Scarab Sweepers, Commercial Vehicle Show - April 2011
Scarab Sweepers are one of Kent’s business success stories, starting out as a small family run business and becoming one of the area’s largest employers. STL were therefore delighted to be asked to provide the company with an exhibition stand to showcase their market leading products at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham.
The truss structure had to be high enough to provide a good level of distance between the lighting fixtures and the tallest vehicle, whilst staying within the limitations set out by the shows organisers. Source Four Parnell’s were used to light the four variations of vehicle on display, while LED Chroma Battens were used under the vehicles to create that classic Top Gear TV look. Martin Entours provided moving logos, which were used across the stand with Source Four profiles projecting the company name into the aisles, giving Scarabs every opportunity to make their mark on the event.
Imelda May - February 2011
STL were back working alongside Capital Sound for two Imelda May concerts in Bristol and Southampton.
STL supplied rigging, lighting, trucking and crew for the Irish rockabilly star, working alongside her own lighting designer to create a fantastic looking stage for an affordable cost.
Dinosaurs Unleashed at The O2 - February 2011
Following the success of the previous two exhibitions in London’s Oxford Street and the Bournemouth International Centre, Dinosaurs Unleashed opened its doors for a yearlong residency at The O2 Arena.
STL were brought in once again to provide lighting and power distribution for the projects biggest exhibition to date. Positioned in a giant Arena Structure to one side of the Dome, the exhibition includes 22 life size animatronic dinosaurs set in their realistic environments. These include a water hole, tropical jungle and aquarium.
The lighting rig is flown from two 40 and two 60 metre trusses hung from the structures sides, with a 10 metre square box flown in the centre of the space. Among the 140 strong generic rig, lie 40 LED wash fixtures creating the effect of realistic dino environments through different Jurassic ages.
The exhibition is due to run until January 2012.
Eye catching lighting in Crawley - January 2011
With both the private and commercial property sector falling on hard times, landlords are finding themselves having to look for new ways to attract the attention of potential tenants.
STL were commissioned at the start of 2011 to light an empty office block on a busy commuter route in Crawley, in the hopes of raising the buildings profile and creating awareness of its availability for Let.
The brief was to light the building in such a way as to make it stand out from other brightly lit architecture on the same street. The system needed to be low power, bright and have the ability to run from timed switches over a month long period. STL used 400 watt sodium floods with coloured discharge lamps to light each floor in a different colour, which matched the design of the sales brochure for the building.
Hever Castle 'Magic of Christmas' - December 2010
This year’s Christmas festivities encountered heavy snow which meant extreme conditions for both the install team and the equipment that would have to survive outside for the month long install.
As this was the third year that STL would be supplying the event, we had a good idea of the amount of lighting fixtures and cable required to light not only the castle building but the moat, fountains Loggia, Italian gardens and vast woodland. Over 70 HQI discharge floods, 60 LED exterior wash fixtures; four City Colour 2500’s and 500 metres of festoon cabling were used to create a magical Christmassy wonderland.
Thankfully, the weather was not enough to discourage the huge amount of visitors that passed through the Castle gates to see the display during the Christmas period.
STL extend Nova Flower hire stock - November 2010
Since the arrival of four Nova Flower 1.2K’s in January 2009, STL has experienced an extremely high demand for this popular effect from some of the largest lighting production companies in the UK.
In an attempt to keep up with the constant call for hire, we have now invested in a further four 2K units, which are available now!
Leeds Castle Fireworks - November 2010
It’s always good to be able to carry out a show on your own doorstep and Leeds Castle couldn’t be closer to the STL warehouse.
For the fourth consecutive year, STL supplied the light show to accompany the Leeds Castle annual sell out fireworks display.
Every year has a new theme to which the soundtrack is based and this year saw movie sound tracks. Working alongside Alchemy Fireworks, STL designed a show which complemented the colour scheme and aerial display, which were fired from the castles roof, walls and surrounding gardens. City Colour 2500 wash lights were used to provide colour wash across the face of the castle, with Mac 2000 profiles, Nova Flowers and High-Grounds giving impressive airborne beam effects.
STL Exhibit at Showman's Show - October 2010
When the opportunity arose to share an exhibition space with Allspan Marquees at the largest outdoor event show in the UK, we realised this would be a valuable opportunity to showcase the company to a mass audience of potential clients.
Allspan provided a solid walled marquee structure, finished with a white flat lined roof and walls which were the perfect blank canvas, allowing us to colour wash the entire inside with a mixture of LED Chroma Battens and SGM Genio’s. This resulted in a stunning mix of colour effects which demonstrated how you can completely transform the look and feel of a venue at the touch of a button.
The display was met with an encouraging amount of interest and positive feedback and has since led to further enquiries and confirmed bookings.
'Friday Night is Music Night'
BBC Concert Orchestra, RAF Northolt - October 2010
The 'Friday Night is Music Night' programme is part of a portfolio of popular and long running series performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. This concert was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and as such saw the Orchestra performing music of the period, The White Cliffs of Dover, We'll Meet Again and some Glenn Miller classics.
The lighting rig consisted of a large truss (20m x 20m), flown on eight half ton Lodestar motors with a lightweight CYC cloth hung from the back and sides. Six Mac 700 profiles were used to project on to the CYC which was washed from floor level in colour using 24 Chroma Battens.
A mixture of six lamp bars, Fresnels and Source Four profiles were then used to light the orchestra, specials and two aircraft, which were positioned at each side of the stage.
"ALL HAIL THE ALE!" - AL Murray Pub Landlord – October 2010
STL was asked to supply all lighting equipment and crew for several shows as part of the 2010 ‘Barrel of Fun’ tour.
Bought in by Capital Sound to provide front and rear flown trusses, with six 6 lamp bars on each and Mac 700 profiles providing beams from the floor level.
A large LED star cloth was hung from the back truss and used as a screen to show a variety of images throughout the show, as well as the enormous Union Jack flag shown as a backdrop for the majority of the show.
Lightfactor and Cooper Control, PLASA - September 2010
Having a good relationship with suppliers is key to running a successful business in any industry. STL are delighted with the service that has been offered to us from the team at Lightfactor Sales (now part of Cooper Industries) and was pleased to be provide technical services once again for their stand at this year’s Earls Court show.
Entertaining the troops with Capital Sound - August 2010
STL are very proud to be providing lighting services to Capital Sound, delivering live entertainment to British armed forces around the world.
August saw our first trip to Afghanistan, sending both crew and equipment as part of a 15 strong touring show which visited numerous camps across the region, providing entertainment for both British and International troops.
It’s not just frontline entertainment though, as part of this service STL will also be supplying to shows throughout the UK, which will include frequent shows at Headley Court military hospital.
It’s a great honour to work alongside a fantastic group of dedicated artists, technicians and management who all work tirelessly, sometimes in difficult conditions to deliver incredible entertainment to people who need it the most!
Dinosaurs Unleashed, Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) - July 2010
The UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur experience moved in to the BIC for the summer and STL designed and installed lighting and power distribution, helping to bring the fearsome beasts to life.
Using a mixture of in house rigging and lighting along with over 60 LED wash fixtures, 30 Source Four profiles, 30 Source Four Parnell’s and 170 ways of dimming, the beautiful wooden clad Purbeck Hall was transported back in time by 65 million years, when dinosaurs last roamed the earth.
The project is a continuation of the exhibition based at London’s Oxford Street earlier in the year.
STL GO GREEN! – June 2010
The Green Hippo Hippotiser has risen to become one of the most widely used media servers in the entertainment industry, offering enormous flexible video playback and real time manipulation.
With the increasing demand for the integration of lighting and video, STL has now added a Critter Hippotiser V3 system to the hire stock. Using the Critters vast media library and pixel mapping capabilities will allow us to offer a new dimension of creative possibilities to our clients and keep STL at the cutting edge of new technology.
STL invests in MAC 700’s – June 2010
STL are pleased to continue their long standing relationship with Martin professional with the recent investment in a range of MAC 700 profile moving heads, which are now available for hire. This new range joins the current extensive stock of 250 Entours and 250 washes and helps meet the demand for a very popular and highly requested fixture. The MAC 700 Profile is a compact, powerful fixture with an output and optical precision beyond its peers. It combines a full CMY colour mixing system with an 8 position colour wheel and a gobo animation system for dramatic projection effects. It also features an iris, fixed gobos, rotating gobos and zoom system.
Please contact us or see our rental pages to view our competitive hire rates and availability!
New LED Hire Stock - April 2010
STL are constantly trying to update and add to the range of equipment in the hire stock and have again added to the LED range offered. Having already invested in Pulsar Chroma Batten 200’s and SGM Palcos and Genios, STL wanted to be able to find a fixture that would meet the constant request from dry hire clients for an LED Parcan and at the same time be a useful addition for the future STL projects. The answer was found in the new DTS Titan full colour LED projector.
This unit not only looks compact being a similar size to a PAR 56 can, but also offers an IP65 protection rating, making it ideal for the companies increasing amount of architectural work.
For more details on this and the rest of our LED range, please browse our rental pages.
Two new stars join the STL fleet – March 2010
With the increase in hire stock and size of shows STL are now able to meet, the need to enhance the size of the vehicles used to maintain the delivery service we offer became a priority. STL have now purchased a 15 tonne box truck and medium wheel base Sprinter van from our friends at Northside Mercedes.
Knowing that first impressions and image count for so much with clients, the company has always strived to maintain a high level of presentation, and the new Mercedes fleet helps to uphold the company reputation STL have worked so hard to acquire.
STL go Jurassic – Jan 2010
STL has been commissioned to provide lighting and power to Dinosaurs Unleashed – Londons largest interactive dinosaur encounter.
STL has designed both interior and exterior lighting schemes for Dinosaurs Unleashed, which runs until May on the Land Securities Parklife site in Oxford Street. The brainchild of Nicky Allison of Progressive Events, the slightly industrial setting makes an ideal home for the 24 dinosaurs, one of a number of temporary events/uses that have maximized this prime real estate during a break in the ongoing process of redeveloping the site.
Having worked with Progressive Events on numerous other projects, STL were delighted to take up the challenge of illuminating the experience’s prehistoric inhabitants.
With the project due to tour later in the year, we look forward working with Progressive again in bringing the extinct back to life!
STL add to their existing Mercedes fleet - Feb 09
Knowing that reliability and image play an important role in modern day business, STL strive to maintain a high standard of equipment, and its transport fleet is no exception. The company has recently invested in a new MWB Mercedes Sprinter van, adding to its ability to provide a reliable delivery service to all its customers.
"We've always found the Mercedes commercial vehicle range to be robust and able to cope with high mileages," say's Ben Hoadley, whose responsibilities entail vehicle logistics for STL events. "All our vehicles are fitted with professional loading ramps and have large payload areas, that prove to be invaluable".
STL purchase four new NOVA Flowers - Jan 09
Due to high demand for different services and equipment in the entertainment industry, STL has recently taken delivery of four new Nova Flowers, available for hire now.
Seeing what a popular effect the Nova Flower provides and having used them to great success on various outdoor events in 2008, STL jumped at the opportunity to add them to their hire stock and become one of the few suppliers of them in the South East. The Nova Flower is a searchlight with CYM and blackout that has the capabilities of a moving head. It has the same look as the Space Flower which has been around for years, but with the added options of colour, DMX control and outdoor use.
STL enjoy Christmas at the Castle - Dec 08
Having developed a good working relationship with the Leeds Castle events team over the last two years, STL were commissioned by the Castle to design and install lighting in their woodland walk garden throughout December.
Presenting many challenges, this install required adequate lighting for over 500 meters of walkway, with various sections themed, using colour and effects to provide a variety of different looks.
Managing Director, Iain Austin said, "We wanted to give each section of the walk something different, so you really got the feeling of moving from one area and into somewhere totally separate, all the while maintaining a fluid continuity". To achieve this look STL used an impressive amount of City Colour 2500s, Mac 250 Entours in domes and Pulsar LED battens to provide colour washes, along with HQI floods highlighting specific trees and features.
A key feature for one of the Castles large ponds was a one meter wide mirror ball hung over the water from a large Willow tree. This provided something unexpected and out of the ordinary that was a real talking point among visitors.
Leeds Castle Fireworks - Nov 08
For the second year running, STL provided lighting production for the Leeds Castle firework spectacular, arguably one of the largest displays in the South East. Spread over three nights to accommodate the sell-out crowds, it proved to be a huge success, living up to its reputation as one of the best displays in the country.
This year's display was built around a narrated story of King Arthur and cleverly incorporated laser and lighting effects, which synchronised to carefully selected music tracks. The show design was devised by Alchemy Fireworks, who choreographed the display and put together the sound track. To enhance the fireworks and set a dramatic atmosphere throughout the narrated scenes, Phil Parsons of STL created a lighting design to compliment all aspects of the show.
Using an impressive array of City Colour 2500s and Martin Mac 2000s set along the moats edge, STL changed the colour of the entire Castle and projected images onto the walls. A combination of Nova flowers and High Grounds added breath taking aerial effects moving across the water and through the crowds.
The laser segments of the show were designed and operated by Julie Stewart of Laser Visuals, with large scale animations projected on to the Castle and some impressive aerial effects which spanned out over the audience.
- “Your team were incredibly professional in their approach to the job, being able to advise on safety issues as the set up commenced”
University College of London - Thanks for all your help with the lighting production at this year’s summer ball, and your participation in making this year’s event the best that Kent Union has ever had.”
Kent Union - University of Kent - “The event was absolutely brilliant, the lighting during the awards looked fantastic and the feedback we have received so far has been excellent”
Royal & Sun Alliance - “All went extremely well and the combination of fireworks, lights, laser and music worked extremely well. Many thanks for your support and your lighting show – excellent!”
Leeds Castle - “Many thanks for the continued support and excellent service you have given the Colosseum over the past four years. STL have provided a professional service that has been able to respond to last minute bookings and supply a good out of hours service”
Watford Borough Council – Watford Colosseum - “Thank you to you and your great team for contributing in making the event such a great success for me and more so, my client”
Solar System Productions - The whole production was spot on as always and completely professional. It’s always good to work with you and the guys. A lot of the guests were blown away by the quality of the event and especially the stage production.
Adam Freeland Pfizer
Caring Lane
Nr Leeds
Maidstone
Kent, ME17 1TH
Vat No: 837 4343 17