New Products Make UK Debut at PLASA Focus: Leeds

With just three weeks to go until the doors open at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013, taking place on Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May at the Royal Armouries, organizers PLASA Events is predicting the best show yet, with a sold-out floor plan, a stronger-than-ever pre-show registration, and an exciting free-to-attend seminar program.

Confirming that PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 is the place to see the latest pro audio, lighting, video, and stage technology, exhibitors have been busy releasing details about the new products they will be unveiling at the premier event for entertainment technology in the north of England.

Martin Professional will present the UK launch of the newest members of the award-winning MAC Viper family, and will also unveil the first fixtures of RUSH; an all-new Martin Professional product range. A host of other new Martin Professional products will also be on display, including the MAC III series luminaires, the VC series of LED video products, and smoke and haze solutions.

MilTec has chosen PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 to unveil their new speakers and miniature LED screen. The new Blakite range of speakers will replace the highly successful TP range. A new concept in speaker design will also be launched at the show. The TP62 is fitted with 2x 6" drivers and a 1.7" compression driver. Interchangeable horn flares allow use as either a single source or a mini line-array speaker system. The optional flying hardware allows for stacking on a sub or line array deployment of up to eight cabinets. The LEDHead Mini-Map is a miniature LED screen containing 36 pixels. The Mini-Map is controlled via DMX512 and can be used individually or in clusters to provide video and graphics. Another British design and manufacturing success as David Faulkes, sales director explains: "We didn't want to spend any more money shipping boxes filled with air from China to the UK and decided to spend it on components and materials instead."

Artistic Licence will hold the official launch of sunDial, a new range of smart modular dimmers that provide an intelligent control solution for the ever-expanding range of light sources, from halogen to LEDs. Demonstrations of the sunDial will take place throughout the show on their stand and visitors can get their hands on an extended version of Technical Focus 3, a free download that explains this exciting new technology. Also on display will be the new Phase Detector Dimmer which provides completely smooth dimming capabilities when you install LED fixtures alongside an existing system. Artistic Licence will also be premiering the bladeRunner two, one of the first products available for OLED dimming, as well as the prototype of the dataHavester, a new range of intelligent test equipment which promises to take network monitoring to new levels of sophistication.

Le Maitre will launch two new machines; the HazeMaster and the Salamander. The HazeMaster is their most advanced and powerful hazer yet featuring a massive output capacity, high power variable fan and low power consumption. The Salamander is Le Maitre's newest canister flame effect unit. Its design allows units to be coupled together and produce colored or natural flames up to a height of 6m. It utilizes canister-based fuels, eliminating the need for external propane tanks and the associated extra paraphernalia and cost.

Celebrating 25 years as a principal innovator of technology, Ampetronic will be launching the new MultiLoop Driver range (MLD), a range amplifiers featuring dual output channels and 90-degree phase shift, each designed to fit in a single standard 19" rack mount bay. Consisting of three units with a range of output currents for efficient area coverage solutions, the range is headed up by the MLD9 which features twin 9A output channels, Class G energy efficiency for minimizing operational costs, and is capable of driving areas of up-to 3300m2 when combined with an Ampetronic MultiLoop design. "The MLD units are a major step forwards in space efficiency for high performance large area induction loop systems," comments Ampetronic managing director Julian Pieters. "With this new range of products we are, once again, extending the possibilities for our customers."

JoeCo is preparing to unveil the latest software update -- version 2.2.7x -- for the award-winning BlackBox. Improvements for live audio recording and playing will now include the replay of polyphonic wav files and the ability to combine mono, stereo, and multichannel files in the same song together with more accurate metering and smoother headphone monitor output. The ability to import polyphonic wav files from a DAW has also brought BlackBox Player capability to JoeCo's 64-channel MADI and Dante systems.

Rosco, the world's largest manufacturer of color filters and one of the biggest producers of gobos who has recently joined forces with The Black Tank, will be introducing the innovative MIRO Cube series of LED wash lights. Designed and engineered by The Black Tank, the units offer full color mixing, tuneable color temperature white light, or even high powered ultra-violet light for stunning black-light effect. A dynamite little cube of just 10cm sports 48W outputting more than 3,000 lumens makes them ideal for a whole range of applications.

AED Distribution, the UK master distributor of High End Systems, will be featuring the new family of Hog 4 Consoles. Visitors can expect to see the new Hog 4, Full Boar 4, Road Hog 4, Nano Hog 4, and related accessories. The consoles will be individually set-up with Visualizer Systems and also a selection of High End Systems fixtures. On-hand will be High End Systems product specialists to offer information on the products to suit all levels of user knowledge.

ShowTex will present the newly enhanced HiSpeed Roll Up hardware system for fast screen motion. ShowTex will also be showcasing their improved EasyDrape which now features a versatile coupler and telescopic horizontal drape supports. The flexible couplers make it possible for a single technician to install the system in several directions at the same time allowing for multiple corners with one coupler. ShowTex will be presenting a number of other products on their stand including a selection of stage curtain tracks, complete track systems, and commercial drapery hardware.

Triple E will be showcasing a new wireless control for its TracDrive motor systems. The system is a simple plug-and-play unit that attaches to the XLR socket on all TracDrive, Edrive, and SDrive motors. "Many venues require additional control positions or even the ability to operate anywhere in a building or auditorium so the simple 'plug-and-play' wireless system with a hand-held, pocket-size remote is the answer," explains Triple E's managing director David Edelstein. "It saves time and money on routing cables and literally takes a couple of minutes to connect and set up."

After a successful inaugural showing in 2012, Smoke Factory UK is returning to PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 for a second year. In addition to their comprehensive catalog of haze machines, including the Tourhazer 2, the CaptainD, Data2, Scotty2, Spaceball2 and the rest of the Smoke Factory range, visitors will see the Kandolite range of LED fixtures. On view will be a four-in-one, LED 8W Par fixture, IP67-rated Outdoor LED Par, RGBAW 3W Batten, a powerful moving wash light, and a lightweight LED moving spot completes the range.

Technical Stage Services (TSS) will be showing the Edge-Safe on their stand, following an exclusive distribution agreement between the two companies which sees TSS handling all sales of Edge-Safe into the UK and ROI. Managing Director of TSS Dan Dawson elaborates, "Edge-Safe provides a huge breakthrough in stage safety by virtually eliminating the risk posed from an unguarded edge of stage or raised platform. Here at TSS we are always keen to demonstrate the product and let people get a 'hands-on experience' which is why PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 was a natural choice for us. At stand RA-D13 we will be running a competition to win Edge-Safe for the front of your stage."

PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 is the ideal place to catch up with friends and colleagues in a uniquely informal and congenial setting. To register for a free ticket and to discover more about what's on offer, including a free buffet-style lunch and the Professional Development Program which provides visitors with access to over 20 free-to-attend seminars presented by some of the most respected practitioners in the industry, visitors should go to the URL below.