every angle - and a Source Four PAR.
It's a lighting designer's dream come true - and it's absolutely free - a thank you from ETC.
The promotion will culminate with the announcement of the winners on the ETC website, at the PLASA tradeshow in September and at the 10-year Source Four birthday celebration at the LDI - which is where the Source Four was officially launched, back in 1992.
www.etcconnect.com
Australian Distributor: Jands Electronics www.jands.com.au
Combining world-leading and proven LED illumination expertise with the best in stylish and sophisticated Italian design, Color Kinetics Incorporated, a leader in intelligent LED illumination technologies, and Targetti, a leading Italian designer and manufacturer of architectural lighting fixtures and systems, have announced an OEM partnership. Through this partnership, Targetti will incorporate Color Kinetics patented Chromacore intelligent LED illumination technologies, which generate millions of colors and a variety of fully controllable lighting effects, into a new line of custom fixtures. The two companies also plan to co-develop new Chromacore-based 'designer' lighting fixtures. This new product line enables Color Kinetics' signature full spectrum color and lighting effects - ranging from subtle to spectacular - to be incorporated into any decor through an array of Targetti's unique fixture styles.
According to Color Kinetics co-founder, chairman and CEO George Mueller, this partnership will significantly extend the market for LED-based illumination, which experts predict could become a $50 billion industry. "Working with Targetti gives Color Kinetics powerful exposure in a new space through one of the most innovative and well known fixture lines on the market, making our technology much more accessible to the general consumer," he notes.
Lorenzo Targetti, CEO of Targetti Sankey SPA, agrees. "Our customers count on us to couple our design artistry with advanced technology," he says. "Partnering with Color Kinetics gives us access to the absolute best LED illumination technologies, expertise and intellectual property portfolio available, and allows us to provide a spectacular new design element to our customers."
Cork-based LDPS – theatre and venue technical consultants and specialists in lighting design and technical production services – is attending the Venue Manager's Association conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is a precursor to the imminent opening of the LDPS New Zealand office, which has now been brought forward to July 1st due to a surge of local interest.
At VMS, LDPS will be based on the stand of Australian-based seating manufacturers Starena. LDPS's Grant Collie says: "The show presents an ideal opportunity to make general contacts and meet industry professionals as well as potential clients."
Plans for the opening of the LDPS New Zealand office in Wellington are progressing rapidly. The postal address and contact numbers are now confirmed, and the first employee has been recruited. For details e-mail nzoffice@ldps.ie.
Michelle White has been appointed as administrative assistant for the New Zealand office and Grant Collie is in New Zealand for April and again in July for the official launch. In the meantime, administrative inquiries can be handled by Michelle, and specific project inquiries should currently be directed through the Irish office.
www.ldps.ie
Arri has announced the launch of a free e-mail newsletter to give interested parties updates on their products and other news. It will be required that you fill in contact information but Arri promises not to sell, rent or lease its customer lists to outside parties.
Simply click here to proceed to the Arri Website to sign up.
Martin continues to expand its production capability with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in China. Production is expected to begin by the start of the year 2003.
As an important part of the company's strategy to maintain its competitiveness in the lower priced lighting segments, the new Martin facility will be geared toward the production of Martin's DJ range of lighting products. The facility will be located in the Chinese city of Zhuhai in the southern part of the country.
Martin will maintain full control over the facility's production and level of product quality. Martin Professional President and CEO Kristian Kolding commented, "The DJ market has traditionally been an important segment for us and with this new facility it will continue to be so. The factory in China will allow us to maintain an aggressive approach in this competitive market.
"We are determined not to turn to OEM as a competitive approach due to the lack of control involved. At this new facility, although we will obviously benefit from the low Chinese labor costs, we will maintain control over quality and will produce a line of products that live up to the same high quality standards that Martin customers have come to expect." Production is expected to begin by the start of the year 2003.
www.martin.dk
In less than six months since acquiring Italian lighting giants, Coemar SpA, Florida-based Coemar USA (formerly Tracoman) have radically streamlined production, marketing and distribution to make the company more competitive and efficient in its traditional markets.
Chief executive, Gerard Cohen, confirmed that while expansion of Coemar's production facilities in Belarus will enable the company to bring commercial luminaires to market faster and more cost-competitively, the handover of administrative responsibility will provide more creative freedom for the company's charismatic inventor, Bruno Dedoro, to innovate as head of Coemar's R&D and production.
"Over the past two decades Coemar has been synonymous with marketing groundbreaking products, such as the Robot, the NAT and CF series, and this will continue," promised Cohen.
"At the same time we are looking at ways of both improving the global distribution network to create more market penetration, and to equip these distributors with a full inventory of spares, and the expertise to enable them to administer 24-hour service support."
Already the new initiative is paying dividends. Since Bruno Dedoro's design team initiated the carbon fibre headshell series the company's products have become increasingly specified by top concert LDs around the world, while the Coemar portfolio enjoyed major exposure during the recent Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Gerard Cohen also confirmed the appointment of the experienced Ian Kirby to head up Coemar UK, the company's new distributor in the UK. It was Kirby who largely underwrote the initial success of Martin Professional in the UK, setting up the company's original base in the UK at the end of the 1980s.
Martin
Announces Record-breaking 2001 Year-End Result
Martin Professional had an outstanding 2001 with increases in both sales
and pre-tax profit.
Danish based Martin Professional has something to smile about. Besides
an unusually sunny start to the spring season in Denmark, the company
has announced positive year-end sales and pre-tax profit figures for 2001.
Sales in 2001 amounted to DKK 878 million (over $100 million), an increase
of 14% over the previous year while pre-tax profit jumped to DKK 73 million
($8.5 million), a considerable improvement over 2000.
President and CEO of Martin Professional, Kristian Kolding, commented,
"We are very satisfied with these results. Despite the difficulties
in the industry following the tragic events of September 11th, especially
in the United States and United Kingdom, as well as the general downturn
in the economy, we managed to create the best results in the history of
the company in 2001.
"This is really a testament to the quality of the product that we
offer, as well as the people who back it up. The entire range of Martin,
Mach and Jem products saw significant developments in 2001 with the MAC
2000 experiencing astounding success throughout the year.
"In fact, Martin Professional products experienced growth in all
segments and markets and we expect that trend to continue throughout 2002."
www.martin.dk
One of the larger exhibitors at this year's SIB, the Italian lighting show, is a Chinese company, Pearl River Light and Acoustics Industrial, Ltd. Known for years as a maker of products for the Chinese market, the company is making a bold effort to become an international player.
David Barbour, editor of Lighting Dimensions, reports on the new Pearl River strategy.
ALIA is going in to print. In conjunction with the Illuminating
Engineering Society and RALA Information Services, publishers of the
IES magazine, "Lighting ", ALIA is expanding the magazine's content to cover
a broader spectrum of the lighting industry. Starting with the April 2002
issue, ALIA will be providing articles and features covering lighting for
stages, studios, events, spectacles and locations. In the first expanded issue we will be looking at equipment, designs, productions and facilities, ranging from concert touring and community theatre, to grand opera and production for worship. The New Products section covers everything from a locally-developed radio DMX link to a heavy fog generator that requires no CO2 or liquid Nitrogen, while the technical feature is on the production of custom gobos.
To make the expanded issue of Lighting available to the broadest cross-section of the lighting industry, RALA will be printing extra copies of the magazine. If you aren't already receiving Lighting magazine and would like to receive a free copy of this special first ALIA issue, please email us at magazine@lighting-association.com. If you have a significant number of lighting people passing through your premises, and would like to have some copies of the magazine to pass on to them, please let us know about that too.
In order for us to send you a free magazine, we need to know:
(sorry, but that's as far as we're mailing at the moment).
This offer closes at 6pm EDT on Monday March 25th
A major event in LSC's history almost escaped unnoticed recently. Whilst the Australian based lighting control manufacturer was pre-occupied with the release of the new maXim range of consoles, the 3000th Atom rolled off the assembly line last month.
Alan Graham, marketing director for LSC, explained: "The Atom desk has been a remarkable little console, gaining wide acceptance from all quarters of the industry. It certainly has become a benchmark that others have tried emulate. Its ease of programming and replaying memories became its major draw card and this is the main theme we kept in the new more powerful new maXim."
LSC has had a long history with consoles that have become trend-setters – the first small memory desk in the world - Precept (1983 –1994), the Focal range (1980 –1996), the Axiom range (1994 –2002), the Atom range (1995-?) and now the maXim range.
In picture are the LSC's crew responsible for assembling consoles: Nat Bolton, Winnie Chan and David Knopp with Serial Number 13838 - an Atom 24/48 - that was shipped to new Spanish distributor, Scenic Light.
www.lsclighting.com.au
I do not know if you are aware I have left Bytecraft. I have been appointed Australian Consul-General to Japan based in Osaka.
I am now in Japan and amongst other things am busily promoting Australian Trade in Japan. Being Consul-General, allows access where not many others can go. It has occurred to me, from my own past experience marketing Australian Theatre Technology to Japan, that my presence here offers a unique opportunity to all Australian theatrical manufacturers and service providers who may want assistance in exporting those products and services.
The problem traditionally in Japan for Australian theatre exporters has been that there has been no assistance here from people who understood the theatre market and were thus able to act as effective researchers of possibilities, much less as effective advocates of the product or service on offer.
Companies were forced to continually come to Japan on marketing missions themselves so as to be able to accurately present their products. This naturally proved too expensive for most.
The Japanese lighting market is estimated to be worth about half a billion AUD annually and much like the Australian market, never seems to fall even when tougher times are being experienced by other sectors of the economy. From Osaka I cover 14 prefectures( like States ) with a population base in excess of 40 million people and in Kansai alone an economy 4 times that of Australia.
When you add to the above the fact that Osaka (the capital of Kansai region) has always been trade focussed you have a market for Australian exporters just waiting to be accessed.
Best wishes,
John Drummond Montgomery
Consul-General;
Senior Trade Commissioner
Australian Consulate-General, Osaka Japan
Tel: (06) 6941 9309 Fax: (06) 6920 4543
John.Montgomery@austrade.gov.au
Please contact Aya Fujii of the Entertainment & Leisure Austrade Osaka Team at Aya.Fujii@austrade.gov.au or +81-6-6941-9378
http://www.australia.or.jp
http://www.austrade.gov.au
http://www.business.australia.or.jp
Paragon Innovations Inc. announces that it has teamed with Genlyte Thomas Group L.L.C. to develop the latest version of Genlyte’s LyteMode™, a lighting system ideal for hotels, restaurants, and high-end residential projects, that uses a centralised processor control board to automate and adjust thousands of light sources at once.
LyteMode uses controller area network (CAN) protocol, typically used to control lighting systems in automobiles, to integrate dimmers throughout a building to the central control panel.
“Previous lighting systems used switches in each room of a building, making control and adjustment a tedious task,” said Michael Wilkinson, founder and chief executive officer of Paragon. “Now, using CAN protocol and a centralised control board developed by Paragon, a building’s light settings can be programmed more easily to reflect a mood or occasion. It’s similar to programming the auto-dial buttons on a car stereo.”
“We outsourced our LyteMode project to Paragon because we wanted to progress our line of luxury lighting systems and we needed technology design expertise that was above our in-house capabilities,” said Steve Carson, vice president and general manager at Genlyte. “Paragon’s high-level professionalism and extensive technology design expertise resulted in a lighting design that will benefit Genlyte and its clients, and their good attitude made them a great team to work with.”
LyteMode will be premiered at the LightFair International 2002 Trade Show and Conference, June 3-5, 2002, in San Francisco.
www.paragoninnovations.com
Australian based lighting control manufacturer, LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty Ltd, reports that increased business stemming from last year's PLASA 2001 trade show in London has culminated in the appointment of five new distributors.
Advanced Communication Equipment (ACE) has been appointed for China. ACE commenced operations in 1982 and has grown to be one of the leaders in their field in China. With over 200 employees in eight branches, ACE decided to take on the LSC range to strengthen their presence in the theatre and broadcast sectors of the market.
Telecommunications Engineering Consultant Office (TECO), located in Cairo, has been appointed distributors of LSC to access the growing installation market in Egypt. LSC now rounds off the vast product range that TECO represents.
Scenic Light has taken on LSC for the Spanish market. With offices in Madrid, Alicante and the Canary Islands, Scenic Light is well positioned to continue the success that LSC has had in this market.
LSC has also widened its representation in the Scandinavian and South African markets by appointing Interlite AB in Sweden and Calite Pty Ltd. in Johannesburg. Both companies have already made good inroads to their respective markets with LSC.
www.lsclighting.com.au
Belgium based designer and manufacturer of lighting control systems, luminaires and suspension systems, ADB-TTV Technologies N.V./S.A., have appointed L.S.C. Lighting Systems Pty. Ltd. as their Australian distributor.
The appointment stems from a collaboration over the last few months between ADB and LSC culminating in an order for a Vision 10S/T lighting desk for the Australian National Broadcaster, ABCTV. ADB also participated on the LSC booth at the recent Entech 2002 exhibition held in Sydney, featuring the Phoenix control desk and Stage luminaires.
LSC will use the ADB product range to pursue large scale projects in the television and theatre sectors. They say initial interest will certainly keep them very busy.
André Bragard-De Naeyer of ADB (left) on stand at Entech with LSC's Alan Graham.
www.lsclighting.com.au
transtechnik
Lichtsysteme now available in Australia
Hels Australia Pty
Ltd will now be handling the transtechnik Lichtsysteme range of professional
lighting systems for television studios and theatres in Australia. The
appointment is recognition of the increasing importance of the markets
in the Pacific region. Hels, which is based in Templestowe not far from
Melbourne, will handle both the Australian market and the entire south-east
Asia region. In addition to sales, the company will also work with companies
in the planning stages.
Hels is run by Zoltan Seles and Tomas Bardos. The two businessmen have
been working together since 1998, supplying technical equipment and services
to the television and theatre markets.
Pictured right is Zoltan
Seles - he and his business partner Tomas Bardos founded Hels Australia
Pty Ltd in 2001.
www.transtechnik.com
Following the change of ownership of Vienna-based projection specialists Ludwig Pani late in 2001, the company was placed in official receivership during a period of re-structure. This situation is expected to remain in place for the next few weeks until negotiations with the company's bankers are completed. An official statement will then be made.
Meantime, managing director Thomas Wasshuber, a member of the new management team, told the etnow news page that the company is continuing as normal and trading profitably and that all employees will be retained. He was highly confident that the new arrangements planned will provide a basis for the success of the company and enable it to take advantage of Pani's respected traditions alongside new plans for the future.
Pani will be exhibiting at Pro Light + Sound in Frankfurt in March.
Australian Distributor: Coemar De Sisti www.cdaust.com.au
Barco Projection, a division of Barco n.v., Belgium, and High End Systems Inc of Austin, Texas, have announced a strategic alliance that will enable the two companies to cooperate in the marketing of their products to the entertainment and events markets.
Barco Events specializes in providing tailor-made visualization and show-control solutions and manufactures amongst others a range of professional large-event projectors, ranging in brightness from 5,000 to 17,000 ANSI lumens. High End Systems, a manufacturer of automated lighting products, has introduced Catalyst, a cross-cultural system that converts video projectors into automated lights. The Catalyst system (developed in conjunction with WWG), which incorporates a Media Server, can also be used in conjunction with Barco's range of Ilite and Dlite LED displays to create an extensive range of effects and imagery.
The newly formed agreement allows Barco to sell the Catalyst system to its partners, with or without projectors, and provides the basis for future cooperation on various levels between the two companies. Nevertheless, Catalyst will remain an open platform and may still be used on a wide range of other video projectors from other manufacturers in the field.
"Barco sees lighting and video technology moving toward a closer interaction," says Kristoff Henry, marketing manager of Barco Events. "The combined knowledge and driving forces of the two groups will enable the creation of a new generation of products that will span the two markets and thus deliver many new creative possibilities."
"We believe video is the future of entertainment lighting," says John Wiseman, global sales vice-president of High End Systems. "High End will be in the forefront of this development as the result of this cooperative agreement."
www.highend.com
This years ULA dealer awards were announced recently with many ULA Dealers on hand to enjoy the evening and to celebrate the ULA Dealer Awards.
The award winners for 2002 are
Architectural Installation of the Year - Venue Technologies
Avolites Dealer of the Year - Phaseshift Productions
Commitment to Retail Sales - Derringers Music, Factory Sound', Kosmic Sound & Light, Pro Light & Sound, Sanity Dance Arena
Commitment to Training - Bytecraft Entertainment
DJ Audio Dealer of the Year - Central Station Records
Griven Outdoor Dealer of the Year - Theatriks
High End Systems Dealer of the Year - Entertainment Lighting Supplies
Regional Dealer of the Year - Music Workshop
SGM Dealer of the Year - Lighting Lab
ULA Dealer of the Year - Venue Technologies (Mick James and Con Biviano pictured right)
www.ula.com.au
Win
1 of 3 CDA Electric Scooters
Visit the Coemar De Sisti stand (O16) at Entech 2002 and you could win
an electric scooter!
Rated Speed: 12 KPH (at payload of 150 LBS)
Range/Working Distance:10-12km
Continuous Working time:1 hour
Battery Charging time:1.5 hours
Net Weight:8 Kg
Full dimensions: (74 x 16 x 103 cm)
Folded dimensions:(78.5 x 16 x 21 cm)
Frame:Steel
Wheel:142 mm
One Winner will be drawn each day at 5.00 PM.
www.cdaust.com.au
Lightsounds has opened at 370 High Street Penrith, this is the first franchise of its kind in the world offering Australia's largest range of DJ audio & lighting equipment, karaoke, security products and gifts. They also hire everything from speaker systems and smoke machines to mirror balls to ensure any party or function is a huge success.
The new shop is the brainchild of long time Penrith resident and youth icon Warren Hayward. Several years ago as Warren's alter ego DJ WIX, he purchased some American DJ equipment from a Lightsounds store and was impressed not only with their 'try before
you buy' service, but also their knowledge, after sales back-up and support. Since then Warren has developed a strong relationship with the company over the years of his successful DJ career. Now he has decided to share his experience and open his own Lightsounds franchise store for Sydney's West and the first of its type in the world.
Alike Victor Kiam of Remington..... Warren liked the company so much he bought into it. "It's all about helping people enjoy themselves." says Warren. "My main aim as a DJ is to make sure people have a good time with my music and this is the logical extension. The equipment I hire goes to many more functions than I could attend personally, and in addition to the widest range of DJ equipment in Australia, Lightsounds offer a catalogue of items that spans electronics & home security to gifts. There is even the GLOWZONE which features a range of items that glow in the dark, great for Harry Potter fans! Lightsounds definitely has something for everyone."
www.lightsounds.com
Vari-Lite
to discontinue selling the Virtuoso
Vari-Lite Inc has announced it has discontinued selling the Virtuoso DX
control system, with immediate effect. However, the company will continue
to rent the desks and to provide customer support for units already in
the field. "This was a tough and emotional decision," said Rusty
Brutsché, chairman and CEO at Vari-Lite. "But in the end,
sales of the Virtuoso DX console just weren't profitable for Vari-Lite.
And therefore the decision was made to concentrate all our manufacturing
and sales efforts on the luminaire market, which has greater potential
for profitable growth. The overwhelming and positive response to Vari-Lite's
newest automated luminaire, the VL1000 ERS, combined with the success
of the Series 2000 luminaires - reinforced our decision."
Vari-Lite will support all Virtuoso DX consoles sold to date. "The
goal is to provide the same quality service that our customers and dealers
have experienced in the past," said Brutsché. "I also
want to emphasize that VLPS will continue to rent and provide customer
support for the Virtuoso and Virtuoso DX consoles as always."
www.vari-lite.com
Australian Distributor: Jands www.jands.com.au
As a leading manufacturer serving the international entertainment lighting market Selecon has built an unparalleled reputation world wide for their innovative quality luminaires. For many years Selecon has played a part in the international trend that has seen a convergence of entertainment lighting practice and technology with the world of architectural and display lighting.
Recently drawing on their core competencies in optical system and product design new products have been developed especially to service the architectural lighting designer. In recognition of this ongoing development and commitment to architectural display lighting Ardiis is born.
The Ardiis name brings together their existing Aureol range of MR 16 luminaires, Astral and Pacific CDM, MSR luminaires. Their unique new HiPort range of 150w CDM recessed framing and pattern projectors can be examined on their website www.ardiislight.com and they will be introducing further new products over the next 12 - 18 months.
The advent of the CDM lamp and more recent variants has allowed the use of luminaires originally designed for the theatre to be used in architectural display applications. Using more sophisticated optical systems required for the precise control capabilities demanded by theatre lighting these luminaires offer a whole new range of capabilities for the architectural llighting designer including accurate shaping of the beam, beam angles which can be adjusted, low glare and pattern projections. The Selecon Pacific and
Astral ranges are such theatrical luminaires using the CDM and MSR short arc light sources available in a range of finishes for the architectural market place.
www.ardiislight.com
At a meeting of Martin Professional's board held in Aarhus, Denmark on 18 November, the final go-ahead was given to the construction of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the production of automated lighting. Construction of the new 12,000sq.m factory is to begin over the next few weeks, with completion expected by the end of the summer 2002. Total investment in the project will be approximately US$20 million.
The new facility, to be located in the city of Frederikshavn in northern Denmark, will be geared toward the production of Martin's most high-tech products. Upon completion of the new facility Martin will effectively double its production capacity for the manufacture of automated lighting. Martin's current production facility, also located in Frederikshavn, will continue operation.
The latest production techniques will be utilized in an innovative, state-of-the-art environment, which will include a fully-automated warehouse for raw materials and semi-manufactured goods. Utilizing highly efficient production methods and procedures, the industry’s most modern manufacturing plant will also further increase Martin's speed to market. Additionally, the new building will boast an exterior façade and design that is promised to be an architectural marvel in its own right. Above is a rendering of how the new Frederikshavn-based facility will look.
www.martin.dk
The next SIB International event, 24-27 March 2002, will be held in the new Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, which has a total site area of 460,000 square metres. Exhibition space totals 127,000 square metres, all on one level. It was designed by Volkwin Marg, founding partner of Hamburg's GMP studio, built by Impregilo, and cost 145 million Euros.
A series of porticos interconnect the 12 modular halls that can be designed as a flexible space for varying sizes of exhibition. The main conference hall seats 730 and this can be divided into two rooms, holding 350 and 300 respectively.
www.sibinternational.com
Chameleon
buys Vari-Lites
Chameleon Touring Systems
has just bought 20 of the latest Vari-Lites, the VL2402 luminaires. Tony
Davies, Managing Director of Chameleon, saw them at PLASA in London this
year and couldn't resist.
"They are a very sophisticated, awesome fitting," he said. "There
is definitely room in the market for a premium wash unit as the VL5s are
getting older.
Chameleon is planning to rent the VL2402s for upcoming theatre productions.
Tony added: "I didn't buy them for a particular show, but as they
had been specified on quite a few shows overseas, I feel confident they
will be popular here too. I had two air freighted here so I could demo
them for clients who loved the output, colour range, flat field and zoom."
The VL2402 luminaire features a 700wt MSR light source, CMY colour mixing,
strobe, and 12 position colour wheel. It pans 540° and tilts 270°.
The zoomable beam spreader has a field angle range of 12-56.5°. The
whole unit weighs a mere 25kg.
www.vari-lite.com
www.chameleon-touring.com.au
x.Spot
Sydney Launch
Following on from the recent successful launches of the High End Systems
x.Spot in Victoria and Queensland, ULA officially launched the x.Spot
in Sydney at a presentation in Bytecraft Entertainment's new premises
on 25 October.
Leading designers, rental companies and specifiers attended the presentation
which showed off not only the x.Spot but also the High End Systems Studio
Beam 700.
From Bytecraft, showing off their new Sydney premises, were Stephen Found
(MD), Durham Richie and Edward Fardell. ULA's Cuono Biviano (MD) together
with Justin Knox and David Jackson demonstrated the x.Spot including the
two new plug-in modules for the fixture - LithoMotion and Framing Shutters.
www.highend.com
www.ula.com.au
Melbourne ALIA
Meeting
The
Melbourne meeting of ALIA on Monday October 22nd, covered the issue of
Testing and Tagging lighting equipment within the Victorian regulatory
environment. Alistair Allan of WorkSafe gave a comprehensive overview
of the Occupational Health and Safety system in the state, before covering
the testing and tagging issue in detail. Discussion was lively and the
need for further clarification of venue, corporate and personal obligations
became a key point of discussion.
Two major issues came out of the meeting:
* The need for a clear set of guidelines for testing and tagging frequency
in the various industries spanned by ALIA.
* The need for a comparison of the syllabus documents of the various Electrical
Safety Testing training courses on offer. This would facilitate the choice
of both cost-effective and time-effective courses for the requirements
of the industry, as the current offerings range from four hours to a week
in duration.
Andy Ciddor agreed to pursue these matters on behalf of ALIA over the
next few weeks.
For those in Victoria with further questions of WorkSafe, the primary
point of contact should be with Stephen McNair on 9628 8115 and 0438 147
554 or stephen_mcnair@workcover.vic.gov.au
Keep watching
this web site in the Standards
area for more details.
Major manufacturers across the entertainment technology industry are gearing up for this year’s LDI trade show in Orlando in a strong display of industry solidarity. Responding to a call by ETC CEO Fred Foster, manufacturers across the spectrum of entertainment technology have confirmed that they are following through fully with plans to exhibit at LDI 2001. So many exhibitors have voiced their resolve that a separate website link has been established to showcase their responses (see below).
Not only will companies be at LDI, many have reported that they will indeed be expanding their presence this year. AC Lighting, Arriflex Corporation, Bandit Lites, Color Kinetics, Le Maitre Special Effects, Martin, Tracoman and Vari-Lite are among those who have announced that they have planned for their largest showing at LDI to date, and many more are preparing to unveil brand new product at the Show. Visitors are travelling far to see those new wares at LDI. Eckart Steffens of Soundlight commented. "Contacts from Australia, Brazil, and Norway have already made appointments for visiting our booth at showtime, which means the international audience will be there."
As always, many exhibitors, such as Leviton and Rosco, are also using LDI as a forum for connecting with their dealers and clients in national sales meetings and elaborate training events. Nor have LDI exhibitors pulled back on their usual spirit of spectacle and entertainment: Doug Fleenor Design’s booth will double ingeniously as a life-sized mirrored maze, Goddard Design is doing something creative with fish(?), and Lex Products are bringing a two-hole putting course to their booth. In addition, traditional entertainment activities including ESTA’s Annual Dinner (the largest ever), the annual TMB/Wybron/ETC/Barbizon fishing tournament, the High End Systems-sponsored golf tournament and numerous customer parties will also be taking place as usual.
Summarizing the attitude of the exhibitor group, Alan Crawshaw, president of ACT Enterprises, says: "We’ll be there because there is no better forum for demonstrating the creative, innovative and inventive talent that this industry has to offer. From our perspective, participation in our industry’s tradeshows will demonstrate our resolve, strength and vitality that represent us as an industry, as a people and as a nation. We hope to see you in Orlando!"
www.esta.org/ldiplans
www.ldishow.com
Fun
with Lighting!
HERKES Professional Lighting presents "Fun With Lighting"at
the Seymour Centre on the 23/10/01 in conjunction with IES. Starting at
5.00pm, with formal presentations to begin at 6.00pm.
The presenters will include: David Ferguson from Selecon,
will present some of the new luminaires from the theatre range as well
as others from the Ardiis range (Selecon's high performance Architectural
luminaires). He is a well known theatrical lighting designer, in his own
right, and highly regarded innovator. David's Fergos used with the amazing
Selecon Pacific, have sent the theatre and production world into new levels.
The system could be used in certain applications within the specifier
/ lighting designer / engineer market.
Justin Knox from Universal Lighting Audio will also present
the dynamic range of Optikentics image projectors. This UK based company
invented the moving image retail projection system, and has a mind boggling
array of product. It is very popular in
both American and European retail environments, and being used effectively
in Melbourne.
The Whole Hog 11, will also be on display and driving a couple of moving
lights (both indoor, and outdoor), and you can
see how creative this equipment can be. These fittings were the cornerstone
of the Olympic ceremonies, and many of the touring big shows, and events.
The aim of this evening is fun with light, and these fittings are fun.
Come along and ignite that hidden passion, that is lost on those mundane
jobs. This is a night for you to enjoy playing with these great toys,
and learning more about the exciting world of entertainment lighting.
The Seymour Centre is on the corner of City Road and Cleveland Street,
and is part of the Sydney University Campus. Parking is available behind
the Centre in the pay as you park station in Cleveland Street. The meeting
is being held in the Everest Room. Look
for the HERKES signs. For further information, contact Mark Devin on 0419
634 693.
www.herkes.com.au
ALIA
in Sydney - Testing & Tagging in NSW
ALIA's first Sydney
meeting held at the Seymour Centre was attended by a wide cross section
of the lighting industry. The main event was a lively, and often heated,
discussion of the testing and tagging requirements in NSW. Those attending
included representatives from Antenna Network, Avsound, Beyond AV, Bytecraft,
Forbright, Graftons, Herkes, Lots Of Watts, Network Entertainment Systems,
Osram, Pierlite, Show Technology, Sirocco Systems, Stage Safety, Staging
Connections, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sylvania, Thorn,
University of Sydney, White Lite and Wizard Projects. Apologies were received
from Selecon, Dynalite, Sydney Opera House, Mediavision, Channel 9 Sydney,
Entertainment Installations, BLM Productions, R2 Design and Production,
Chameleon Touring Systems and AV Pro.
Michael Chan-Sew of the Work Cover NSW Compliance Coordination 
Team
(pictured right) introduced the new Work Cover NSW OHS Regulations (PDF
available for download), explained Work Covers current position on
Testing & Tagging compliance and answered questions.
The MEAA/ADIA proposed Safety Guidelines for the Entertainment Industry
was also discussed (PDF
available for download).
It was agreed that ALIA should coordinate a lighting industry proposal
to the Australian Standards Joint Technical Committee EL-036 for lighting
specific additions to the AS/NZS 3760 testing and tagging standard.
Entertainment
Lighting Supplies major purchase
Queensland based Entertainment
Lighting Supplies (ELS), recently purchased High End x.Spots, Studio Color
250s, Griven Kolorado2500 and Kolorstream2500 fixtures, in a expansion
of there rental inventory which has been necessary to meet growing demand
for ELS's services. As part of this expansion, ELS's Phil Stafford was
keen to ensure that the company purchased leading edge equipment which
was well respected within the industry, and of a high standard. Already
the investment has paid off with ELS being the major lighting contractor
for the recent Goodwill Games. This included lighting for the majority
of events as well as cityscape lighting during the games.
www.ula.com.au
After much research and testing, Resolution X has chosen to add a Jands Hog 1000 to the range of consoles in it's Hire Inventory. Whilst not initially a contender, the Hog 1000 had many features and benefits that kept pushing it up the list above a lot of other Consoles. Some of these benefits, like reasonable cost due to being Australian manufactured, overall market acceptance, ease of fixture software updates and availability of operators made the Hog the appropriate console in this situation. Decisions are still to be made on larger consoles to cope with the over 130 Intelligent light fittings in the inventory.
Pictured are from left, David Wright - Operations Manager and Tim Hall - Managing Director with their new Jands Hog 1000.
www.resolutionx.com.au
Positive
Results from Martin
Martin Professional has announced positive mid-year results. An outstanding
first six months of 2001 saw increases in both sales and pre-tax profits
when compared to the same period last year. Sales for the first six months
of 2001 reached DKK 426 million, an increase of 18% over last year while
pre-tax profit jumped to DKK 32 million, a considerable 70% increase over
the first six months of 2000.
President and CEO of Martin Professional, Kristian Kolding, commented:
"The reasons for the positive numbers in the first half of this year
are really twofold. First, we have experienced growth across the board,
that is, in all of our markets and segments across the globe. Secondly,
the introduction of the MAC 2000 has been a remarkable success. Although
it has been on the market for less than a year, it is already setting
new standards in the industry."
Commenting on the positive figures for the American market, he said: "The
positive developments we have seen in the first six months in the US can
be attributed to the success of the MAC 2000. The fact that we have experienced
growth in the American market despite the difficult economic environment
there is exceptional."
www.martin.dk
After a successful three days of Martin Show Designer seminars in Sydney, Show Technology have announced similar seminars for Melbourne. These will be held at Lightmoves P/L, 138 - 146 Brown's Rd Noble Park on Wednesday October 24 and Thursday 25. Contact Andrew Winslade 02 9748 1122 or email awinslade @showtech.com.au
www.showtech.com.au
For the second consecutive year Lightmoves Pty Ltd will sponsor the One World Sport Hotel's Ford AU entry in the world famous Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercar race, on the weekend of October 4-7 2001. This event to be held at Mt Panorama is the ultimate test of both man and machinery where most often, less than half the field of entries don't make it through to the finish of the 1000 kilometre race. In last year's race the One World Sport entry finished a very impressive 17th position overall. Not bad for a car that was almost brand new.
Andrew Sherar, Lightmoves Technical Director and long term petrol-head, was also the Race Engineer on this vehicle. It was Andrew's responsibility to extract the data from the cars onboard computer system. Fed by some 55 sensors, the computer provides critical information to the drivers and mechanics. This information is extremely useful in these endurance races to enable the team to analyse the data from the car whilst it is on the racetrack to determine a strategy that includes pitstops and driver changes. This year, Andrew will in fact be doing the Race Engineering on the number 88 car for Castrol Harris Racing during the actual event, but will be assisting car number 25 the One World Sport entry on both setup and data analysis during the weekend.
Lightmoves whishes car 25, the One World Sport entry and car 88, the Castrol Harris Racing entry all the very best for the race.
Information on either of these race teams can be viewed on line at http://www.oneworldsport.com.au/ or http://www.harrisracing.com.au or to check out the race http://www.v8supercar.com.au.
www.lightmoves.com
You
are invited to the Sydney launch of the High End x.spot
High End
Systems Australasian distributor ULA will be premiering the new x.Spot
in Sydney on October 24. Being held at Bytecraft's Rosebery facility,
the launch will also the official launch of the new Sydney home for Bytecraft
Entertainment.
This event, which is open to all in the industry, is an excellent opportunity
to see close up the x.Spot which has already been used for such acts in
Australia as Eminem, Bjorn Again, and the Footy Show Grand Final, as well
as leading acts worldwide.
Also on show - emphasing the modular construction of the x.Spot - will
be the LithoMotion and Framing Shutter modules for the x.Spot.
Representatives from High End Systems, ULA and Bytecraft will be on hand,
as well as leading designers to speak about the product.
Where: Bytecraft, 4/1-15 Roseberry Avenue, Rosebery, NSW
2018 (400m on right from Epsom Rd Corner)
When: 3.30pm Wednesday 24 October 2001
Phone: ULA on 1800-648-111 for your invitation
www.ula.com.au
Twenty years ago, Vari-Lite Inc revolutionized the entertainment lighting industry. On Sept. 25,1981, in a dusty bullring in Spain during the first night of the Genesis Abacab tour, Vari-Lite debuted the world’s first automated lighting system as seen in the picture on the right. "We couldn’t have known back then what kind of impact we would have on the lighting industry," said Rusty Brutsché, chairman and chief executive officer of Vari-Lite. "But we’ve continued to change with the times, creating innovative new luminaires and control consoles, moving into new markets and always trying to provide excellent, versatile lighting products to lighting designers in all segments of the lighting industry. As we move into the next 20 years, we will continue developing new products for the lighting and production industry."
Vari-Lite’s humble beginnings trace back to a "eureka moment" in 1980 at a Dallas barbecue restaurant. Employees from Showco, originally the parent company of Vari-Lite, came up with the idea of developing an automated lighting system that used a computer to control the movement, colour, dimming and beam shape of each luminaire. Within a year, Vari-Lite was formed as engineers developed and tested the first automated lighting system. "We wouldn’t have made it this far without the people who put their hard work and genuine love into everything we do," Brutsché said. "That includes the people working for Vari-Lite who have created, developed, manufactured and used some of the most advanced lighting systems in the world, the lighting designers who have used Vari-Lite products to create mind-boggling light spectaculars, and the audiences who have enjoyed the ride. We thank everyone who helped Vari-Lite reach this milestone."
www.vari-lite.com
CLS purchase
Griven Kailedos
During September,
Melbourne based Concert Lighting Systems purchased Griven Kailedo fixtures
to add to their rental department. Having evaluated both the full range
of Griven and competive products, CLS decided on Kailedo for its compact
size and output (MSD575) while still being a full CMY colour mixing fixture.
The Kaliedo's size - easily carried by one person - means the units can
be used for a wide range of applications from outdoor colour washing to
cyclorama lighting, with ease.
www.clsa.com.au
The LDI Show will go ahead as planned from November 2-4 in Orlando. In response to a number of enquiries following the events in New York and Washington, the organizers are keen to reassure people, through a statement posted on their website, that the exhibition will go ahead as usual. "We at LDI would like to express our deepest sympathy to all who are affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Our thoughts are with you. We cannot let terrorists bring world business to a halt and we at LDI and Primedia Business Exhibitions feel it is very important that all businesses show their resilience. At this time, we do not foresee major disruptions for a smooth and successful show floor opening on Friday, November 2, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. LDInstitute is still scheduled to open on Monday, October 29."
If any exhibitors or visitors have any questions or concerns about the Show, they should contact any of the following people:
Paul Stratton, LDI Show Director Tel: + 1 720-489-3118 pstratton@primediabusiness.com
Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, LDI Conference Director Tel: +1 212-229-2965 x 830 elgreaux@primediabusiness.com
Jacqueline Tien, Publisher, Lighting Dimensions, Entertainment Design Tel: +1 212-229-2965 x 815 jtien@primediabusiness.com
www.ldishow.com
Two new studios to be developed in the Channel 7 Melbourne Broadcast Centre are to be fitted out in a turn-key operation by Coemar De Sisti Australia.
Pictured right are Peter Kemp with Channel Seven's Robert Coia in the master control room at the Channel 7 Melbourne Broadcast Centre.
The new studios will feature full mechanicals (hoists, etc), dimming, control, DMX distribution system, power, leads & accessories and all luminaires
The Product Studio, to be used for drama and variety productions, will feature a full set-up of De Sisti hoists, with:
36 Self-climbing 140kg SWL units
3 Modular Cyclorama 180kg SWL units.
4m Pantographs with a 14kg SWL. All hoist controls are also provided as part of the installation. The News Studio features a fixed pipe grid, and a new style of dropper called a cranky pole. The Cranky Pole is a telescopic hanger that can be operated from the floor or the catwalk. The telescopic tubes have a square cross section to insure they do not twist like rod type hangers. The Cranky Pole comes with a friction clutch winch allowing a safe working load of load of 55 kg. No adjusting springs or counter balance devices when you change from a 1K to a 5K fixture. The Cranky Pole is a simple device that saves you production time at a reasonable cost.
Lighting for the Product Studio comprise a wide range of luminaires including:
Magis 300/500/650 PO fresnels
DesiLux Fluorescent PO video luminaires with DMX on/off control
Giotto PO twin compartment Cyclorama units
Duccio 4 compartment Groundrow units. Several zoom profiles are also part of the package of luminaires in both studios. The News Studio also utilises a similar range of De Sisti luminaires including:
Magis 300/500/650 PO fresnels
DesiLux Fluorescent PO video luminaires with DMX on/off control
Giotto PO twin compartment Cyclorama units
Duccio 4 compartment Groundrow units.
Leonardo 1Kw PO fresnels
Leonardo 2Kw PO fresnelsIn order to increase coverage in the both studios, a number of De Sisti Manfrotto Avenger roller, combo, folding and wind-up stands are also included in the studio fit-out. Naturally, safety chains and other accessories are provided in the luminaire equipment along with all extension leads, DMX leads and Weiland multicore leads.
Dimming within both studios is provided by CDA's own homegrown TechART Series 5000 installation dimmers. A range of 5Kw, 2.5Kw dimmers and 5K contactors will be provided, similar to those selected by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney.
Control in both studios is courtesy of Compulite, using the powerful Micron 4D/ME (Moving Ethernet) console in both studios. Already used extensively by the ABC, Channel 9, and in the now migrated Channel 7 studios in Brisbane, the Microns were the consoles of choice for the operators at 7. With full tracking back-up, DMX merging, and Remote control, the two consoles not only provide state of the art control with the ability to handle all the dimming in the studios, they also allow unsurpassed moving light control from the makers of the original Animator. Of course, a full CAT5e and DMX distribution system is part of the installation.
Finally, CDA will provide full installation of all works including steel work, power, and truss.
Possibly the largest studio fit-out in recent memory, CDA are looking forward to completing the operation well in advance of schedule.
www.cdaust.com.au
Six new products showcased at the Professional Lighting and Sound Association’s (PLASA) annual entertainment and technology show in London this week received top honours in the Show’s prestigious Awards for Product Excellence.
Living up to its reputation as the industry’s premier launch pad, the PLASA Show saw a record 56 technical innovations new to the market this year nominated for the Awards. All entries were featured in the New Technology Gallery, sponsored by Lighting&Sound International, which attracted enormous visitor and exhibitor attention and certainly took centre stage.
The awards were presented for Design Excellence and Technical Innovation in four categories: Lighting; Sound; Audio-Visual and Stage Engineering. The winners were presented with a PLASA Award for Product Excellence trophy, specially designed by DHA Lighting. Talking about the Awards, MD of PLASA, Matthew Griffiths, said: "It is very encouraging to witness the high level of new product development and innovation within this industry. It is also heartening that so many manufacturers chose the PLASA Show to launch their latest innovations, demonstrating the Show’s position as not merely an exhibition, but as the major event in the entertainment technology industry’s year."
In the Lighting category, the Award for Design Excellence was presented to Clay Paky for its CP Color Range, a line of colour changers designed for the professional and architectural markets. There are four models in the range, including one specifically for outdoor applications. Each model adopts the CMY system and has a uniform mechanical dimmer from 0 to 100%. The range is ideal to colour wash theatre stages, TV studio sets, works of art and architectural or interior design features. The judges were impressed by the "versatility of the new range of practical cyc lights," and commented that it was "good to see investment going into such development in a neglected product area."
The Lighting Award for Technical Innovation went to Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd for Down-Link, a wall-mount Ethernet-to-DMX512 converter, presented in a two-gang panel that mounts to standard UK wall boxes and converts Art-Net to two universes of DMX512(A). The product is the first of its kind offering DMX512(A) distribution via Ethernet using a public domain protocol. The Judges felt the product was an "extremely practical and low-cost solution to the current and future problems of inter connectivity in installations wishing to run ethernet systems and DMX."
In the Stage Engineering category, the Visual Act Stage Wagon, a system of remote controlled wagons for creating movement on and off the stage using modular and reusable components came up tops for both the Design Excellence and Technical Innovation Awards. The judges felt that the product "took an integrated approach to control motion and feedback with an exciting user interface" and regarded the product as a "clever integration of several different industrial technologies with in-house theatre know-how, responsive to the market."
As in previous years, all money raised from the Award entries was donated to a number of entertainment technology industry charities. £2,500 was presented to Light Relief, a fund set-up by and for the lighting industry to offer assistance and support to industry members in need. A further £2,500 went to the PSA Welfare Fund, established to aid PSA members at times of personal disaster whilst £2,000 was presented to the Prince’s Trust. In addition, for the first time, some of the money received was used to sponsor a number of theatre technicians to undertake their BTEC Intermediate Award during the Show itself.
The final and perhaps most hotly contested Awards of the day were the PLASA Best Stand Awards, presented in four categories. The Award for Best Stand up to 50 square metres was presented to Tomcat, supplier of stage support systems including trussing, lifting and rigging equipment. The Award for Best Stand over 50 square metres went to Martin Professional, a supplier of intelligent lighting, including colour and pattern changing luminaires, for the entertainment and architectural and lighting industries. Finally, the Awards for Best Overall use of Product on a Stand went to Antari International for a stand under 50 square metres and to High End Systems for a stand over 50 square metres.
www.plasa.org
HES
Takes 3 Awards at PLASA 2001
High End
Systems swept the PLASA awards Sept. 12 in London, taking home three honors
for products and presentation.
Catalyst™ won awards for both Design Excellence and Technical Innovation.
Judges said the Catalyst represented the "next generation of moving
lights" and commented that its "well developed design brought
video and lighting effects together seamlessly."
High End also
received the award for Best Overall use of Product on a Stand, in the
category of (large) stands over 50 square meters in size.
Mike Wood, High
End's VP of Engineering, says, "Catalyst was received with enormous
enthusiasm by the PLASA visitors. When they see it, people realize that
Catalyst is not just a mirror head on a video projector (that's the easy
part!) but, in fact, a complete system that allows the dynamic, real-time
control of every aspect of an image directly from a standard lighting
console. You can see the light of revelation in people's eyes as they
get that point and realize that now they can do anything they can imagine
with a lighting instrument."
Wood also has
words of praise for the HES employees involved in the stand design, saying,
"The new products were presented in a clear, straightforward manner.
Particularly important were the uncluttered displays, which made it very
clear what you were looking at and allowed visitors to understand each
product's features."
www.highend.com
Australian
Distributor: ULA www.ula.com.au
Jack
Morton Lighting department to close
As the Australian
and New Zealand offices of Jack Morton Worldwide (formerly Caribiner Wavelength)
continue to invest in building their Brand & Experiential Communication
team, they will sell the last remaining equipment and technical services
assets, including lighting, to Haycom Staging (Sydney) effective October
1st, 2001.
While all project management and technical production management will
still be handled in-house by Jack Morton staff, equipment supply and equipment
operation for events will now be outsourced in-line with all other Jack
Morton offices worldwide.
"I am very happy that we are able to expand our relationship with
Haycom by transferring our equipment base and some of our technicians
to Haycom's Sydney team," said Paul Kenny, JMW's Managing Director,
Australia & NZ. Having successfully made similar transfers in Melbourne
and Brisbane earlier this year, we know we can continue to guarantee high
quality customer service at the best possible price to all our clients".
All matters relating to shows up to and including the 30th September 2001
will remain the responsibility, liability and property of Jack Morton
Worldwide.
www.jackmorton.com.au
Australian company Bytecraft has won the contract to supply the Beijing Grand National Theatre with its control system and electrics. The state-funded Opera is scheduled for completion in December 2004 and the Bytecraft contract - which covers both the control system featuring 400 axis of control and electrics and is worth $32million - will see the creation of one of the biggest control systems in the world. Bytecraft expects to go on site in early 2002 and remain there until the venue opens. Bytecraft can be found on Stand R48.
Pictured at the PLASA Show: Bytecraft's John Montgomery adds Beijing to the company's extensive client list.
www.bytecraft.com.au
Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (GTG) has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Rosco Entertainment Technology, a subsidiary of Rosco Laboratories (Rosco) of Stamford CT, a privately held corporation. Rosco Entertainment Technology is a manufacturer of entertainment lighting equipment and controls, including the Intelligent Power System (IPS) line of theatrical dimming equipment, and the family of Horizon lighting controls. GTG plans to operate the business under the name Entertainment Technology, reverting to a name familiar to the theatrical lighting industry. Larry Powers, president and chief executive officer of Genlyte Thomas, commented: "We are pleased with the potential for this acquisition to enhance our commercial lighting products package. We intend to focus Entertainment Technology (ET) on providing innovative products into the educational, hospitality, theatrical, and theme park markets. Although the expected sales during 2002 will be less than $5 million, there is potential for the ET product package to increase our market penetration and product offering into existing GTG markets. The technically innovative and leading edge IPS dimming products of ET have a place not only in the theatrical and entertainment markets, but also in architectural markets where we are already successful."
Rosco is entering into an agreement with GTG to represent select ET products. Stan Miller, president of Rosco Laboratories, commented: "We will benefit in several ways with this melding of GTG’s manufacturing strengths and ET’s products. We, too, are very excited about the prospects this combination can bring to Rosco."
Gordon Pearlman, President of Rosco Entertainment Technology, is enthusiastic about the agreement. "We couldn’t have picked a better company to align with," he said. "GTG has the strengths in both marketing and manufacturing to take our technology to an entirely new kind of user. Now, architectural and residential lighting will benefit from quiet and powerful IPS dimming technology."
Genlyte Thomas Group (GTG) is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of lighting fixtures and controls for commercial, industrial and residential markets. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, GTG is owned jointly by the Genlyte Group Incorporated and Thomas Industries Inc.
www.genlyte.com
The time has come to make the bold move and get on with setting up ALIA chapters around the country. The first such meeting will be in WA on Wednesday 19th September at 6:30pm. The location is the Burswood Convention Centre - Eastern Foyer (meet near box office). Andy Ciddor's mobile number is 0419 925 730 if you have any problems. All are welcome.
Dates and venues for other states are currently being finalised and we'll keep you posted.
Lightmoves
Appointed for Littlite
Lightmoves Pty Ltd, Melbourne, a long-time State distributor for Littlite
in Victoria, has announced that it has secured the Australian distributorship
of Littlite products. Manufactured in Michigan USA, Littlite is best known
for providing illumination to most major brands of audio mixers, lighting
control consoles and lecterns. Littlite is also used in automotive, marine
and laboratory applications, and other situations requiring high quality
and precise task lighting.
Lightmoves say they will provide the same level of quality and service
with Littlite products that has made them a leader in lighting control
and dimming. “Initially we will continue servicing existing clients,
whilst also pursuing new markets that will benefit from Littlite’s
high quality range of products,” says Joe Casamento, Littlite product
manager. “Many people don’t realise that Littlite make more
than just lights for audio and lighting consoles. Their range includes
automotive map-reading and task lights, and accessories that enable their
lights to be adapted to many applications.”
Lightmoves Pty Ltd have committed to stocking a full range of lights,
spare parts, and accessories, and plan to set up a distributor network
to support the product Australia-wide.
www.lightmoves.com
Following negotiations with the founding owners of Swedish gobo manufacturer Beacon, Martin has purchased 25% of the share capital of the company with an option to purchase an additional 15%.
Martin’s capital investment in the company is intended to ensure Beacon’s aggressive growth strategy, while guaranteeing future influence on the company’s development. Beacon will continue to operate as a fully independent company. Its three owners will continue to head the company while Martin makes its influence felt through the board of directors.
Martin considers Beacon to be the absolute leading producer of high quality glass gobos in the lighting industry and has therefore found it natural to create a strategic partnership with specifically this company. Martin’s investment in Beacon will ensure a future supply of quality gobos, as well as provide an injection of creative resources to further influence the development and use of creative gobo designs in the worldwide lighting industry.
Following Martin’s introduction of the MAC 2000, Beacon became Martin’s most important gobo supplier. Martin expects continued strong growth in the use of gobos worldwide. Beacon’s strength in the areas of innovation and product quality, coupled with Martin’s extensive global distribution network, is the ideal mix in order to achieve a substantial part of this market potential.
www.martin.dk