USA - Renkus-Heinz will unveil three major developments for the live sound and installation markets at the 123rd AES Convention starting Friday 5 October 5 in New York. These are: the VERSYS VL3 line array, EASERA SysTune and the roll-out of RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network) for the entire Renkus-Heinz powered loudspeaker lineup.
VERSYS VL3, the latest generation, high output, fully featured digital line array system is the world's first line array system to come with the fully integrated RHAON package.
It features in-cabinet Class D amplification, new neodymium and carbon fibre-based drivers, full digital dynamics, networked audio over CobraNet as well as loudspeaker monitoring and remote control, all delivered over Cat 5 cable. And despite extremely high output (1200W/600W/250W per band) the all-up cabinet weight is around 200 pounds, and boasts a truck pack-friendly cabinet design, the ability to be configured with up to 20 boxes a side, plus Renkus-Heinz's new, dedicated VERSYS AimWare software for fast, accurate configuration and angling.
RHAON introduces a massive level of system-wide digital control and integration of every Renkus-Heinz powered loudspeaker into a user-friendly GUI that provides control and reporting functionality for the entire loudspeaker system. Now available for the entire Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker product line, RHAON provides the ability for the user to fine tune every aspect of the system.
EASERA SysTune is a new software based measurement system that measures time-domain and frequency-domain simultaneously using live p
UK - The Moving Picture Company (MPC) based in Soho, London, has taken delivery of two cineo3+ 1080 DLP projectors from Norway's projectiondesign for use in visual effects review suites.
The projectors were supplied by Iain Ambler, product manager at UK distributor RGB Communications via theatre system specialist Kaurus, and installed by MPC in conjunction with Kaurus.
Martin Parsons, head of imaging at MPC, says: "We use a wide range of projectors here and it's not cost-effective to have the big digital cinema projectors in all our visual effects (VFX) review suites as they will be too big for the rooms concerned and too expensive for the tasks we use them for. So we were looking for something smaller and more cost effective, but not compromised on technology."
Anders L°kke, marketing & communications manager at projectiondesign, notes: "The cineo3+ 1080 was recently introduced into the market and has been developed specifically to meet the demands of eCinema applications, so it's very gratifying to see the projector being used at the content creation end of the production chain."
(Jim Evans)
Ireland - Zandar Technologies has received the prestigious Irish Industry Research & Development Group (IRDG) R&D Project Award 2007 for its newly announced Predator II MultiViewer.
The IRDG is an Irish lobby group for research, development and innovation companies based in Dublin. The award was presented to Deirdre Smith, CEO at Zandar Technologies at a ceremony held at the Heritage Golf & Spa Resort in Killenard, Co Laois, last month.
"We are delighted that all the research and hard work that our technical team has put into developing the new Predator II MultiViewer has been formally recognised in our home country," says Deirdre Smith, CEO of Zandar Technologies, who accepted the Award on behalf of the whole company.
(Jim Evans)
UK - Blitz combined forces with 2LK Design to provide a complete AV solution for the QinetiQ exhibition stand at the Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition held at ExCel London.
Blitz project manager, Stephen Rickard comments: "The QinetiQ stand was particularly noteworthy as it involved the use of the highest resolution widescreen, soft edge projection system yet supplied by Blitz, creating a 15.5m wide display by using four Panasonic DW10000 projectors plus the Watchout GFX system to create an image of 6666 x 1080 pixels."
Blitz also provided 18 LCD screens, 13 plasmas screens and a quantity of laptops displaying various QinetiQ products throughout the stand.
Andy Bowen from 2LK comments: "The DSEi Global Defence Conference was established to provide delegates with insight into the latest approaches to acquiring and supporting capability, as well as solutions to the challenges of delivering networked capability, and the processes that will enable military and industry organisations to perform at their peak. Therefore it was imperative that we had an AV partner who can be relied upon to provide its most advanced equipment to help dynamically engage an expectant audience. Blitz, once again used its most innovative staff and equipment to help us achieve this."
(Jim Evans)
UK - For the fourth year, the Stage Electrics Welsh Trade Show is being held at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. The event takes place on Wednesday 10 October with doors opening at 11am and closing at 5pm.
Industry suppliers Allen & Heath, Avolites, ETC, Le Maitre, Lee, MA Lighting, Martin, Pulsar, RCF, Roland, Rosco, Selecon, Sennheiser, Strand, Yamaha and Zero 88 will be exhibiting their latest products, offering demos and providing expert advice.
The show is a free event, open to everyone and no tickets are required. Stage Electrics staff will also be presenting products at the show including the Apollo Right Arm and products from Prolyte, Prolyft, Stage Dex, Teclumen, San-Ei & Swisson.
Visitors can take the opportunity if they wish to pre-register via the Stage Electrics website to be entered in the prize draw and to receive a goody bag on the day.
Helen Gadbury, marketing executive from Stage Electrics comments: "Our 2007 show in Wales is our biggest so far with a record 16 manufacturers taking stands and the venue will have a new look, it's a show that you don't want to miss."
(Jim Evans)
UK - A.C. Lighting has supplied a Litec QX30S square truss grid system to Audiomotion, Europe's largest motion capture studio.
Audiomotion is a multi-award winning studio specialising in the provision of motion capture services to the game development, film and television industries. It has a string of high-profile production credits, including work on the Gladiator motion picture and Citroen C4 Alive with Technology TV commercial.
The company had been using a scaffold system to position 50 motion capture cameras in their 6,000sq.ft studio, but was looking for a more practical truss solution as they expanded into full performance capture for the next generation of high definition gaming, film and television content.
Audiomotion's Matt Rank comments: "In the studio, we're constantly changing the camera setups for different jobs, so having the Litec grid makes it much quicker and easier to re-configure the setup for each job and capture the increased amount of detail required for full performance, which records body movement as well as the face and hands. The Litec's structure gives us the support and rigidity we need to be able to do this."
Rank also saw the Litec's portability as ideal for Audiomotion's location needs, commenting: "Due to the speed and ease of taking it apart, we can take it on the road, re-assemble it and raise with motors very quickly. It gives us the spans and reaches we need, and the flexibility to do location work in any environment as it can be fully free-standing, so we don't need the support of a building to moun
USA - D-Tools has announced that Cambridge Audio has joined the D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) programme, making it easy for users of D-Tools' System Integrator software to specify Cambridge Audio products for client projects.
Headquartered in London, UK, Cambridge Audio has been at the forefront of British hi-fi for more than thirty five years. Since its inception in 1968, Cambridge Audio has brought some of the most innovative and technologically advanced products to market.
"We are pleased to be a part of D-Tool's MVP Programme," said Daniel Jacques, president of Audio Plus Services, exclusive north American importer for Cambridge Audio. "We are excited to have our product information available to the D-Tools user base and have the opportunity to specify our products for their client projects."
The D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) programme is designed to help provide system integrators with the most up-to-date product information to over 2,500 companies using D-Tools System Integrator software.
"We are very excited to have Cambridge Audio join the MVP Programme," said Adam Stone, president of D-Tools. "As one of the most innovative British progressive home cinema organisations, Cambridge Audio brings a new level of global development and professionalism, enhancing the overall quality of our MVP programme."
(Jim Evans)
UK - The Corp of Army Music based at Kneller Hall held a festival for the general public. 16 bands performed, with music ranging from the Grenadier Guards marching band to the Army Corp Big Band and supported by rock and pop bands from the ranks.
Sigma AV Ltd were contracted by Qube Productions to supply an Outline Butterfly line array for the event. Two hangs of 10 CDH483s, coupled with two Outline Subtech subwoofers per side were used; while the in-fill was provided by Outline 'Doppia' 9075s. Engineer was Kevin Swain using a Yamaha M7CL 48. On stage Outline's HARD 212 SPs and 115 SPs were used for stage monitoring.
"This was my first outing with Butterfly," says Swain. "The first thing that amazed me was the size and ease of rigging, then there is the performance. I can say this system has no competition, it's very powerful. We had 6,000 people attend this show and I was running the desk at -15dB; so much headroom."
(Jim Evans)
UK - The iconic London venue, the Roundhouse in Camden, has chosen to retain Showsec as its crowd management partner. The venue, which earned its place in rock and pop history in the late 1960s, hosting early shows by the likes of Pink Floyd and The Doors, has become a resurgent force in live music since it re-opened in 2006 after a £30.2 million redevelopment.
In the last 12 months it has hosted such prestigious events as the BBC Electrical Proms (which this year features Sir Paul McCartney, the Kaiser Chiefs, David Arnold and Mark Ronson), as well as a regular programme of 80 high profile concerts.
Showsec is to be sole provider of crowd management and backstage security services to all concerts at the venue.
"We are delighted to be renewing our relationship with the Roundhouse," says Showsec's London area manager, Steve Reynolds. "The new contract is in line with our policy of developing long term partnerships with venues. The Roundhouse is one of London's premier venues, welcoming a large number of visiting promoters, and we are proud that it should have demonstrated such confidence in our service."
(Jim Evans)
The Netherlands - Stock Audio & Light recently provided a high-end sound reinforcement system featuring dual EAW UX8800 digital processors in tandem with EAW KF760 Series line arrays for a memorial concert by the Limburg Symphony Orchestra that marked the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II.
The concert, held on the grounds of the American Battle Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, the Netherlands, was highlighted by a performance of Verdi's Requiem, accompanied by the Vocal Collective, a 60-member choir from Belgium.
Stock Audio, based in Geleen, the Netherlands, worked with the concert's front-of-house engineer, Jo Smeets, to assemble a system providing enough headroom to reach a coverage area spanning beyond 150m, while also capable of presenting a very natural sonic signature.
The sound team responded with a main system featuring dual line arrays, each comprised of six EAW KF760 modules above two KF761 wide-dispersion modules, flown stage left and right. Low-frequencies were reinforced with eight EAW LA400 subwoofers with bent horn technology, groundstacked in groups of four beneath the main arrays.
Holland PA, EAW's distributor for the region, supplied two EAW UX8800 digital processors with Gunness Focusing to enhance this system. During soundcheck the day prior to the concert, Stock Audio Owner Paul Pelen immediately noted the significant upgrade in sonic performance provided by the UX8800 units, and in fact, decided on the spot to purchase them.
During both rehearsals and the concert, FOH Engineer Smeets, whose primary focus is studio mixin
UK - As the largest charity in the UK and the second largest medical research charity in the world, the Wellcome Trust is currently spending around £500 million each year to support biomedical research.
Reinforcing this position has been the recent opening of the Wellcome Collection, a £30 million visitor centre in London's Euston Road which combines three exhibition galleries, the Wellcome Library, a conference centre, public events forum, club, café and bookshop.
Installed by Sarner Ltd, a specialist audio visual systems integrator, Ampetronic induction loops form a vital part of the project, being provided in the main circulation area, conference centre auditorium, forum and three seminar rooms.
With the close proximity of several loop systems, minimising crosstalk between each one was of the utmost priority, so Sarner invited Ampetronic to design low spill induction loops which would guarantee precision coverage of each one.
"We have a long relationship with Ampetronic and know that they can always rise to such a challenge," says Sarner's Shane Stanley. "Having no cross-talk or interference was the key to the design.
"To get the best comprehensive coverage, Ampetronic's technical support team was invited down to London to carry out a detailed site survey. Particular attention was taken with the raked Auditorium and avoiding the base plate of the seating. A copper wire was used instead of the conventional copper tape to allow for more strategic positioning, whilst still providing the best possible coverage. This was
UK - Harman Pro UK reports the completion of a prestigious PA installation at North London live music venue, Koko. The Camden venue has added to its Harman inventory this month, choosing a JBL VerTec line array driven by Crown iTech amplifiers to achieve a comprehensive upgrade of its sound system.
16 JBL VT4888 mid-size line array elements have been installed by Camden based electrical contractors RAG Support, as part of the upgrade of the venue's sound system with a view to provide full, even coverage throughout the venue. To complete the latest Harman package, iTech 4000 and 6000 amplifiers from sister company Crown were also chosen.
Tim Hamper, head sound engineer at Koko, explains the decision: "Buildings of this age are often irregular shapes, which is part of their charm. When it comes to setting up an audio system however, this has its drawbacks as the sound can be lost in some areas, severely affecting the output. We have chosen the JBL line array system specifically to combat this."
(Jim Evans)
Japan - The Last Summer Fantasy music festival attracted over 10,000 fans to the Aspecta outdoor theatre in Aso Kumamoto, Japan on 25 August. Two leading SR companies - Kumamoto-based Sound Kyushu and Osaka-based Z Sound collaborated for the event, deploying an Electro-Voice PA featuring new XLC127DVX and XLD compact line arrays, Phoenix PX2152 loudspeakers and Tour Grade TG-5 power amplifiers.
Both sound companies agreed that the main XLC and XLD systems offer remarkable versatility, with the coverage and power handling capacity to precisely address a wide range of applications, from small indoor venues to large outdoor festivals like this, and always with a tidy footprint. Since both companies handle SR for a continuous stream of large scale events, it was important the new XLC127DVX system proved itself at Last Summer Fantasy.
"We are very happy with the XLC system we purchased," reported Mr. Kitamura of Sound Kyushu. "Its performance as the main system at this festival was a great success. We needed to cover a venue over 100m deep, and no other system this size could come close to this level of performance - the music sounded perfect from the near front to the far end. Plus, the system's compact size and light weight help reduce set-up time dramatically."
(Jim Evans)
UK - An interesting set of challenges awaited Star Events Group on the Isle of Wight in early September, when they provided a range of structures for the fourth annual Bestival.
Although - unusually for 2007 - the weather managed to stay fine for the entire duration of the build, festival and load out, the site of this chilled-out event provided Star Events Group with a number of challenges.
Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Country Park, a well-known local tourist venue that nestles in a scenic valley, featuring woodland, lakes and winding paths. This year the event expanded to take in part of an adjacent farm, but a major concern for Star Events Group team of 12, led by Andrew 'Bomber' Phillips, was the undulating nature of the terrain.
"All the structures we built were on sloping sites. There wasn't one that was on flat ground," says project manager Phil Addyman.
Erecting the 20m, three-bay Orbit for the main stage was certainly something of a challenge, as Star Events Group's Mike Goodwin explains.
"The stage had to be erected in a very tight area with very little room to manoeuvre. We installed single tower PA masts, which help to reduced the overall footprint of the stage so it would actually go into the area. And with our collective expertise we were able to install the main stage without any compromise to the overall impact," says Goodwin.
However, this was just one of 14 areas where Star Events Group provided structures. "We built structures right across the site, comprising small stages, small front of house structures,
USA - Wybron has committed 82 CXI IT colour scrollers, nine RDM compatible power supplies and five InfoTrace Control and Management Systems to the fourth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF).
"We are very pleased to help sponsor one of the premier sources for new musical theatre material and talent," said Larry Turner. "Our goal is to offer the world's stages lighting products that help lighting designers and engineers both fulfill their artistic vision and flawlessly run every show."
Herrick Goldman, lighting designer for three of the NYMF shows, states: "I have worked with Wybron's CXI colour changers for more than a decade and have always been impressed with the company's products. The CXI line has improved greatly over the years. Working with these RDM-controlled lighting devices allows the venue technicians to easily maintain the fixtures, as well as troubleshoot and address the rig remotely.
"The new IT colour changers are just as quiet and easy to manage as the older units. I believe the CXI IT will work especially well on larger more permanent theatrical installations."
NYMF is the largest musical theatre event in America, which runs in New York from 17 September to 7 October, 2007.
(Jim Evans)
USA - Bandit Lites was once again involved with Farm Aid which took place last month at New York's Randall's Island, a 480-acre island located in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria, Queens.
Farm Aid 2007 hosted a unique musical collaboration: Gregg Allman performed a special acoustic set with Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds and The Allman Brothers Band all played full festival sets. Other performers included Counting Crows, Guster and Montgomery Gentry.
The first Farm Aid concert was organised by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985. They wanted to increase awareness about the loss of family farms and raise funds to keep family farms in business. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million dollars to promote family farm systems of agriculture to date.
Lighting Designer, Brad Mackie used 24 Martin MAC 2000 Profiles and 58 Martin MAC 2000 Washes, 38 MAC 600s, 200 MAC 300s, 22 Coemar Halos and 22 Coemar LED Pars and four Lycian 1271 Starklites to light the event.
Mackie said that the lighting design and overall production design worked hand-in-hand. The production team sat down with Mackie several weeks prior to discuss the look of both the staging and lighting. Since they were shooting this event for television, and in high definition, there were many variables to deal with. Mackie said there was a very fine line between keeping the perspective of a concert and lighting it for televisi
Scandinavia - In a meeting of Scandinavian design classics, F1+ sx+ video projection systems from Norway's projectiondesign have been deployed in two visitor-centre environments at the Volvo Cars brand experience centre and the Demo Center for Volvo Trucks.
Systems integrator Primetec, now part of the MediaTec group, specified the projectors and carried out the system design for both applications. Primetec's Torbjörn Sterner takes up the story: "Volvo wanted to update the safety and environmental exhibition at their car factory in Göteborg, Sweden and in the process they decided to merge their existing visitor centre into the same facility, creating a Volvo Car brand experience centre. As well as the safety and environmental displays, the centre has an auditorium with a car presentation stage, together with conference facilities and press rooms."
In the auditorium of the Volvo Cars brand experience centre, Primetec has created a 3D audiovisual presentation system, using three of projectiondesign's F1+ sx+ video projectors and a curved screen measuring 2.2m high by 8m wide. Dataton's Watchout software system provides automated content playback of blended images, while a surround-sound audio system enhances the immersive experience. A separate, single F1+ sx+ projector provides an additional video playback facility, again using Watchout as the playout source.
"The content is designed to show the vision and future of the Volvo Cars," says Sterner. "As well as fleet sales visitors, press, company and special events invitees, the exhibit i
Austria - The recently opened Stadion Center, a huge shopping centre in Vienna, and grandMA consoles, five grandMA media servers, eight MA NSPs and 21 MA 2Port Nodes combined with the latest networking and LED technology form the technical basis in this ultra-modern building.
"It was important to the lighting design that the installed LED fixtures, DMX controlled as well as video walls, were fully integrated into one system," explained Manuel da Costa of mo2 design who was responsible for the realisation of the lighting and media design concept. "It was also necessary to implement a sophisticated control interface with minimal user interaction. The idea was to create an ambient lighting design and mood management from a mixture of different LED fixtures matching the architectural characteristics."
Multiple moods and looks as well as randomly selected movies can be played back by the lighting control system. The aim of the installation was to programme the fixtures to change automatically every hour the entire look of the whole mall. No single lighting mood should be seen twice.
Another challenge was the large quantity and variety of fixtures, as well as the bidirectional interface to the house lighting. Beside the automated 'Agenda' mode of the grandMA system running in the background it is also possible to have live access to the system.
Programmer Stephan Flören of mo2 design used a grandMA full-size to programme over 3,200 LED fixtures and nine interior LEDon video walls: "We used the Agenda feature of the grandMA to automate the
UK - Summit Steel designed, supplied and installed a massive ground support structure to transform a 1000-seater circus big-top in the grounds of Harewood House, Leeds, into a pros arch theatre for the much heralded revival of Carnival Messiah.
The production, directed by Geraldine Connor and produced by David Lascelles features a cast of over 100 and commemorates the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, drawing vividly on the colour and vibrancy of 'carnival' in Trinidad, Tobago and Leeds to deliver its powerful message.
Summit was asked onboard by Leeds-based production company TechSpec, headed by Graham Nixon, who are responsible for all-things technical. Nixon says, "I was researching the best options for sourcing the structure that we needed to stage the event - and all roads led to Summit."
Jay Call was Summit's project manager for the show's month-long run throughout September.
The 10-legged ground support measured 27m wide by 14.4m deep, offering 8.5m of headroom and was constructed from a combination of Thomas 52cm and 30.5cm trussing. It created the proscenium arch between stage and audience and was completed with an over-stage fly tower with 31 moving scaff bars containing lighting, extensive scenery, drapes, tab tracks, cyc etc, plus two wings of 6.5m wide either side of stage.
The fly tower took up another 2m above the top of the over-stage section of the ground support system, and was built so scenery could be hoisted up and concealed when not in use.
The front edge of the ground support system was cantilevered b
UK - French digital mixing console manufacturer, InnovaSON reports a busy and successful PLASA 07. The last 12 months have been a prolific period for the company, with several new products making their debut, all of which bring new functionality to the InnovaSON digital mixing experience.
The most important and most recent development is the powerful FM-8VB 8-in/8-out plug-in effects module, which was demonstrated for the very first time at PLASA 07. Built on original algorithms from VB Audio, the FM8-VB features a powerful DSP engine, which enables you to run up to four digital effects per channel simultaneously. Users have access to a wide range of effects (reverb, delay, de-esser, limiter etc) including StripTool, a vintage design channel strip which offers fast and easy access to a full range of audio processing with a warm analogue feel.
Compatible with all Innovason audio racks and controlled via Sensoft, the new module ships in December and forms an integral part of the new Pro FX console packages on offer from the manufacturer.
Further processing capability comes in the form of the UM-8PO universal output module. Replacing all previous output modules from Innovason, the UM-8PO combines analogue and digital processed outputs for the first time ever in any digital mixing console, says the company. Equipped with eight XLR outputs that are configurable (in pairs) as analogue, AES or even ADAT, each output benefits from a powerful and comprehensive range of processing including 31-band graphic EQ. The unit is easily upgradeable via firmware updates.
Also s
USA - At the AES in New York this week, Studer will unveil the new Vista 5 SR, a road-ready version of its established Vista 5 model, with a specification appropriate for top-end touring customers.
Studer's third-generation digital console, the Vista 5, is already in use in theatres, studios and performing arts centres around the world. Vista 5 SR has evolved out of the suggestions of leading international touring sound companies and engineers, who saw the Vista 5 and realised its potential to become a dedicated live sound desk.
Peter Weber, Studer's product manager for the Vista Series, explains: "We showed the Vista 5 to influential people in north America including Howard Page at Clair Brothers, Bob Goldstein at Maryland Sound International (MSI), and the Celine Dion team (Denis Savage, Frankie Desjardins and Charles Ethier), and everybody was so impressed they suggested we make a road version. So we've re-engineered the mechanics of the console for touring use, including new frames and racks, and incorporated many other suggestions of these and other international tour sound specialists."
In advance of the console's official launch, Studer is already shipping its first orders; two consoles for Solotech, which will be used on Celine Dion's World Tour next year, and two consoles for MSI, with whom Studer will be promoting the new desk at the AES in New York. Interest is already growing from other high-profile companies and engineers, says Studer.
The Vistonics user interface is largely responsible for the reaction of these users. Vistonics is the
UAE - Gearhouse Middle East staged a preview of the Lighthouse R16i/o-II panel for its industrial customers at the Medinot Jumeirah in Dubai on 12 September. The screen, 16 panels wide by 8 panels high - 128 panels in total - measured 16.26m (w) x 6.10m (h).
A Dataton Watchout system was used to provide the graphics animation and video overlays through to Lighthouse processor LIP-KX to the screen. Customers were thrilled about the quality of the 16mm panel, say Gearhouse.
With 5,000 nits brightness, high contrast ratio and 16mm pixel pitch, R16i/o-II panel is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications, say Lighthouse.
(Lee Baldock)
Poland - Last year saw the opening of Poland's newest mall, Lodz Manufaktura which is located in a former industrial park with a rich history and great significance to the city. ETC provided lighting solutions for this renowned venue.
In the 19th century, fabric magnate Izrael Poznanski opened a textile factory in Lodz, which grew to become one of the largest in Europe. The factory contained a palace, living quarters, its own power plant, railroad, fire department, school, and more.
Thousands of employees worked and lived in the industrial park until WWI, when production was slowed. In WWII, the German army took over the factory. Slowly, in the post-war era, the factory began shutting down, and finally closed in 1997, leaving behind a cache of historical buildings and landmarks.
The French design firm Apsys Polska began rebuilding the area, preserving most of the original structures so the exterior now resembles the textile plant 100 years ago. The company brought the buildings up to today's standards, converting the area into a modern mall and, after several years of construction, Lodz Manufaktura opened to the public.
The 270,000sq.m complex also contains museums, recreation and fitness centres, a cinema (including an IMAX) and an outdoor plaza. The largest of the Manufaktura buildings became a three-storey shopping centre with over 200 shops.
One of the challenges to the design of the facility was preserving the original architecture of the industrial buildings whilst implementing the latest technology. To achieve this, the shopping centre uses 56 ETC So
UK - Show Way 2008, the new Italian entertainment technology trade show which launches in February, was presented to an international audience at PLASA 07. The organizers say that the new show met with approval both from the audio and lighting manufacturers present and from the associations of the World-ETF (World Entertainment Technical Federation), which consider the initiative an important professional trade fair opportunity in Italy.
Several associations, such as VPLT (Germany), ESTA (USA), PLASA, Secartys (SPAIN) and JASST (Japan), confirmed their support for the show and ensured their presence and that of their members at Show Way.
Show Way is organised by APIAS in association with Promoberg at the Bergamo trade fair, a modern trade fair complex strategically positioned on the Milan airport system. Milan-Orio al Serio airport is only 2km from the exhibition pavilions, which makes it easy for both a national and international public to attend.
(Jim Evans)