PLASA Awards (Industry)
RK _________________________________________ 
Yesterday saw the unveiling of the 2008 PLASA Awards for Innovation at a special presentation ceremony at the PLASA Show in London. Kenza Darley (9 Sept '08)
As
befits PLASA. product nominations ranged from major lighting, audio and
video showstoppers to the more prosaic, but equally essential, tools of
the trade. The 65 products nominated took centre stage in the imposing new Innovation Gallery linking Earls Court 1 and 2.
A panel of independent judges decided the winners and PLASA Chairman Rob Lingfield made the presentations.
Goboland (Stand
F31) for its Black Steel Gobo. The judges felt that this product would
enhance an established technology and allow designers a greater range
of creative possibilities.Silver Awards...
Neutrik
(Stand K33) for its convertCON. The judges praised the elegance of the
product's ability to slip from one 'sex' to another in a single twist.
Display LED Screens
(Stand E61) for its digiFLEX. The judges were impressed by this first
flexible LED display solution which adds a new dimension to display
technologies.
Clay Paky
(Stand E47) for its Alpha Beam 300. This amalgamation of existing
technologies has created a new tool for lighting designers said judges.
JB-lighting Lichtanlagentechnik (Stand C83) for its VaryLED A7 Zoom. Won as the first moving LED fixture with a zoom function entered into the Awards.
Eilon Engineering (Stand
L76) for its Ron StageMaster. Eilon's wireless load cell technology
with a new software application enhances safety, remotely monitor
loading changes.
Global Design Solutions
(Stand F79) for the MOBAL 19 Pin Pro tester. The judges found this
product simple to use and particularly liked its informative LED
display. Looks set to become an industry standard.
Royal Shakespeare Company
(Stand G81) for its RSC LightLock. A a product that the judges felt
demonstrated true innovation in removing the oscillation of truss
sections or other lightweight suspension points caused by the rotation
of moving lights.Gold Award (New)...
The Environmental Award - Presented for taking significant steps to minimise the environmental impact. Winner - Proteus Display (Stand E89) for its new reflective LCD Proteus Display.Environmental Award...
The Awards Ceremony also featured a presentation from Live Nation CEO Paul Latham, the newly-appointed chair of the National Skills Academy, who encouraged the industry to support this major new project.
He then went on to present the monies raised from the Awards nomination fees to this year's charities - the National Student Drama Festival, an annual event held in Scarborough, and SABA UK,
an arts charity that provides performance and educational opportunities
for young people in the live music and performing arts industries.
Matthew Griffiths, MD, PLASA (left)
commented: "The PLASA Awards are the industry's touchstone for
creativity and innovation - the qualities on which our industry was
founded and continues to thrive - and we are delighted to give real
focus to the impressive range of new technologies coming to the market."
PLASA08 continues live at Earls Court until the end of today.