business news

Midas and Klark Teknik Appoint New Chinese Distributor

Midas and Klark Teknik have appointed Rightway Audio as their exclusive Chinese distributor.

With headquarters on the Chinese mainland in Guangzhou as well as branches in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, the well-established company is in a strong position to increase the brands' market share in the region. Rightway has represented Klark Teknik's Square ONE range since its launch in 1996, selling more units into China than any other territory. The company also has the huge distinction of selling four XL8s into the Chinese market, as well as having purchased a demonstration model. Together with an extensive inventory of spares and a team of staff trained by Midas and Klark Teknik service manager Karl Brant, Rightway is poised to offer excellent before- and after-sales service, and is enthusiastic about adding the brands to its already-prestigious product portfolio.

"This is wonderful for us," says Rightway sales manager Alan Wong. "The Chinese market is well aware that Midas and KT are big names, and as the new sole distributor we are very proud to represent these brands in China. We are looking to expand Midas and Klark Teknik right across the board, through live sound, theatre and broadcast."

Adds Midas and Klark Teknik sales and marketing director David Cooper: "Rightway Audio Consultants have proved with their XL8 sales that they have the technical knowledge and connections to sell and support Midas digital products. As we move more and more into the digital realm our distributors require employees with technical knowledge, and Rightway have some of the best in the business. I'm very much looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship between our two companies in one of the most important world markets."

In picture: Rightway Audio MD Danny Lau, Midas and Klark Teknik's sales and marketing director David Cooperand   Rightway Audio's sales manager Alan Wong.

www.midasconsoles.com

ChamSys with PRG Distribution

ChamSys, Ltd. has announced their affiliation with Production Resource Group Distribution, L.L.C. (PRG Distribution) for the USA, Canada and Japan.

"ChamSys is the perfect partner to begin our journey down the distribution path," said Tim Brennan, VP of PRG. "Control is an area of the North American market that is demanding a product of the quality of the MagicQ Pro. It is truly cutting-edge in its fixture morphing/cloning and in its media features like the media wing and pixel-mapping. And, above all, it is familiar to the programmers and cost effective."

Building on the success of the highly regarded MagicQ consoles, ChamSys has launched its second generation of consoles, the MagicQ Pro series. The Pro series is designed to appeal to the professional power programmer and operator, with added connectivity, flexibility and durability. The MagicQ Pro was launched at PLASA 07 in the UK and LDI 07 in the US and has received phenomenal reception by the industry, with orders flooding in for not only the Pro Series, but the full range of ChamSys MagicQ products.

The MagicQ Pro series retains the superb MagicQ operating system and application software whilst enhancing performance, styling and connectivity. MagicQ Pro is available in three sizes, MQ100 Pro, MQ200 Pro and MQ300 Pro in a similar way to the original MQ100, MQ200 and MQ300 consoles. The MagicQ Pro series is completely compatible with the MagicQ series, utilising the same software and show formats. MagicQ Pro features the familiar and flexible GUI lighting control, media server connectivity options and in-built media server for LED grid arrays found in the original MagicQ consoles.

www.prg.com

5 Star Installs New Machinery

5 Star Cases has installed new machinery at its Cambridgeshire, UK HQ.  The investment will help deal with the increased production demands following the winning of numerous new accounts and projects in recent weeks.

The first machine is used to pre-punch aluminium profiles prior to their being fixed on to the cases. The system is based around a ‘stock' machine manufactured and supplied by Penn-Elcom Limited, leading case hardware specialist with plants in the UK, China and USA. A powerful pneumatic cylinder forms the basis of the system together with heavy duty machined linkages and pivot points. The base machine can be used for multiple applications including punching, cropping and notching.

Once the machines are delivered from Penn-Elcom, they are heavily customised by 5 Star's engineering department headed by Phil Bailey.

This includes the addition of extra guarding and safety features to comply with current H & S regulations. The profile punching machine features a five-position punch and die at a pre-set pitch which can accommodate all of 5 Star's aluminium angle sections. The machine also benefits the addition of a 5 Star designed PC-based measurement display software system. This software enables the user to set the necessary starting position that is required to be punched in the extrusion, as opposed to just having ‘factory set' pre-punched holes from the supplier.

Simon Bromley from retained software partner BNM I.T. of Spalding wrote the software after initial designs from 5 Star's technical department. The system includes a rack-mounted PC with a touch-screen control, so operators can simply enter dimensions from the production worksheets. The display will update with the required ‘start point', giving equally spaced punched holes in the extrusion.

The second machine installed, was again supplied by Penn-Elcom. It is an extrusion profile crimp, specially designed for 5 Star's new LX Range of lightweight cases.

This machine has the same pneumatic mechanics as the punch, but again has been heavily modified to 5 Star's requirements. These include additional safety and guarding facilities together with profile supports and clamping. This machine quickly assembles the LX Range cases by crimping aluminium profiles to the plastic corner nodes.

"We have been using Penn-Elcom to supply case hardware for over 25 years, but only more recently have we been taking advantage of their superb engineering and tooling experience," explains 5 Star's general manager, Justin Locks. "Bespoke machinery and tooling can be supplied quickly, with all the resources at Penn's disposal, and with this in mind, 5 Star is continuing its small machinery investments."

In picture: 5 Star's Justin Locks and Penn-Elcom's Colin Freeman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESTA Announces 2008 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards

The ESTA Foundation has announced the 2008 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards created by some of the industry's most talented designers.  Six designs are being offered this year, including custom cards from Bob Bonniol, Scott Pask, David Rockwell, and Bruce Rodgers. Behind the Scenes is also pleased to introduce the work of talented young photographer Andrew Hefte.
   There are several ordering options. Meeting the minimum order of just 250 cards, you can personalize your card with a company logo and a custom message. New this year are the options for a 2-color logo and return address printed envelopes. Packages of 10 cards are available with a standard greeting. The third option is an electronic version of any of the cards that can be sent via email in the form of a jpg, gif or pdf.
   Orders for holiday cards will be taken until September 2, 2008 and will be shipped to arrive the week of October 27th. All proceeds will benefit The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes program.
   To view the card designs and order online, visit www.estafoundation.org/bts/holidaycards.htm. For more information, please contact Laura Quartuccio at 212-244-1421 or holidaycard@estafoundation.org.

   Behind the Scenes provides financial assistance to entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured. Funds may be used for medical expenses, funeral expenses, or basic living expenses such as mortgage, rent, utilities, food, transportation, and childcare. Funds are available to anyone who has worked at least five years full time in the entertainment technology industry-whether they're on the road or in a rental shop; they're a TD or the head of R&D; they work in a theatre or on a cruise ship.
   Behind the Scenes is an initiative of The ESTA Foundation created so industry members could support each other in times of crisis. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.estafoundation.org/bts.htm.

Martin Reports Solid Q1 Numbers

Martin Professional reports a good start to 2008 based on healthy activity in all the markets the company operates in. Martin lifted revenue slightly to $55.7 million in Q1 2008 from $54.9 million in Q1 2007. Underlying the slight improvement is organic growth partly offset by the weaker DKK/USD exchange rate. Consistent with expectations, profit before tax was $4.6 million in Q1 2008 compared with $1.8 million in Q1 2007.
   The Q1 numbers come on the heels of excellent 2007 numbers for the company. Revenue in 2007 improved by 14.1% to a record level of $234.5 million from $205.5 million in 2006. Profit before tax increased to $16.2 million in 2007 from $3.8 million in 2006.
   Martin continues to reap the benefits of quality and product development improvements that have resulted from a completed business transformation process. With the prospects of the DKK/USD exchange rate remaining very low coupled with continued tough price pressure, Martin has only moderately increased its profit forecast for 2008. Martin expects to generate revenue of approximately $250 million in 2008 with a profit before tax of just over $16 million.
   www.martin.com

Summit Steel Expands & Moves

Summit Steel has moved into new, bigger, better and more convenient premises just outside Maidstone at Coxheath in Kent!

   The move was necessitated by the massive expansion in Summit's equipment stock over the last 12 months, reflecting a healthy growth in their working schedule. This has recently included The BAFTAs, Take That's 2007 tour, Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall and ongoing work at the O2 Arena, where Summit is the house rigging company.
   The new warehouse and offices will consolidate all the equipment stock - including James Thomas trussing, ground support systems, Lodestar Motors and Summit's own SmarTmast small footprint PA towers - in one location.
   The warehouse will have easier access for more trucks - up to five at a time, and geographically, Coxheath is well located for major motorways and road routes. It's just 35 miles from central London and 45 minutes on the train.
   The office area is also greatly expanded in the new premises, and has been designed and refurbished by the Summit team.

DPA Distributor Reports Major Growth in Middle East

DPA's distributor for the the United Arab Emirates, Triangle Sound & Image, has supplied the largest single order of DPA microphones in the region to the Creative Communication Group (CCG), a Doha-based events management and production company.

CCG is looking to meet future requirements and, as part of a major expansion, ordered a quantity of DPA mics including 4060 miniature omnis, BLM4060 boundary layer mics, 4088 headbands, 4011 cardioids, 4006-TL omnis, SMK4060, 3506 and 3511 stereo kits and a comprehensive package of accessories.

Since it was established in 1998, CCG has expanded to serve all aspects of the entertainment business in the Gulf region and the Middle East. It provides a wide range of products and services, and has pioneered world-class theatrical shows in Qatar by artists including Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, and staging grand operas and ballets by international touring companies including the Bolshoi Ballet.

"We are very happy to deal with Triangle, who have shown professionalism, dedication and full support from our first contact with them," says CCG managing director Jalal Dudin. "They've proved they are not only sellers but technical and marketing partners for the companies they represent. Their microphone recommendations ensured we purchased exactly what we needed, while their dedication, passion, reliability and prompt delivery surpassed our expectations. CCG is now well-equipped with DPA microphones to respond to projects of any scale in Qatar and the region."

In picture: Philip Venter, sound engineer, CCG and Jalal Dudin, managing director, CCG.

Hoist UK Release New Range of Manual Winches

Industrial and entertainment lifting gear specialists Hoist UK Ltd recently took on a UK distributorship of the complete manual hand winch range from the Dutch winch manufacturer Gebuwin.
   In addition to the very competitive Verlinde range of manual winches Hoist UK can now offer a full range of spur gear models ranging from 125kg to 2,000kg and worm-gear winches with capacities ranging from 250kg to 5,000kg. Both the spur gear and worm gear winches come in either a painted finish or galvanised finish. All models have sealed bearings and adjustable crank handles.
   Hans Siertsema, managing director of Gebuwin BV tied up the deal with Hoist UK's Paul Jordan and says: "As a manufacturer of hoisting equipment we are happy to do business with Hoist UK because their team has great knowledge of anything to do with professional hoisting. Whether standard or specialised equipment, their engineers will provide a solution."
   "Gebuwin winches fit perfectly into our standard range of quality equipment and the multi-compartment and grooved drum versions will be perfect for entertainment applications," added Jordan.
   The winches are very competitively priced and Hoist UK will be stocking the most popular range with the rest of the winches available for dispatch directly from the manufacturer within a short time.
   Fellow Hoist UK director Tony Dickson commented: "At Hoist UK we aim to provide high quality and robust equipment which is not only good value for money but more importantly fit for purpose."
   The Hoist UK manual winch catalogue is available for download directly from the Hoist UK website. If you use the request catalogue link, you will have access to our new industrial and entertainment catalogues as well as the new winch models in a specialist catalogue for downloading.
   An extensive range of pulleys and general rigging accessories are also available to complement the manual winches.
   www.hoistuk.com

PRG inhabits new territory

"A good plan applied with vigour now is better than a perfect plan implemented too late." General Patton knew what he was talking about, any complex operation, be it battle, marketing campaign, or just moving home, requires forethought.

The recent relocation of PRG's main UK office from the former bus garage at Coventry Road in Birmingham, to a parts depot originally built for Rover Group at Longbridge has been just such an operation. Nimble on its feet for such a large company, the rest of the touring production industry barely noticed the shift as Company MD Dave Keighley explained. "The move to new premises offered us the opportunity to make major improvements to the way we work and to our working environment. At over 165,000 square feet, this is a building with enormous potential; so yes, we did indeed to spend time planning how we wanted the building the work. But one of PRG's great strengths is its speed and flexibility, so we made the transition with that premise in mind."

As well as drawing on experience gained from similar moves implemented at two of PRG's major US depots, Keighley also charged Birmingham Operations Manager, Nigel Taylor with a remit to completely re-examine every aspect of the Company's operational activity.

"I co-opted Robin Wain, one of our leading project managers," explained Taylor. "Between us we polled opinion from employees in all departments; everything from accounts to xenon service. From the moment we started right up to the present, one of the great things about this process has been the enthusiasm it has generated throughout the company as people begin to realise the potential."

The enthusiasm is still palpable four months after the move, as Keighley confirmed. "In essence Nigel's research taught us to implement a plan that made us fully operational immediately, but allowed us to make incremental changes as we all adjusted to the nuances of the new building. Every department is experiencing that now, nothing is set in stone and everyone is seeing ways to make this place even better. That's a great motivator, and that's what we wanted the move to be. The thing to remember is this; last summer we experienced one of the most intense periods of our history with simultaneous shows for Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Ozzie Osborne, The Rolling Stones, Tori Amos, The Artic Monkeys, The Who, Prince, Take That and Swan Lake to name just a few, all facilitated by our team at the old bus garage. Imagine what they can achieve here.

Longbridge is going to be our home for many years to come so the time we spend now, making sure we get it right for our clients, and for everybody who works here, is time well spent."

New Mics for Old

Harman Pro UK has announced a trade-in deal for users of old Shure SM58 dynamic vocal microphones. From April 2008 until further notice, users returning an old Shure SM58 at participating music shops will receive a discount of 20 pounds on the price of a new AKG D5 dynamic vocal mic (list price £109.99 including VAT).

The deal is simplicity itself for customers. When prospective purchasers enter a store to buy an AKG D5 and bring their old SM58 with them, the dealer gives the customer the AKG D5 at a £20 discount in exchange for the Shure mic, then returns the SM58 to Harman's Freepost address (FREEPOST HARMAN PRO UK). A £20 credit will then be added to the dealer's trading account with Harman Pro UK.

Harman Pro UK sales manager Gary Dent commented: "It's now a year since the D5 was launched and we've seen a fabulous response from the industry and professional live sound engineers all over the country; everyone agrees that the D5 is our best live mic for years. We thought it was time to give people a chance to replace their worn-out vocal mics with the latest in high-quality modern vocal mic technology. With a trade-in scheme like this, simplicity is the best approach, which is why we've made it as easy as possible for customers and dealers. Shops should see a further upsurge in D5 sales, but without any extra paperwork or complicated bureaucracy."

For more information on the great SM58/D5 trade-in, contact Harman Pro UK sales on 01707 668181.

A.C. Lighting Becomes an Approved Partner for Martin Used Equipment

Entertainment technology supplier A.C. Lighting Ltd has announced it is now an approved reseller for the sale of used Martin Professional MAC moving yoke fixtures.

Under the arrangement, Martin Professional UK will use A.C.'s highly experienced in-house service department and used equipment sales team to supply the industry with quality, approved second hand MAC fixtures originating from trade-ins as customers upgrade to newer models.

As one of Martin's major UK dealers, the partnership means A.C. Lighting can now offer customers the complete package of new and used equipment, servicing and repairs for the MAC range of leading moving heads.

A.C. Lighting will provide a complete list of all equipment available on the company's highly popular bargain stock list on its website, which is updated on a daily basis.

A.C. Lighting's northern sales director, Jonathan Walters commented: "We're very pleased to be approved by Martin. A.C. receives a high number of enquiries for used MAC fixtures through our well-established bargain stock list, as customers know the products have been designed to a very high standard and built to last many years. We've always believed that A.C.'s customer service and after-sales support is amongst the highest in the industry, so it's great to have a leading manufacturer show their confidence in our ability to provide this."

www.aclighting.com

Bandit History: 40 Years of Excellence

Part 2: The 70's

The 70's saw an explosive growth at Bandit Lites as the company transitioned from high school to college to the real world.
   Michael Strickland and company built a solid client base of current acts of the day while in they were still in high school, working with artists when they visited the southeast. When it was time to attend college, Strickland chose the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to continue his education and took the firm there with him.
   The rest of the young men chose to go other directions so Michael found himself alone in the endeavor. This led to hiring several new people in the Knoxville area and a rebuilding of the company. Juggling the demands of adolescence and a budding company proved to be a bit challenging at times, but determined to succeed, Strickland pressed on - even through college and law school. Strickland ran Bandit Lites from his dorm room at the University of Tennessee while earning a degree in Business and then Law.
   Bandit worked with the biggest names in the music business and all the while, few people knew that the owner of the company was actually a college student. Black Oak Arkansas, The James Gang, Blue Oyster Cult, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Goose Creek Symphony, Dr. Hook, Parliament Funkadelic, NRPS and many others worked with Bandit in the college years.
   "While going to undergraduate and law school the company experienced phenomenal growth. All of the funding came from operations, and we never used outside financing. I am not sure anyone would have loaned us money even if we had asked," Strickland commented. "I was on the road more than in class during that time. During law school I was lighting director and production manager for Kenny Rogers and this was during his breakout period."
   The Kenny Rogers 1977-78 Gambler Tour was Bandit's biggest tour during that time and it gained Bandit a tremendous amount of national exposure since it was one of the highest profile tours on the road. Bandit's early relationship with Kenny Rogers was so successful that that he is still a client today, almost 32 years later. In addition to Kenny Rogers and the clients listed previously, several high profile clients came to Bandit in the 70's, including Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle, Blackfoot, The Outlaws, Charlie Rich, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton and Pure Prairie League. Bandit also became one of the first dealers for Genie Industries and EDI; both relationships would serve Bandit well for many years to come.
   Overall, the 70's was a period of substantial growth for Bandit, with one brief glitch. After already establishing a very firm footing in the entertainment lighting industry, Bandit suffered a tragedy that nearly ended the company. In July 1979, the warehouse burned to the ground and with no insurance, Bandit was left with only two light systems that were on the road at the time. Thankfully, Bandit leaned how to make two systems do the work of four, and also learned the value of having insurance.
   As the 70's came to an end, Bandit added several key people to its staff. Brent Barrett, now the director of business development, would start at Bandit while in college with Strickland, a relationship that continues to this day. Current Bandit VP Michael Golden and current C.O.O. Pete Heffernan also joined the Bandit family around that time and they have been with the company ever since. Kent Shafferman and Eric "Eroc" Shafferman began with Bandit in 1979 and Eric is still at Bandit today. Kent was an employee for 26 years before he retired a couple of years ago. Michael's brother Steve "Moose" Strickland was at Bandit for 27 years before he too retired.
   Heading into the 80's, Bandit was a small company with a very close, very dedicated group of 30+ people, mostly from the Kingsport, Tennessee area. The concepts of paying people salaries as well as providing health insurance and retirement were established. Bandit was also the first company in entertainment lighting to treat employees more like a permanent staff as opposed to easily replaceable freelancers. This led to a fierce and proud company loyalty.
   "We had grown and developed so much in the 70's. We had no idea what explosive

growth and what new adventures faced us in the exciting and wonderful ‘hair band'

eighties, but we were ready for the challenge," Strickland added.
   Please stay tuned for the third installment of Bandit History: 40 Years of Excellence - The 80's.
   In picture: Kenny Rogers Tour, 1978 with Michael Golden, Kent Shafferman, Tom Cox, Mark Lowrance, Pete Heffernan, Ken Whitehead, Steve Strickland, Brent Barrett, Michael T. Strickland.

   www.bandit lites.com

A.C. Video Bridges The Gap Between Lighting & Video

Entertainment technology supplier A.C. Lighting has launched a new video division to provide a complete solution for lighting rental companies looking to make their first move into video.
   A.C. Video was formed in response to huge demand the company has received in the past few years for ‘creative LED' systems which bridge the gap between lighting and video. This includes the enormous success of the Chroma-Q Color Web LED display surface exclusively distributed by the company, which has been a regular fixture on high profile light entertainment television shows and concert tours.
   After gaining several years experience providing this complex new technology, and extensive research into all products in the market, A.C. decided to provide a complete video turnkey solution to enable its existing lighting customers and upcoming visual designers to make the smooth transition into video.
   The new division adds further value to the company's product offering, providing customers with an even wider choice of products alongside its existing portfolio of leading lighting, audio and rigging brands.
   A.C. Video has formed strong partnerships with the leading technology brands in this field to provide a system which meets the highest levels of performance and reliability required for today's cutting-edge entertainment lighting applications. Covering projection, creative LED, media server, image processing and content creation, technology partners joining A.C.'s vast stockholding include Christie, Element Labs, Green Hippo, Show Footage and TV One.
   Lee House (pictured) heads up A.C. Video as business development manager, drawing upon his vast experience over the past four years as the company's main technical sales and support for the Chroma-Q product range, media servers and other associated products.
   He commented: "Over the past few years A.C. has seen huge interest from lighting companies as the two technologies have increasingly converged. Video can be a very daunting new area for lighting companies to move into, so we formed A.C. Video to simplify and de-mystify the process, and give customers the peace of mind that comes with knowing they've got full technical support for this highly specialist area, should they need to call on it at any time."

   Lee and representatives from all key A.C. Video partners will be available to discuss your creative LED system needs at this year's A.C. Lighting North Show on 29^th and 30^th April. For more information, log on to www.aclighting.com/tradeshow or call 0113 255 7666.

Robe Announces Exclusive UAE Distributor

Robe Lighting has announced that Dubai-based GSL will be its exclusive distributor for the UAE and Iran.
   "We are choosing to work with them because they are a fast growing company and highly proactive in a diversity of markets," says Elie Battah, Robe's regional sales manager.
   GSL has already been working with Robe for more than a year, and has an excellent reputation and client base encompassing all market areas, and including installers, consultants, project managers, specifiers and rental companies. GSL is an independent company, owned and run by Fouad (president) and Faegh (MD) Fowzi. They distribute a carefully selected range of leading audio, AV and lighting products.
   They explained that they were looking for an innovative, good quality, well-engineered moving and digital lighting brand to have onboard, offering a wide range of products at the right prices for both rental and installation markets. In Dubai both markets are extremely buoyant and expanding rapidly, while Iran is emerging as an important potential install market. Having the Anolis LED range onboard is also seen as a great asset on the installation front.
   "Being the sole representative for Robe in these territories will be a great opportunity for us and for Robe and we look forward to penetrating new sectors and carving out a healthy market share for Robe," confirms Fouad Fowzi, who adds that in addition to being able to be highly competitive, they will benefit from the full backing of Robe's highly efficient marketing machine. "Robe is very much the brand that we want to work with," he concludes.
   In picture: Faegh Fowzi (MD GSL), Elie Battah (Robe Regional Sales Manager), Stacey Lewis (Sales & Marketing Manager, GSL).

   www.robe.cz

Prolyte Launches Middle East Office at PALME Show

Prolyte Products Group will officially launch its Middle East sales office at the PALME exhibition (Dubai, 27-29 April).
   In response to growing market opportunities Prolyte decided last year to open a sales office which could accommodate this market from within. Based on earlier experience, Prolyte knew a distributor alone would not be able to do the job properly. "This market requires special attention and, above all, service and material should be offered at close range. Customers want their support and products to be delivered fast. A large stock of Prolyte products is now locally available", states Henry Schuil (account manager).
   Fokko Smeding (CEO) comments: "The Gulf region and Dubai in particular is developing at a massively fast pace. There is a strong need for our products, in permanent installations as well as for a range of local events. Both the event market and the entertainment market are expanding fast. Behind the scenes we worked hard to get the PME office up and running and I'm very proud of this accomplishment."
   The Prolyte Middle East sales team consists of Riham Abuelem (general manager) and Roni Bader (sales director). Both live in Dubai and have a wealth of expertise in the media and entertainment sector within the region. Roelof Bouman (technical support manager) offer his expertise whenever technical support is required. Needless to say the Prolyte sales team or engineers shall offer their support on request.
   During the PALME Dubai show, Prolyte will not only present its broad range of trussing and staging products, visitors are also invited to meet the Prolyte sales team and PME staff.
   Contact information for the new office is as follows: Prolyte Middle East, Jebel Ali Free Zone, telephone: +971 4 362 2017 fax +971 4 366 1017, e-mail rabuelem@prolyte.com
   www.prolyte.com

Two Rob Halliday Volumes Launched by Entertainment Technology Press

Entertainment in Production Volume 1: 1994-1999 Rob Halliday £24.95
ISBN 9781904031512

Entertainment in Production Volume 2: 2000-2006 Rob Halliday £24.95
ISBN 9781904031529

Rob Halliday has a dual career as a lighting designer/programmer and author and in these two volumes he provides the intriguing but comprehensive technical background stories behind the major musical productions and other notable projects spanning the period 1994 to 2005. Having been closely involved with the majority of the events described, the author is able to present a first-hand and all-encompassing portrayal of how many of the major shows across the past decade came into being. From Oliver! and Miss Saigon to Mamma Mia! and Mary Poppins, here the complete technical story unfolds. The books, which are profusely illustrated, are in large part an adapted selection of articles that first appeared in the magazine Lighting+Sound International.
   The books will be reviewed in a later edition.
   www.etbooks/co.uk

Martin Launches New Look Website

Martin Professional has given its popular www.martin.com website and associated subsidiary websites a thorough makeover. The new look site, optimized for bigger bandwidths and wider screens, features an enlarged format with bigger images, expanded segment pages and a brighter appearance for greater clarity and visual impact.
   Now it's even more enjoyable - and easier - to navigate through the industry's most impressive gathering of project references, product information, technical specifications, photometric data and marketing material, as well as company and Martin Partner info, global support access, online service, and much more.
   Visit www.martin.com and experience it for yourself!

Avesco Acquires the Charter Broadcast Group of Companies

Avesco Group plc announces the acquisition of the Charter Broadcast Group of Companies, a leading provider of broadcast systems, broadcast equipment and digital radio camera services worldwide. Avesco is the parent company of Presteigne, which rents high definition and standard definition camera equipment, video tape recorders, EVS hard disk recorders, lenses, RF links and de-rig systems to its clients across Europe and the rest of the World.
   The businesses of Presteigne and the Charter Broadcast Group will be merged and rebranded as Presteigne Charter and will operate from bases in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and Singapore. Presteigne Charter will continue to offer a wide range of high quality services to the broadcast market worldwide, including custom-built systems, the hire of high definition and other equipment and digital radio camera systems.
   Ian Martin, Avesco's chief executive, commented: "The Charter Broadcast Group of Companies has a strong market reputation and will benefit from the additional resources that will be available to it within the Avesco group. We are very excited about being able to merge Presteigne and Charter and the potential that it creates."
   Mike Ransome, chief executive of Presteigne Charter, added: "Both companies have highly talented people with tremendous experience in the broadcast industry. The merger of these two high quality businesses will be good news for our many customers as we shall now be able to provide them with an even greater depth of knowledge and experience as well as an increased inventory of equipment for their needs."
   Presteigne and the Charter Broadcast Group have been involved in supplying their services to many of the world's top events such as the Olympics; the Football, Rugby and Cricket World Cups; the Australia, French and US Tennis Opens; Red Bull Air Race; Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race; ‘I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' and ‘Springwatch'.
   Avesco Group plc is the parent company of an international media services group providing services to the corporate presentation, entertainment, sport and broadcast markets by bringing together audio visual, staging and production expertise and studio facilities.

New Era for 5 Star Cases

Keith Sykes (pictured), for 11 years works director of the UK's most proactive flightcase manufacturer, 5 Star, has purchased the majority shareholding of the company. MD Jim Willis has retired from the Wisbech-based business after a quarter of a century.
   Sykes and Willis have worked together for many years, building the company from small beginnings, when it initially made its mark as a quality guitar and keyboard case manufacturer.
   Sykes joined in June 1991 when 5 Star acquired Pro-Tect Cases, an Ipswich based case making operation that he'd managed for some years. The merger with Pro-Tect forged the way ahead for 5 Star's future development, seeing it become a leading European case manufacturer, enjoying steady growth and attaining a leading market position.
   Sykes was made a director and shareholder of 5 Star Cases in 1997. "In the 17 years I've have been with the company, it as seen many changes," he says, "The product portfolio has grown steadily due to the varied industries into which 5 Star has expanded.  Memorable landmarks include the installation of the first CNC machining system in 1999; moving to larger premises in 2000; the acquisition of Mossman Trunks in 2001 and the celebration of our 25^th Anniversary in 2006."
   In the immediate future, Jim Willis will continue to support specific key accounts that he has managed, culminating in the strategic handover to a recently re-structured 5 Star sales team.
   Sykes adds. "So, 2008 sees Jim handing over the company to the ‘new team', some of whom have been with 5 Star for many years."
   Willis says: "I know they have what it takes to move 5 Star to a new level, and it will be an exciting and interesting phase in the company's development."
   Sykes again: "As a company, we have always has been committed to delivering the very highest quality products, innovative designs, services and support, a policy that is set to continue!
   "I am extremely proud to be associated with 5 Star and look forward to working with our new team of dedicated individuals. I would also like to thank Jim for his support and input over the last 17 years, and wish him a very happy retirement!"

Northern Light Expands Hire and Events Departments

Northern Light has announced the culmination of over a year's worth of heavy investment within its hire and events departments.

Colin Cuthbert, managing director of Northern Light, said: "Since early in 2007 Northern Light has invested over a quarter of a million pounds and hundreds of hours of staff time in improving our hire and events departments. The ethos behind this programme of continuous improvement stemmed from an upturn in business for our hire department and our successful expansion into technical event production."
Investment has been spread over various areas of the business, covering equipment, staffing, training and process management.

Increased business has meant employing further experts for the team. Northern Light has welcomed Al Dalgarno as hire operations manager, Galo Dominguez and Jon Pike as technicians, Marcin Buczek as sound technician and Chris McNelis as event sales manager. In addition, to keep up with the workload, Northern Light has had to increase the database of freelance technicians by 100%.

Substantial outlay has gone towards new equipment including Source Four Revolutions and Profiles, Midas Heritage and Venice desks, d&b speakers, Thomas PixeLine 1044 battens, Avolites ART 2000 dimmers, Pulsar ChromaCubes, Martin MAC 600s, ETC Congo and SmartFade desks, Prolyte truss, Selecon Acclaims, Robert Juliat Super Korrigan followspots and a vast range of mains distro, staging and rigging equipment.
An overhaul of the hire department itself has taken place including examination of existing systems, equipment audit, training needs analysis of all staff and establishment of best practice. As a result, the department now functions more efficiently and effectively meaning increased service levels for our customers, as well as more streamlined business process for the company.

Finally, Northern Light is poised to launch a brand new product catalogue which includes listings of all hire equipment and has been redesigned to improve ease of use for customers. Already available in PDF format on the company's website, the printed version will be ready for distribution over the coming weeks.
Cuthbert concluded: "The period of change and investment has resulted in a slicker, more functional and better equipped hire department, which complements our events division perfectly. An increase in the volume and scope of hire and events work, and the satisfaction levels of our customers, tells me that this investment has been a wise one. I feel confident that we will continue to go from strength to strength.

www.northernlight.co.uk

Ultimate Concepts Under New Ownership

The UKs leading manufacturer of Ultimax DJ and lifestyle equipment stands, Ultimate Concepts, is under new ownership. Popular industry figure Andy Tain has now been joined by Marc Wilson as the 50% shareholder in the company.
   Many in the disco industry will remember Marc as the sales manager at Citronic Pro Audio. Marc left Citronic in 2001 to pursue a career in broadcast as the managing director of Preco, the largest specialist distributor in the broadcast market.  The lure back to Marc's home territory of the disco world was proving too great!
   Marc and Andy have always been good friends and kept in touch over the years, often discussing the idea of joining forces to push the Ultimax brand forward. Now the time is right. After a period of re-organisation, streamlining procedures and ensuring ultimate and technical innovation, the time was right to bring the Ultimax brand to a wider market. "After taking over the whole of the Ultimax manufacturing business three-and-half years ago, we have invested in new major machinery, and a total systemisation and rationalisation of the manufacturing process to the point where we are now ready to hyper gear our sales and support via our dealer network.  I know no one better positioned to do this than Marc. Having worked for Ultimate over a decade ago, we have constantly kept in touch. Getting Marc firmly on board was only possible once the manufacturing side was ready to accommodate higher sales. This increase in profile will benefit everyone who resells and uses the Ultimax brand," comments Andy.
   New Ultimate director Marc is looking forward to the future. "Ultimax really is a fabulous product range, and a real credit to Andy. It is the finest quality available in the DJ market, and anyone that has dealt with Andy or Ulimate in the past, will know that their customer service is second to none. Ultimax has largely been an undiscovered gem to many in the market. That is why I felt that joining with Andy we could let the market know about the many benefits of Ultimax and really take the brand forward."
   Marc joined with Andy as of the 1^st March 2008, and he will be visiting the UK dealer network in the near future.

Statement from TC Group re Gibson Merger

TC Group, an international leader in sound processing, amplification, computer recording and speakers (of which Lab.gruppen is a part), and Gibson Guitar, the world's premier musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology, have announced that they have discontinued discussions regarding a potential merger between the two companies. The decision followed an intensive effort by both parties to consummate the deal within the targeted timeline, but a number of issues remained unresolved, and both Gibson and TC agreed that it was best that the merger proceedings not continue.

TC Group's goal is to continue to produce and distribute innovative and respected high-performance audio products for business partners around the world. Gibson Guitar remains loyal to its many customers and will continue to dedicate its future to producing the best musical instruments in the world while engaging and building its family of brands through innovative technology and potential new business partners.

City Theatrical Opens London Office

City Theatrical, the Carlstadt, New Jersey, based manufacturer of unique lighting accessories, has announced the opening of its new London office serving the UK and European markets. The opening is timed to coincide with the European launch of SHoW DMX, City Theatrical's new 'next generation' wireless DMX system.

City Theatrical's London office is headed by Martin Chisnall (pictured), well known for his work in the UK theatre industry as a production electrician for West End shows, National and International tours. Most recently his work has included ‘Macbeth' in London's West End, and, around the world, the international tour of ‘Mamma Mia!'

Martin Chisnall commented: "After 20 years working in the lighting industry as a customer I'm really looking forward to the challenge of getting to know the business from 'the other side of the fence'. I've had a long association with City Theatrical, and have already collaborated on a number of custom products over the years. They're a company known for their creativity and inventiveness, and with the launch of SHoW DMX, the timing couldn't be better."

All City Theatrical products will continue to be available through existing dealers. The new office will allow City Theatrical to work closely with lighting users to introduce more European orientated products, along with providing design and customization services to a wider audience.

City Theatrical opened its UK office doors on April 7, 2008.

ETP Launches Second Edition of Building Better Theatres

Entertainment Technology Press has announced the publication of the second edition of Building Better Theaters, by Michael Mell. A title within the ETP Consultancy Series, Building Better Theaters describes the process of designing a theater. From the initial decision to build through opening night, Mr. Mell's book provides a step-by-step guide to the design and construction of performing arts facilities. 

The second edition includes a new chapter about the historical development of theater buildings placed in the context of different epochs of history; increased discussion of audience, stage and backstage areas; new photographs and an updated glossary and bibliography.

Building Better Theaters includes chapters discussing: assembling your team; selecting an architect; different construction methods; the architectural design process; construction of the theater; theatrical systems and equipment; the stage, backstage; the auditorium; ADA requirements and the lobby. Each chapter clearly describes what to expect and how to avoid surprises.

Building Better Theaters is a must-read for architects, planners, performing arts groups, educators and anyone who may be considering building or renovating a theater.

Michael Mell's introduction to the stage was at the local Y, where he trod the boards' as the fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof. Since then he has worked on Broadway, in regional theaters and television studios as a lighting designer, technical director, stage manager and stagehand. In a career now spanning over 30-years, Michael Mell has been involved in the creation and renovation of performing arts facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Switzerland and Korea.

Entertainment Technology Press publishes a rapidly expanding range of books covering the technical aspects of entertainment technology. Books currently available include titles on lighting, audio, rigging, production, stage engineering, TV, safety, standards, biography and history.
http://www.etnow.com

Turbosound Announces New Italian Distrib

UK manufacturer Turbosound has confirmed the appointment of Eurosell SpA to handle the distribution of its range of professional loudspeakers to the Italian market.

Turbosound has almost three decades of pro audio innovation to its name and this appointment coincides with the release of two new product ranges to the European market. 

"Eurosell is extremely strong in the Italian installation market, where much of the core of Turbosound's business has been for the last five years," says Turbosound's European sales manager, Chris Hinds. "The addition of Turbosound to its product line gives the opportunity to use this installation channel as a base to forge links both in the touring market and into the MI chain, thus increasing market potential."

"The decision to move the Italian distribution to Eurosell is endorsed by all involved," adds Fabrizio Sorbi, Chairman of Proel. "It is based on current market demands, as well as on a more targeted strategy for our group's development."

Details of the new set up were recently announced at a press conference at SIB in Rimini.

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