latest news headlines
Kinesys Move the Millennium Stadium
Automation specialists Kinesys provided all the control equipment for the new grid arrangement at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The Millennium Stadium wanted the option of re-configuring the stadium space as a smaller, arena style venue, enabling them to stage a greater variety of shows. Kinesys were asked to deal with this specific area of the project by lead contractors Blackout. The two companies have pooled skills and resources on several other large ventures, and Kinesys were an obvious complementary choice as a technical partner.
The largest section of the project was a moving mother grid system that has been installed into one half of the Stadium’s opening roof.
It consists of 18 five-tonne Liftket motors permanently fixed to hanging points in the roof. Kinesys installed all the wiring, designed a complete cable tray system and designed and built all the required control cabinets into the roof itself. All equipment is specified and built to survive the harsh coastal environment with stainless steel fixings and waterproof enclosures.
Each hoist is suspended from a load pin which gives the real-time weight readings at each of the 18 points. These are all cabled back to the control cabinet, along with the encoder and motor cabling in the cable tray system.
The system is computer controlled at pitch level. This is mounted in a rugged, fully waterproof enclosure and includes a external illuminated keypad for running and stopping the hoists.
Data communications and Emergency Stop control are both handled via a wireless Ethernet connection to the control cabinet in the roof. The Emergency Stop system is designed to maintain maximum integrity even though it’s being run through a wireless communications system.
Once the external roof is closed, the hoists are lowered. A Total Solutions T2 grid (supplied via Blackout) is then constructed in position on the deck and attached to the hoists. The hoists raise the grid out to position stopping at preset intervals to level it out if needed.
The high capacity Liftkets enable the grid to be left suspended from the motors at all times for maximum flexibility, and they also permit continuous monitoring of the point loads via the control computer screen.
A full manual back-up system is built into the control cabinet, so the motors can be moved in the event of any problems with the wireless connection.
Kinesys also supplied Blackout with two 8-way standard motor controllers and a 16-way motor controller, which are used in the stadium to control the draping trusses. The entire width of the stadium can be quickly and easily masked, concealing the backstage and production area from audience view.
19th October 2005
HEADLINES
news archive
search stories
FOOTNOTE: Select the news type you require in the red band above; this will enable you to see the current news stories from that section
© 1999 - 2012 Entertainment Technology Press Limited News Stories
