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A.C.'s Rigging Division Provides UK's First Litec EXE Lodestar Installation
A.C. Lighting's Rigging division has provided the UK's first Litec EXE Lodestar installation of its kind to Aberystwyth Arts Centre - Wales' largest arts centre, and a department of Aberystwyth University, recognised as a ‘national flagship for the arts'.
The award-winning venue has a wide-ranging artistic programme, both producing and presenting across all art forms, and welcomes over 650,000 visitors a year to its leading facilities.
The venue's technical and production manager, Nick Bache, contacted A.C.'s specialist Rigging Division when he needed to source a new chain hoist lifting system for the venue's concert hall, the main location for the Arts Centre's busy programme of live music, orchestral concerts, and big name comedy and festival events.
He commented: "I wanted a modern hoist system which would enable us to monitor the load applied to the truss, and also something that fell in line with the latest safety regulations. Secondary safeties have always been an issue as the truss has to move on a regular basis and the rigging points are only accessible by cherry picker. A.C.'s Rigging team recommended the EXE Lodestar 650C1 as it meets current British safety regulations and also Germany's very strict BGVC1 standards, which are the current benchmark. Safety was the key criteria for me, and also having a system that I expected to be able to use for at least the next 10 years."
Adam Beaumont of A.C. Lighting's Rigging Division and James Bawn of their sister company A.C. Special Projects worked together with Cristiano Giavedoni, product manager from Litec srl to provide a complete end-to-end solution, including specifying, supplying and installing the system themselves to Nick's requirements.
The full system consists of four EXE Lodestar 650C1 chain hoist motors, control from Out Board Electronics and various loose equipment, cables and accessories taken from A.C.'s vast stock of rigging products. Custom rigging bracketry was fabricated, proof tested and certified specifically for the project. The installation was turned around in just two days to ensure it was ready in time for performances by Canadian artists ScrapArtsMusic, and Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy.
The award-winning EXE Lodestar 650C1 is a co-branded Litec/Columbus McKinnon product that combines the classic CM Lodestar lifting mechanism with innovative EXE technology developed by Litec, and is the first entirely BGV-C1 multifunction electric chain hoist designed for use in the entertainment industry. The EXE Lodestar has been acknowledged by the industry for its leading innovation, winning a PLASA 07 Innovation award and the Stage Technology award at Showtech Berlin 07.
Nick Bache commented: "I'm really pleased with the end result, and the level of support and advice I received throughout the project from A.C.'s Rigging and Special Projects teams. The EXE Lodestar ticks all the boxes in terms of safety and was very cost-effective compared to servicing our existing system, which surprised me given it has everything built in. Being able to see exactly what weight is being lifted has really opened my eyes up to how easy it is to overload or misuse standard hoists, but thankfully the EXE Lodestar makes these problems a thing of the past. It's made working much easier and given us complete confidence that we're working as safely as possible."
Prior to this project, A.C.'s complementary Lighting and Audio divisions have supplied various equipment to the Arts Centre, including a Yamaha M7CL mixing desk and custom power distribution systems for the venue's main theatre space.
17th April 2008
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