Creative Conners Releases Redesigned and Simplified Pushstick Deck Winch

	Creative Conners' Pushstick Deck Winch

Creative Conners introduces its redesigned Pushstick deck winch for theatres and live events. With this introduction, Creative Conners updates one of its most popular and versatile products. Adding zero-fleet drum technology, reimagining the machine's layout to reduce floor space, and improving many of the internal components makes this Pushstick one of Creative Conners most ambitious product updates in recent years.

Pushstick uses a quiet and powerful 5HP SEW gearmotor that generates 700lb of line pull. It is capable of moving several tons of castered scenery. It can move that scenery quickly -- 36" per second under normal operations (or it can be oversped to 72" per second if needed). The drum has a capacity of 90' of 1/4" wire rope, making it ideal for use on wide stages. When the Pushstick is not actively moving, a spring-set motor brake holds the scenery safely in place to prevent accidental sliding or shifting.

With normal deck winches, the wire rope unwinds from the drum and moves laterally across the drum with each revolution. Normal winches must be positioned far away from the stage deck and must utilize extra pulleys to compensate for the changing position of the rope as it exits the drum. This leads to potential trip hazards and complicated set-ups. The zero-fleet technology incorporated in the Pushstick means that the machine compensates for the changing position of the wire rope as it exits the drum so that no additional pulleys are needed -- and the machine can be placed immediately next to the stage decking. Simply put, the Pushstick's zero-fleet feature means that installation is faster, more streamlined, and requires less additional hardware.

Although scenic automation remains out of reach for many theatres and event producers, Creative Conners' mission to remove the budgetary and technical barriers was the force behind the Pushstick update. The Pushstick has already been used in theatres across the US. Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas, and Steppenwolf in Chicago, Illinois, have already used the Pushstick for large-scale shows. Gareth Conner, founder and president of Creative Conners, says, "We're proud to address many of the common difficulties in using scenic automation in general and deck winches specifically with the Pushstick. We've designed it to be easy to load in and use for theatres and the growing number of rock & roll and international tours that use our gear. Every aspect of the design has been adjusted to better serve the technical staff and the designers who decide how to incorporate automation in their shows."

Like the entire Creative Conners' product line, the Pushstick is manufactured at the company's Rhode Island headquarters. The Pushstick is available to rent and purchase immediately.