International News

TOKYO — Prolyte announced the launch of a new sales office in Japan. The combined Prolyte and Doughty sales office is a branch of Prolyte Asia Pacific. Despite global economic unfavorable circumstances, PAP sees a strategic opportunity to expand its presence in Asia and venture into the world's second largest economy.

DUBLIN — Along with news of their 2009-2010 world tour, which kicks off June 30 in Barcelona, U2's Web site, www.u2.com, offers a glimpse of the four-legged structure and wrap-around visuals planned by U2 show director Willie Williams and architect Mark Fisher.

DUBAI, U.A.E. — If a single night’s stay at the top floor suite at the Atlantis Hotel commands a princely sum — about $25,000 per night — it’s still a pittance compared to the estimated $20 million to $32 million reportedly spent for a single night’s party celebrating the mega-resort’s grand opening last fall.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Over 5,000 revelers attended a party thrown by the Municipality of Ljubljana, Slovenia, which was staged in three halls of the Gospodarsko Razstavisce, the biggest exhibition center in the city.

OSLO, Norway — To make sure its tour visuals wouldn’t get derailed on the European leg of AC/DC’s Black Ice tour, the band is continuing to use Daktronics’ 70 square meter LED video display, comprised of modular PST-10 panels incorporated into the elaborate set by Screenworks, the tour’s official video partner.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — With 2,000 guest rooms and 470,000 square feet of meeting, convention and exhibition space, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center ranks as the largest combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard, and LEDs are setting its exterior architectural features aglow.

MANCHESTER, U.K. — Visuals and moving light director Svend Pedersen made extensive use of a Catalyst digital media server to illuminate and animate the set for the latest series of The Krypton Factor, recorded at Granada Television Studios for U.K.’s ITV.

BEIJING, China — The Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts has been supplied with a variety of Robert Juliat instruments from that company’s Chinese branch, Robert Juliat China.

LLANELLI, U.K. — The PAI Group of Companies — incorporating Vaughan Sound Installations, Lighting Technology Projects, PA Installations and Link AV — has been awarded ISO 9001 certification. Shown here, PAI Group’s Trevor Owen, on right, receives the certification from Richard Thomas of Business XL Consultancy Ltd.

AARHUS, Denmark — Martin Professional A/S named Frank Hoehn as senior vice president – business development & marketing. Hoehn had previously held the position of senior vice president – architectural.

MIDRAND, South Africa — LEDVision, a Gearhouse South Africa company, supplied 200 square meters of LED screen, microwave links and control for the fifth round of the 2009 A1 Grand Prix World Cup. This was staged in South Africa for the first time at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.