Le Maitre USA Announce New Hazer, Flame Machine Range and VS Pyrotechnics Range at LDI 2014

	Le Maitre's EcoHazer

LDI 2014 will see the unveiling of Le Maitre's new EcoHazer, making a world first preview at booth #2625.

The EcoHazer consumes 100 - 150W, a rate that other haze units on the market with a similar output simply can't match, with many requiring up to 1500W--that's ten times the electrical energy! It uses a completely new heating system borne out of Le Maitre's R&D team's experience when they developed the HazeMaster, and which provides two significant benefits. Firstly, it draws less than 0.4 amps at operating temperature. Secondly it is self-regulating temperature-wise, so there's no risk of burning the fluid or damaging the unit, the company says.

Le Maitre's Haze Fluid is 85 - 90% active ingredient combined with just 10 - 15% water. It is designed to be extremely green and completely safe* to use on the stage or in crowded clubs, the company says (*Le Maitre's haze fluid is included in equipment guidelines, calibration and health effects reports on the use of smoke and haze prepared by bodies including ESTA (now PLASA) and Environ).

Operation of the product is either manual via a control panel with two rotary controls for output and fan or via intelligent, self-detecting DMX (2 channels). The maximum fan setting is 71m3/hr and direction is manually adjustable from 0 - 90°. A 3 digit LED display clearly displays the settings. The EcoHazer takes just 5 minutes to heat up and then it's ready to go. Self-purging at the end of operation is quick and easy--just haze off and then power off will ensure haze is flushed out of the system keeping it clean for machine life longevity, the company says.

In other news, Le Maitre has been chosen by German manufacturer TBF-Pyrotec GmbH as the exclusive North American distributor for their flame range. TBF's Spraymaster, Spraymaster Multicolour, Fountain Flame; Single Shot; Pyromaster and 5-Master will now all be sold by Le Maitre in the US (excluding Las Vegas) and Canada.

Says Bruce Baum, COO & CFO of Le Maitre USA, LLC "We are absolutely delighted that TBF-Pyrotec has recognized Le Maitre's perfect positioning in the marketplace to be able to successfully promote and sell their flame units and consumables. TBF-Pyrotec has been developing and producing great flame machines and effects for the entertainment industry for over 10 years and their machines complement our existing offering perfectly."

Christoph Muller, managing director of TBF-Pyrotec based in Geesthacht, Northern Germany, says, "We have a great range of effects which are well known within Europe, but until now we haven't had as much exposure in the North American market as we would like. We are extremely happy to appoint Le Maitre USA, LLC as our sole distributor there. Le Maitre is a global brand, highly thought of throughout the industry, and we had no hesitation in knowing they were the right people to channel our flame range through. I look forward to working together."

Le Maitre will have the 5-Master, Pyromaster, and Spraymaster on their booth at LDI along with video footage of all the effects they will be distributing.

Le Maitre's latest range of pyrotechnics, the VS--"virtually smokeless" range is continuing to expand. The VS range was originally conceived back in 2010 when Le Maitre's R&D team, based in Peterborough, UK were looking into improving the visual impact of effects by overcoming typical but unwelcome by-products of pyrotechnics. Conventional pyro can produce a lot of smoke and ash and with the advent of HD television and the increased use of pyro in sporting events, these by-products needed to be addressed.

Le Maitre's R&D team set to work, fundamentally changing chemical compositions. They moved away from metals and products that produce the solid particles which make the unwanted smoke, and have replaced them with products that burn more cleanly and don't produce solid particles.

The first products the team worked on were Flares as their magnesium base made these extremely smoky items. The resulting VS Flares were a resounding success, the company says, not only resulting in virtually no smoke, but also producing an extremely strong color and aura. Buoyed by their success, the team moved on to develop the VS Flame range and VS Small Starburst range, with all three being launched in 2011.

In addition to much reduced smoke levels the VS range has incredible intensity and depth of color compared to conventional pyrotechnics which can be bright but their colors still tend to be pale, the company says.

The VS range is also benefitting from the Company's newly automated production process installed at the Peterborough manufacturing plant last year. Primarily invested in to address growing demand, it also enables the faster prototyping of new compositions, drastically reducing the time to market for products under development as well as improving product consistency.

Since its inception, the VS range has been further added to with VS Falling Stars, VS Colored 8' Ice Gerbs and VS Intense Flames. At LDI, Le Maitre is delighted to announce the launch of their stunning new VS Mines.

"The VS range is in line with Le Maitre's strategy of continuously introducing the best range of visually stunning pyrotechnics on the market ensuring spectators get to see the effects at their very best!" says Karen Haddon, joint managing director and owner of Le Maitre Ltd.

"In the year of the 20th Anniversary of the G300 Smoke Machine we are delighted to be running an original 20 year old G300 on the Le Maitre USA stand, which will be located next to a brand new G300 model, underlining just how durable this industry leading unit really is!" says Baum.

The G300 incorporated many "1sts," the company says, including the patented "Layered Block System" (still used in all Le Maitre's professional smoke machines to this day); digital operation; low fluid level sensors; microprocessor control; continuous operation; haze mode dual functionality; low power consumption; immense output; replaceable heater block, and more.

The G300 has been widely adopted by theme parks, theatres, cruise ships as well as the military and emergency services.

Combined with Le Maitre's range of water-based smoke fluids, the G300 produces extremely safe smoke, the company says. With it unique low pressure system, the temperature is easy to control and the G300 is able to produce smoke that has not been burned at high temperatures and thereby avoids molecular charring which cause unpleasant free radicals as is the case with high pressure systems.

Visitors to LDI can see one of the first ever units produced still in full working order twenty years on!

Le Maitre will have many other favorites on the booth:

The MVS Hazer's fluid will be projecting across the stand lighting.

Other fog units on show will include the Gforce 3, Gforce 2 with Freezefog Pro producing atmospheric low fog, and the portable Mini Mist.

Le Maitre's own UK manufactured flame machines will include: the Salamander Quad Pro launched in July this year and up for a Plasa Members' Choice nomination this year; a Salamander; and a Chameleon.

Finally, to complete the range there will be the newly launched FreezeJet, a powerful liquid CO2 jet and Le Maitre's own Arctic Snow Machine with its new whiter, fluffier, lighter, snow fluid, the company says.