UK - Chain hoists are normally selected by a number of criteria - the weight they can lift, speed of travel, height of lift and so on. They are rarely, however, chosen for their aesthetic qualities. That is, until Andi Watson, lighting designer for Dido's current North American and European tour, became involved. Fundamental to the show's lighting design were clean lines and minimal intrusion by the hardware involved in moving the lighting and video panels around.

The chain hoist of choice was the CM Prostar, but a problem still existed in how to achieve repeatable and reliable positioning. The solution was the Prostar Elevation, a product that Kinesys believes is the only variable-speed Prostar solution in the world. Kinesys was able to combine their Elevation 1+ control units with a conversion to the Prostar chain hoist to allow precise positioning and a full range of speeds to be achieved.

The initial batch of Prostar Elevation hoists and controllers have been supplied to Upstaging, USA, for use on the North American leg of Dido's tour. Kinesys director Dave Weatherhead commented: "We are delighted that Upstaging has chosen the Elevation route for their variable-speed chain hoist needs. Partnering the universal Elevation 1+ controllers with the Prostar motor brings a whole range of possibilities, not just for touring work but also corporate and smaller scale events for which the Prostar is the perfect choice."

Upstaging now join a distinguished list of lighting and rigging companies that are embracing the Elevation concept. The versatility of the system means that any converted motor can be used with any Elevation 1+ controller which allows for complete flexibility in matching hoist to application.

(Lee Baldock)


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