Nick Ewins Pushes the Button on New Venture

March 2012

entertainment, presentation, installation

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Also Inside:

Snow Patrol

Live at the Motorpoint Arena

Singin’ in the Rain Making a splash at London’s Palace Theatre

Perfect Platform

UAL’s new Kings Cross theatre

Swedish Theatre The Helsinki venue reborn

PLUS! Preview: ProLight&Sound & PLASA Focus: Leeds • TF: Martin’s MAC Aura Review: ISE, Amsterdam & SIEL, Paris • Autograph: Setting Standards Islington’s Union Chapel • Video Matters • The Rise of Synergy PR Lighting in the Optical Valley • Andy Huffer In Profile ICA Cinemas Revamped • . . . and more!

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businessnews

voices in this issue “ISE flickered to life in a Swiss gazebo eight years ago, a European and somewhat sexier take on the market hitherto defined by worthy US junketings like InfoComm and NSCA” Phil Ward on trade shows (Audio File, 50) “This latest outing by Snow Patrol is one of the most coherent and enchanting interpretations of music, lights and video I’ve seen in a while.

Want to know why?”

Steve Moles sets the scene for On Tour (Snow Patrol, 54-61) “With no predetermined looks I’ve been able to blend the emotion of light and video, and having done that I attend to the more theatrical demands of applying band wash where required, or lighting focus to a specific musician.”

LD Davy Sherwin talks to Steve Moles (Snow Patrol, 54-61) “We were given the building and had to design the theatre spaces to fit what was, essentially, just an enormous concrete box with a big hole in the ground for the stage . . .”

Andrew Stone on UAL’s new venue (Perfect Platform, 64-68) “Audio engineers everywhere like to say ‘It sounds like a swimming pool’ whenever they come across an acoustically challenging venue.

Imagine my surprise when I found mix position precariously lubricated between the hot tub and main pool.”

Dave Swallow on awkward gigs (Mix Position, 70) “Singin’ in the Rain is a fantastic show to light. Apart from the fact that I had to wear wellington boots and a sou’wester to focus it, it was great fun!”

LD Tim Mitchell talks to Sarah Rushton-Read (Singin’ in the Rain, 72-76)

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HSL acquires new warehouse

“They need to know how to use the PPE and inspect it, but, for pity’s sake, they also need to attach it to something that stands an earthly should the worst occur.”

An exasperated Rigging Call (78)

10 LSi - March 2012

speciality distributors in Japan and has long and extensive experience with signal distribution, networking, automation and lighting controls, as well as design of complete projection and lighting systems. > www.lumenradio.com

PAI celebrates 30 years HSL’s new warehouse facility UK - Lighting and visuals rental company HSL has acquired a new 240,000sq.ft warehouse and office premises very close to its current HQ in Blackburn, Lancashire. This will quadruple the current space and is currently being prepared to be fully operational by summer 2012. In the new premises, there will be room for future expansion into the rest of the space once the initial 165,000sq.ft phase one development is complete.

The new space will include a large technical department; training and demo rooms; a complete set of visualisation studios with full 24-hour access; an advanced rental company prep area designed to service all outgoing projects; dedicated ‘Goods Out and In’ bays accommodating multiple artics and smaller vehicles simultaneously. Future plans include the establishment of a digital artwork studio, and developing one of the spaces into a lighting museum. > www.hslgroup.com

Nick Ewins Pushes the Button

UK - Newly formed installation business, Push the Button Ltd (PTB), the brainchild of Nick Ewins, covers the fields of electrical design, installation, project management and test & inspection. Although effectively a start-up, PTB is run by an experienced team of design and engineering professionals comprising Nick Ewins, managing director; Andy Philips, design engineer and Adrian Veale, operations manager. Their combined knowledge brings over 80 years of practice within the industry to the venture. PTB can also provide design and manufacturing services of bespoke facility panels, Powerlock distribution and one-off, bespoke built solutions.

Based in Bristol at Unit 25, Kestrel Court, Harbour Road, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 7AN, all PTB engineers have CSCS accreditation and each is certified under the Joint industry board scheme. > www.ptb.uk.com

LumenRadio confirms Japanese certification Japan - LumenRadio has been granted Japanese certification for its CRMX products in compliance with the latest version of the ARIB STD-T66 standard. The certification, similar to FCC in the USA and ETSI/CE in the EU, was issued by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) and now allows commercial sale and use of the CRMX radio technology in Japan.

LumenRadio has also announced Mileruntech Ltd as the exclusive CRMX distributor for Japan. The company is one of the largest

UK - The PAI Group will be marking 30 years in the service industry with a series of online anniversary activities throughout 2012.

Established in the summer of 1982 as a provider of cutting-edge lighting and sound systems to the entertainment sector, the South Walesbased organisation has grown extensively over the last three decades and now encompasses Vaughan Sound, Lighting Technology Projects and Link AV within the PAI Group.

Founder Paul Adams commented: “I have personally enjoyed more than anything meeting and conducting business with a wide variety of really interesting people who have given myself and my team the opportunity to explore our imagination and creativity.” > www.paigroup.com

Philips Selecon and Strand Lighting appoint Danish distributor

Denmark - Philips Selecon and Strand Lighting has appointed Gobo - Highlight A/S as its new distributor for Demark. Gobo - Highlight A/S, which has a main office and warehouse in Copenhagen and a sales and administration office in Aarhus, is well-respected in the region for its sales and projects in the theatre, television, architectural and rental markets. > www.seleconlight.com > www.strandlighting.com

Kinesys appoints Danish distributor Denmark UK-based automation and motion control specialist Kinesys has appointed Light Partner as its Mark de Gruyter of Kinesys with Light Partner’s Stig Meyer Jensen exclusive Danish distributor in the latest expansion of its global distribution network. The Herning-based company is celebrating its 20th year at the forefront of the entertainment technology industry. Light Partner also represents James Thomas and Litec trussing ranges as well as other premium brands including Philips Vari*Lite. > www.kinesys.co.uk

Black Light expands in Edinburgh UK - Black Light has significantly expanded the storage and warehouse capacity at its West Shore headquarters in Edinburgh by 50%. This move will allow the company to enhance its hire and sales stock and will boost its capacity to serve its customers. The expansion will see the company move into a third unit at the West Shore Trading Estate, where it has been located for the past two years. > www.black-light.com