Summit supplies largest Kinesys automation system for Oasis

Summit Steel is supplying a 45-way Kinesys Elevation 1+ vari-speed automation and control system to the current Oasis stadium tour – as specified by lighting designer Andi Watson.
It’s the largest ever Kinesys Elevation variable speed chain hoist system used to date.
Lighting contractor PRG Birmingham, and account handler Robin Wain approached Summit to supply the system. They own a large quantity of Kinesys Elevation 1+ drives and suitable hoists, and they were also an obvious choice because of their extensive experience in the touring world.
The system is being used to move 12 lighting ‘Quads’ – customised frames each holding 4 MAC 2000 moving lights and lined with PixelLine LED battens on the top rail and DJ Flash rope. There are two motors per quad, and these glide seamlessly in and out and up and down to create different patterns and configurations – effectively making a constantly moving stage set.
Additionally, there are four other moving trusses taking up 13 points, each of varying lengths and containing a total of 12 Syncrolite SX 3KW moving lights.
Upstage of these are another eight Elevation 1+ controlled hoists lifting four 2.6 x 2.6 metre Barco D-lite 7 LED video screens, each weighing approx. 850 Kg.
The motors are all run off the Elevation system’s proprietary Vector PC-based software – which is hugely flexible and offers millimetre accuracy and very smooth control. The automation operator is Andy Beller assisted by Toby Rouse
Summit’s project manager Jay Call and Kinesys’ Dave Weatherhead worked together to help set the system up at production rehearsals and also stayed for the first two shows to ensure everything ran smoothly in an extremely tight turnaround time – the tour kicked off with two back-to back shows.
Andi Watson –one of the most talented and precise LDs in the business – said: “I love the Kinesys system – it’s so smooth it’s almost imperceptible, there’s absolutely no jerking or juddering and it fits perfectly into the design.”
(GB/KMcA)