latest news headlines
Verlinde Lifts for Amsterdam Arena Stadium Video Wall
Verlinde's ability to offer both high power industrial hoists combined with smaller stage hoists, and the expertise of having several thousand units of equipment operating in public areas around the world was a key success factor in a major project at the Amsterdam Arena.
The Amsterdam Arena was built between 1993 and 1996, and was officially opened on August 14, 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events. The stadium has a retractable roof combined with a grass surface. It has a capacity of 51,628 seats during sports matches and 68,000 places during concerts if a centre-stage setup is used (the stage in the middle of the pitch). The stadium is the home of the Amsterdam Football Club AFC Ajax (1996-present).
The new multipurpose Amsterdam Arena now includes two huge Sony video walls, weighing 15 tons each, with dimensions of 12 x 8m. They are lifted with two VT4 machinery hoists, with a special 3 fall reeving to guarantee the highest security level. The overall lifting height is 41 metres. The speed is frequency controlled. The screens have front (large) and back (small) screens. The small screen can be lowered out of the main screen, using two VL25 chain hoists with 35m height of lift with simultaneous control.
The overload has several set points, full load with both screens, load with only the main screen, and no load 10% and no load 1% (to prevent crashing the lawn mower!).
The project involved a well orchestrated team effort: the mechanical engineering for the structure was by Arcadis; the engineering for the mechanical parts for the lifting equipment by Flexiproject and the electrical installation by ELMA. The equipment was installed by Mennens Amsterdam. Risc inventories were produced by Verlinde/Flexiproject with the assistance of Aboma/Keboma. The final inspection and certification by a Notified Body was by Aboma/Keboma.
The installations were designed to the latest norm: CWA 15902-1 ‘Lifting and Load-bearing equipment for Stages and other Production Areas within the Entertainment Industry'. Safety class 4 was required and the installation was calculated for a safety factor of 10.
Verlinde is proud that both Amsterdam Arena and Sony are very satisfied with the function of the hoists and also with the way the project was handled. The performance has already led to serious inquiries for future projects globally.
In picture: the Stagemaker VL25 hoist that lifts the small screens; a EuroBloc VT4 hoist.
8th January 2010
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
