LD Systems Invests in Robe FORTES Houston and San Antonio, Texas-based rental and event production solutions company LD Systems has invested in 32 new Robe iFORTE LTX moving lights, purchased specifically to pair with their existing 14 RoboSpot remote follow spotting control systems. "The iFORTE LTX is a proper 'Swiss Army knife of fixtures' -- highly versatile and very robust," comments LD Systems' lighting operations manager, Nathan Brittain. The company already has substantial quantities of other Robe products -- Pointes, MegaPointes, and Spikies -- in its rental inventory which are in constant use on touring, concert, and festival systems as well as special events, spectaculars and one-offs, plus the RoboSpot Systems which up to this point had been working with BMFL LT fixtures. Brittain explains that they were looking for an IP-rated high-powered moving light, especially for the festival season. One of their regular events is the annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, for which they have talked about swapping the conventional follow spotting system for an LED alternative. iFORTE ticked all the relevant boxes -- super bright, long throw, reliable, and weatherproof -- as well as several others. "It's so much more than just a long throw, with a great zoom range taking it from wide to medium throw, so you can position the light virtually anywhere and it will do a great job," he confirms. Apart from these features, Brittain and his team value the CRI which is well suited for highlighting faces both live and on camera. "The source is just fantastic," he enthuses. LD Systems received the fixtures from Robe North America in time for the 2024 rodeo which they used as a testing ground, with three iFORTE LTXs set up and running on two of their RoboSpot BaseStations. The fixtures were tried in a few different positions around the NRG Stadium to evaluate the throw distances and prove their concept of transitioning to LED worked. It was also a great opportunity to compare the iFORTE LTXs alongside conventional 4K follow spots which were also used to facilitate the 360-degrees follow spotting utilised on the entertainment and music sections of this event. Everything went well, so the plan is to implement the full iFORTE LTX / RoboSpot system for the 2025 event, having 16 fixtures covering 12 positions onto the in-the-round stage with throw distances of up to 300', and the shortest being around 230'. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo entails lighting 20 major music shows in 20 days with a diverse lineup and some A-list headliners, and 2024's event also proved a great chance to get feedback on the RoboSpot / LTX system from some visiting LDs. Since then, the new iFORTE LTXs have been out on a number of other shows and events -- including the Two Step Inn festival in Georgetown, Texas, the NCAA March Madness Music Festival in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee. They are proving every success that Brittain and his team was anticipating. LD Systems will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. The company has two main divisions -- event production services and audio-visual systems integration. They have been servicing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with technical elements since the 1980s. The Robe investments started 11 years ago with the first purchase of Pointes, and Brittain comments that they believe Robe is "at the top of their game" right now. "All the lighting professionals are happy to work with Robe, and the products are also constantly in demand, making them great for cross-rentals." He adds that the support from the Robe North America team is "excellent" which is another vital consideration for any busy rental / production enterprise when investing in a brand. 
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