Insight from the Experts Q+A Archives

22 Sep 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Industry News, Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight from the Experts: Dave Hugar and Petzl

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On September 22, 2016

Access the inaccessible®

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While some people like to stay grounded, Petzl is only concerned with exploring the vertical world. Petzl’s story began in the early 1930s and throughout its long history, the company evolved from focusing on caving gear to becoming one of the world’s most renowned providers of verticality equipment for professional and recreational use. Currently, Petzl covers a wide range of recreational sports including sport climbing, ice climbing, aid climbing, mountaineering, caving, canyoning and more. Beyond their recreational gear, Petzl creates life-saving products for rescue professionals and workers at height.

24 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Industry News, Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight from the Experts: Jim Digby and the Event Safety Alliance (ESA)

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 24, 2016

Together as an industry, we are all taking the necessary steps to improve safety site-wide at every event across the globe. This mission is simple, yet easy to overlook, especially in the fast-paced, think-on-your-toes nature of entertainment production. The key is to work safety protocols and practices into every project from day one.

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One of the leading safety organizations in entertainment is the Event Safety Alliance (ESA). The ESA has quickly become one of the most important organizations amongst us, encouraging the adoption of critical safety procedures, and providing the education and training necessary to keep crews updated and informed. Jim Digby, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the ESA, is a 34-year veteran of the entertainment industry, and leads the ESA’s journey to global event safety.

05 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight from the Experts – Marty Wesstrom and the MTN BOX

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 5, 2016

In 2014, we launched our MTN BOX road case design to reinvent the way production houses stored and transported their equipment. This case boasts unmatched durability and versatility, with the inclusion of an interchangeable insert system. Marty Wesstrom, head of Mountain Productions’ rigging department, worked on the design of the MTN BOX for years in order to provide the industry with a more robust case compared to the classic ATA cases. But how did the MTN BOX project begin? Here’s our Q+A with Marty about his career in entertainment production, and the creation of the MTN BOX.

28 Jul 2016

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[Q+A] Insight from the Experts – Steve Marshall and Dirty Rigger®

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On July 28, 2016

Dirty Rigger™ is a growing brand in the entertainment industry, and their products have already been distributed to over 50 countries to rave reviews. Their product line revolves around quality varieties of rigging gloves, tool bags and belts that have been designed specifically for entertainment professionals. What makes Dirty Rigger’s product line rise above the competition? We went behind the scenes and spoke with Product Manager Steve Marshall about what drives him and Dirty Rigger to succeed. Production workers face unique issues and specific situations—how does Dirty Rigger manage to meet the high standards we demand? Take a look…

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21 Jul 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in CM Hoist School, Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight from the Experts – Ed Leahy and The Chicago Flyhouse

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On July 21, 2016

We’re excited to host Ed Leahy from Chicago Flyhouse as the new rigging trainer at our 32nd CM Hoist School event. Ed is a veteran of the rigging industry, working with the world renowned Chicago Shakespeare Theater as their Technical Director before transitioning to The Chicago Flyhouse Inc. as their Head Trainer and Cruise Ship Division Manager. Chicago Flyhouse is a diverse production company providing a wide range of theatrical rigging services, including stage/studio rigging, automation, softgoods, safety/fall protection, and more. Ed took some time to talk to us about the Safer Venue program (Chicago Flyhouse’s rigging inspection program), what he’s seen change in the industry over the years, his career launch into rigging and more.

Ed Leahy from The Chicago Flyhouse

26 May 2016

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[Q+A] Insight from the Experts – Chris Shaffer and LiftAll

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On May 26, 2016

We can’t do our jobs without the help of safe lifting equipment. Entertainment production workers are no strangers to roundslings and chain hoists—both critical to rigging and material handling. We deal with this gear every day, and only trust the safest, highest quality sling products. Mountain Productions proudly uses and distributes LiftAll® roundslings. LiftAll manufactures a wide variety of web, mesh, chain and wire rope slings along with lifting devices, straps, sling protection and more. Chris Shaffer, District Sales Manager for LiftAll, visits Mountain Productions a few times a year to perform training sessions and present at our annual CM Hoist School. We spoke to him recently for a Q+A article discussing LiftAll and how they have become a valuable asset to the industrial and entertainment markets.

05 May 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight with the Experts – Kevin Rinaldi-Young and Leica Geosystems

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On May 5, 2016

“When all think alike, then no one is thinking.”

—Walter Lippman

What equipment do you use to verify your measurements, perform site surveys and chalk out rigging points? Chances are, one of the items in your mind is a tape measurer. Accuracy and precision are so critical that if even the slightest measurement is off, disaster can strike. What if there was a way to rethink the way we take and record measurements that would ensure the most precise data?

If you’ve asked this question in the past, we’re happy to have the answer. Partnering with Leica Geosystems, Mountain Productions proudly offers their DISTO laser distance meters and LINO laser levels.

06 Jan 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

Insight from the Experts [Q+A]: CM’s Newest Hoist – IP66 Rated Next-Gen Lodestar

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On January 6, 2016

CM’s research and development department has been busy as ever, listening to customer feedback and demands, and working on new products that truly change the way we work. As one of the leading providers of quality chain hoists in the entertainment industry, CM has created hoists that cater directly to our needs. Last April, the 2-Ton, Single Reeve Lodestar was launched, giving customers and economical hoist that is lighter and easier to rig and transport (among many other added features! Read our article on CM’s RRS Lodestar here).

Now, CM has created a product that, again, is the solution to entertainment’s unique demands. We spoke to CM product expert and Vertical Market Specialist, Ken Tilson, about the newest chain hoist from CM: the IP66 Rated Next-Gen Lodestar.

05 Nov 2015

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

Insight from the Experts [Q&A]: Innovation from TOMCAT – The EVO Truss

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On November 5, 2015

In today’s age of innovation and technology, it takes a truly unique product to really make an impact. TOMCAT Global, experts in truss manufacturing, have achieved this hype with their brand new product in development, the EVO Truss. Debuted at LDI 2015 in Las Vegas, the EVO Truss made an overwhelmingly good first impression on visitors to Tomcat’s booth. We took some time to reach out to TOMCAT’s Design Specialist, Dayne Cook, who worked closely on the EVO Truss in development, to dig a little deeper into the EVO Truss and what it’s all about.

16 Apr 2015

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Insight from the Experts [Q+A]: CM Discusses the New 2-Ton, Single-Reeved Lodestar

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On April 16, 2015

“…We weren’t interested in building a motor that merely performed, we wanted to create something extraordinary.” –Gary Krypel, CM

Anticipating and acting on customer demands separates a good company from an exceptional one. Columbus McKinnon has been a leader in entertainment technologies, and we have been a proud CM Master Distributor for years. CM’s chain hoists are second to none, and the Lodestar brand is one of the most trusted hoists in the industry.