UK - With new personal protection equipment (PPE) and chain bags added to its range, Unusual Rigging launched its first ever sales brochure at PLASA Focus: Leeds.

Known principally as a solutions and rental company, Unusual Rigging is also the sales partner for several companies, including Lyon, the leading provider of equipment for work at height and distributor for companies such as Petzl, Maillon Rapide and Beal, all well respected names in the industry. As such, the range of PPE products now available to buy from Unusual Rigging has grown enormously, encompassing body harnesses, helmets, pulleys, waterproof and kit bags, gloves, hauling lines, karabiners, lanyards and ladders . . . the list goes on.

Also new to Unusual's products for sale is a range of high performance, rugged chain bags. Available in five sizes, they fit all the main chain hoist brands used in the enterta

UK - Entertainment equipment engineering expert Triple E is celebrating its 30th birthday at ABTT by exhibiting a raft of new products, sponsoring the ABTT Awards, and hosting a competition to rig a motorised Unitrack system in the fastest possible time.

The company first attended ABTT in the same year it was founded - 1984 - and won the ABTT Product of the Year Award for its 'Loose Pin Hinge', used by everyone for scenery construction.

Three decades on, Triple E is inviting companies to enter a competition to rig a motorised Unitrack system in the fastest possible time, with the quickest team winning one of Triple E's Erail tracks complete with an SDRIVE motor system. The competition will take place in the Test Bench area at ABTT. To enter the contest, visit www.3-eee.com/news/track-competition.php

The company is also manufacturing the coveted ABTT Awards and engraving them

UK - AEG, Kilimanjaro, Live Nation, Loudsound, Metropolis and SJM will put Star Events' Active Roof Technology (ART) to the test at festival sites this summer, ahead of the HSE's proposed changes to the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations.

Based on Kinesys Libra components, ART monitors every production point rigged to a stage roof, ensuring the show stays safely in step with the structure's load capacity.

Roger Barrett, technical & commercial director at Star Events, comments, "By building the system into the roof supports rather than interfering with festival rigging, it enables the roof to double as a weighing machine, in real time.

"To ensure safety, we need to know not only what the weights are, but how they transfer into the structure and ART gives us that critical data."

The new CDM Regs are expected to clarify the responsibility on the pro

UK - Much to the relief of many a discerning punter, there are some artists who simply do not need the bling that blights so many stage show these days. Gary Barlow is certainly one; his recent outing, an exercise in restraint, saw him sell out 17 arenas around the UK with a presentation that was all about class and refinement.

"Before the tour we did a one off with Gary at Westminster Hall in London where there is a curved house stage," explained Production Manager Chris Vaughan. "Lighting designer Tim Routledge and I got together with Kim Gavin our show director afterwards and we all agreed, this is the style that suits Gary's performance and we set about designing to that template for this arena tour. It's not complex, in fact it's very simple really, but it's the clean look that defines the show."

Vaughan selected Total Solutions Group (TSG) to build th

Australia - The annual Entech & Entech Connect Riggers' Forum has secured Australia's Pollard Productions as a key sponsor for the first time, further enhancing the programme's reputation as the only one of its type in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two day programme, which offers attendees to the opportunity to workshop with key industry leaders whilst exploring and debating this specialist section of the industry, will take place on the 23 -24 July at the at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Australia.

James D Ring, managing director of Pollard Productions said, "Pollard Productions are very proud and pleased to be the Riggers' Forum Sponsor for Entech Connect. The Forum sessions are important because they help spread the word on safety and share knowledge and experience with others leading to a better and safer industry."

Stephen Dallimore Entech Connect ev

South Africa - Electrosonic SA has formed a partnership with Kinesys, the renowned British motion control system specialists. Kinesys, is a global leader in the field of design, construction, and installation of motion control systems for the entertainment industry. With Electrosonic SA as its approved reseller, Kinesys will now have a footprint in South Africa.

Entertainment lighting manager of Electrosonic SA, explained the process. "We have been considering adding Kinesys to our inventory for a while, and in April 2014 we met with Kinesys at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, worked out a mutually beneficial agreement, and sealed the deal."

This new partnership is a complement to Electrosonic SA's representation in South Africa of CM Lodestar, Litec and Milos Structural Systems. The addition of Kinesys completes the family, and means that Electrosonic SA now offers en

UK - Visitor registration for PLASA London 2014 is now open and for a limited time attendees can register for free.

PLASA London is offering free four-day passes for attendees who register before Tuesday 1 July. The show, which has been a pivotal date on the international entertainment technology tradeshow calendar for more than three decades, will return to ExCeL London for the second consecutive year on Sunday 5 October until Wednesday 8 October.

Exciting developments to the show's format mean that the registration offer is just one of many visitor incentives for 2014, as PLASA's director of events, Christopher Toulmin explains: "Having relocated to ExCeL last year and enjoyed a very positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike, we have no intention of resting on our laurels. As an organisation we're always looking at ways of improving what we offer - this will

Russia - As sporting events go, they don't really get much bigger than the Olympics. So this year, Rubber Box was proud to have a range of its products being used at Sochi 2014, for the Winter Olympic Games.

Rubber Box was asked to provide a variety of its bespoke power distros to Delta Sound - the pro audio company behind the impressive sound at both the opening and closing ceremonies of Sochi. Paul Bates, General Manager of Rubber Box, comments: "Having worked with sound giants Delta before, we knew how important it was to provide solutions that were robust and reliable, helping them to get on with the job they do best."

NBC studios also used Rubber Box equipment to help them broadcast from the games. Having discussed their requirements at length, Rubber Box supplied NBC with a variety of bespoke power distros which met their needs.

"The Olympics aren't the

UK - Dark Arches Holdings, owner of LS-Live, Perry Scenic Creative and founding investor in Backstage Academy, has acquired Brilliant Stages and Litestructures Projects from Prolyte Group.

This move will allow both entities to focus on their core activities in order to better service the marketplace. For Prolyte this means dedicated concentration on the manufacturing and sale of truss, staging and complementary products like the ProLyft hoists.

Dark Arches Holdings meanwhile remains an independent family-owned group and has identified synergistic opportunities in the three project businesses of Brilliant Stages, Litestructures Projects and Perry Scenic Creative alongside its studio and equipment services business, LS-Live, and the Backstage Academy training model in Wakefield.

As Lambert Bouwmeester, CEO Prolyte Group states: "As a result of this latest phase in the str

UK - To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the market-leading Track Pricer programme, Hall Stage has created an online app version (launching at the ABTT Trade Show, 11th & 12th June) with a fresh new look which is optimised for iPad and iPhone.

Available in iOS & Android format, the Track Pricer app offers an easy to follow and comprehensive method of creating detailed quotations for a vast array of track configurations in all Hall Stage systems. Once installed, a site survey can be turned in to a list of parts for order directly from your mobile phone or tablet.

The Track Pricer app features all manual & motorised options, including Chaindrive and Series 600 belt drive systems.

Simply by following a logical graphic menu and making a series of product selections, a full quotation can be prepared in seconds and emailed directly to clients - or the Hall Stage sales department

UK - Mojo Barriers is keeping McBusted's screaming fans safe as the British supergroup heads across the UK on its first ever arena tour. The tour sees members of boy bands Busted and McFly join forces to perform hits from both of their back catalogues, including Air Hostess (Busted), Five Colours in Her Hair (McFly), What I go to School For (Busted) and Shine A Light (McFly).

Originally planned for just 11 dates, it's now on the road for 34 in total, running until June 2014. Mojo Barriers has been contracted by Live Nation's promoter's rep Max Burnham from iBurnham Ltd, to provide the safety barriers for every date.

Kevin Thorborn, Mojo Barriers' UK general manager, comments: "Touring has always been an important market for Mojo Barriers internationally, and in the UK we've seen significant growth in the area this year, also winning contracts for Katy Perry, Justin Timber

UK - Specialz is a company that has built an enviable reputation on providing individual bespoke structures for productions, commonly with an integral lighting component built into it. Whatever the project, however untried and untested the initial idea might be, Specialz can transform that first sketch on the back of a soggy beermat to a working, viable and effective reality on a stage.

Written by Harry Hill and Steve Brown, the Syco Entertainment production of I Can't Sing was a sadly short-lived musical parody of The X Factor (see our full production report in the May 2014 issue of LSi magazine), and demanded the kind of framework on stage never seen before in the West End, let alone the London Palladium. Although famed for its cavernou

China - China's largest music industry media group, The Shanghai Synergy Culture & Entertainment Group, has upgraded its music recording studio with a new SSL Duality console, Pro Tools and outboard equipment installed by Langdale Technical Consulting and, for the first time in China, using exclusively Blue Series Van Damme cable from VDC Trading.

Headquartered in Shanghai, the company is owned by one of the largest media conglomerates in China - The Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group. This flagship studio was originally built in about 1985 and was in dire need of refurbishment. Lighting and sound designer David Parry worked as consultant on the project and appointed Langdale Technical to handle the installation. The decision to use Van Damme cable was a popular one with the Chinese technical staff given its historical use in Abbey Road Studios.

Langdale Technical's Bill W

UK - Doughty Engineering will be unveiling its latest offering of Drop Arms and H Frames at this year's ABTT show. The new, modular products, which complement each other, will allow designers to quickly create robust and professional lighting or scenic structures of varying drops and shapes.

"This exciting new range received an amazing response in its prototype form and is now ready for market, opening up the possibility for highly innovative lighting design," said Mark Chorley. "We have full pricing information available and we will be showcasing a selection of H Frames and Drop Arm configurations on the stand. Any one of the Doughty Engineering staff on the stand will be happy to demonstrate the product and answer any questions" he said.

Doughty will also have a selection of its clamps and truss adaptors on display on the stand. All made from solid, high

UK - Star Events, an award-winning UK staging, seating and rigging specialist, has become part of a multi-national business as Altrad Group acquires a majority shareholding.

The seven-figure investment spearheads Altrad's move into the entertainment sector via Altrad Beaver 84 Ltd, which operates from 12 UK locations. Star Events becomes a subsidiary of Altrad Beaver 84 but will stay based at its own Bedford premises.

Chairman Dr Mohed Altrad, whose philosophy is to create 'a collegiate group of companies, embracing their differences', says his group's financial commitment will not change the make-up of the successful Star Events team, or its methodology. The same philosophy has been applied to the six previous Altrad acquisitions in the UK.

Star Events' director, Roger Barrett, comments: "For some time now we have been aware of the need for substantial investment to en

UK - With new personal protection equipment (PPE) and chain bags added to its range, Unusual Rigging has launched its first ever sales brochure, which will be available at ABTT this year.

Known principally as a solutions and rental company, Unusual Rigging is also the sales partner for several companies, including Lyon, the leading provider of equipment for work at height and distributor for companies such as Petzl, Maillon Rapide and Beal, all well respected names in the industry. As such, the range of PPE products now available to buy from Unusual Rigging has grown enormously, encompassing body harnesses, helmets, pulleys, waterproof and kit bags, gloves, hauling lines, karabiners, lanyards and ladders . . . the list goes on.

Also new to Unusual's products for sale is a range of high performance, rugged chain bags. Available in five sizes, they fit all the main chain hoist b

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) will showcase a selection of the latest lighting, audio, rigging and video solutions available from their vast portfolio of premium brands - on stand 38 at ABTT 2014, London.

Sales teams from AC-ET's four specialist product divisions will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss the latest technologies from leading marques which AC-ET are the exclusive UK dealer for, as well as over 200 leading brands available for immediate despatch from the company's multi-million pound inventory.

After receiving an overwhelmingly positive response when showcased at another recent UK tradeshow, the AC-ET stand will feature models from the UK-exclusive Prolights line-up of lighting and effects products. The impressive lighting range features an extensive portfolio of product lines from a wide selection of LEDs, including Pars, battens, moving lights,

UK - Hall Stage has announced the launch of the DL-Lite range of rigging pulleys to complement the existing extensive catalogue of stage equipment, built up since the company formation 116 years ago in 1898.

Designed to meet a 5:1 safety factor - 60% higher than competitive products - DL-Lite has a safe working load of 150Kg, with the Hall Stage quality guarantee and warranty to back it up. Featuring Laser-cut 3mm steel side plates - no light gauge pressed materials - the pulleys are fabricated from high grade materials and components to complement the standard Halls Dynaline 8:1 units, sharing the same comprehensive selection of fitting & fixing options.

Finished in Hall Stages' non-reflective and durable powdercoat, DL-Lite pulleys feature triple cable retainer guides to secure ropes in the sheave profile and are fully proof load tested & CE marked prior to shipping.

Avail

UK - Blackout was commissioned to transform East London's Old Truman Brewery to make it catwalk ready for Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) 2014.

A platform to showcase fashion's future rising stars and known for launching careers of the likes of Stella McCartney and Julien MacDonald, this year's GFW attracted over 25,000 guests, hosted 20 catwalk shows and showcased over 40 talented universities.

The annual event, in its 23rd year, made the move to the edgier East End, deciding on the Old Truman Brewery as its new venue. Blackout's experienced rigging and draping team were called in to install two catwalk structures; one using ground supported truss and the other flown using 10 half ton motors.

"The two catwalks were held in completely difference spaces, Catwalk A was upstairs in a much lighter room with skylights and Catwalk B was located on the ground floor," explaine

UK - Tinie Tempah's 11-date UK and Ireland arena tour this spring was backed by staging rental outfit LS-Live.

The Temptation tour, which travelled from Wolverhampton Civic Hall and finished at The O2 Dublin in April, replaced cancelled shows from 2013 and showcased music from his Disc-Overy album and the more mature grime-pop sounds from his recent album Demonstration.

LS-Live welcomed the opportunity to work with Tinie Tempah and the team once again to design, build and modify the set at its arena-sized rehearsal unit. LS-Live designer Gaz Mallon worked closely with show designer Anthony Randall and production manager Phil Broad to ensure their creative vision was aptly brought to life for the relatively brief, but big-bite, tour.

Said Gaz, "They wanted to create the look of an underground, grimy car park, like those you find beneath city apartment block

UK - When Wicked opened at the King's Theatre in Glasgow in May, little did the management realise it would be the highest grossing show in the history of the venue. Over 53,000 tickets were snapped up for the show's sell-out Scottish premiere.

But to ensure the venue could play host to the spectacular musical phenomenon, it needed a little assistance from the team at Unusual Rigging, specifically to make the grid of the King's compatible with the magnitude and distribution of suspension points required for the show.

Gavin Snelling, project manager at Unusual Rigging, said, "The main problem in staging Wicked at the King's Theatre was the overall weight of the show. The King's grid was not strong enough to provide the suspension points required and so Unusual was brought on board by Mike Jackson, ATG's external consulting engineer, to install an array of ste

UK - TSL has announced that Tim Roffey has joined their team, as head of rigging. Tim has a long career in the rigging and events industries, having previously worked for Unusual Rigging, his own business Special Project Solutions and most recently as a director of Media Power House.

TSL have decided to establish a separate rigging division to focus on a wide range of projects, requiring equipment rental, design and specification. TSL's MD Sam Tamplin commented, "We are glad to have Tim's experience and skill to add to our team and to focus on growing our capabilities in the rigging market."

Tim Roffey added, "I am excited to be involved with TSL, as they continue to expand as a brand and operation. TSL's commitment to investing in quality equipment and their high production values are smoothing I am proud to be associated with. I am looking forward to getting i

UK - Blumano Ltd is an engineering-based company headquartered in the UK and working internationally which has been launched to provide a whole range of specialist services, expertise and consultancy which is related to lifting and load-bearing equipment for stages and other areas of entertainment industry production.

The company is headed by two industry professionals - Cristiano Giavedoni and Amedeo Guizzi. They bring many years of experience and a vast knowledge of the professional entertainment industry to the equation as well as their respective individual areas, plus imagination and an innovative approach.

Amedeo is a structural, mechanical and materials engineer with extensive experience working for high profile live entertainment projects. He is a skilled performer flying project & technical manager and has been technical director for numerous live shows and festivals.

UK - Ron Bonner, PLASA's technical resources manager for the last 12 years, has left PLASA to start his own consulting company, Arbec Ltd. The new venture is a direct result of the volume of requests recieved from members and non-members alike for specialist assistance on a one-to-one basis that he was unable to provide in his original role at PLASA. However, Bonner has not completely parted company with PLASA as he is now providing Technical Resource support for PLASA through Arbec. Arbec offers a range of technical and health and safety services to PLASA members and the industry in general (with discounts for PLASA members). To contact Ron, email: ron@arbec.co.uk

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