JONESBORO, AR — The Convocation Center, or “Convo,” at Arkansas State University (ASU) here has been equipped with Motion Laboratories’ Soft*Limit, Load*Cell and WardeN systems as a safeguard against the risk of attempting to manually control more than two dozen 2-ton chain hoists. Atlanta Rigging Systems (ARS) installed the gear.
More details from Atlanta Rigging Systsems (www.atlantarigging.com):
“Using the Soft*Limit System integrated with Load*Cells and the WardeN System, we have an easy-to-use, fully automated system with real-time weight monitoring,” said Dennis Timms, operations foreman at the ASU Convocation Center.
The Soft*Limit System gets used to move concert grids, scoreboards, speaker clusters, video walls and other gear to pre-selected stopping points individually, or in group mode, where all of the hoists are linked. Using a touch-screen, the user can choose between components and select from pre-determined “soft limits.”
There are three main components to the grid system at the Convo: the Concert Grid (suspended by twenty 2-ton hoists), Scoreboard (four 1-ton hoists) and Speaker Cluster (four 1-ton hoists).
“The Convo’s system did not allow running groups of chain hoists,” said David Piccola, ARS install manager. “They wanted to run the three components, separately or together, from the same controller.”
“The soft limits are whatever the venue management needs,” added Dave Middleton, ARS. “The very basics are storage, maintenance and show positions. But ASU needed more flexibility. We installed a system with more than a dozen, pre-programmed stopping points.”
The WardeN system allows users to monitor weights through the Load*Cells in real time and shut down overweight or underweight conditions. A graphic display shows all the weights with warning indicators. An E-Stop feature shuts down power to all hoists in all components upon activation.
Specifically, Convo management needed:
- All three components operated by the same operating system as individual components.
- Self-leveling components with auto-stops controlled by the operating system. Self-leveling defined as, “all hoists will be at the same point upon execution of a move.”
- 14 pre-programmed auto-stop soft limits.
- Load*Cells on each component with feedback to the operating system allowing system shutdown upon overweight or underweight conditions.
- A system design that allows each hoist in a component to be moved individually or in a group mode. Group mode will link all of the hoists within the component.
- Monitoring of each hoist for position, weight, and movement.
- A monitored E-Stop system, which will shut power down to all hoists in all components upon activation.
“ASU came to us with this project three years ago and we designed it around the existing conditions,” said Greg Quinkert, director of sales, Motion Labs. “Safety was paramount and is integral to our Soft*Limit offer. Like our other products, the Soft*Limit System is modular so it fits nicely with our Load*Cell and WardeN systems. The entire system was designed to guarantee safety and flexibility at economical purchasing points.”
“It was important to us that the new system was safe, functional and easy to use,” ASU’s Timms added. “Now we feel like we can really take advantage of our space and continue to bring in big names and tours. Backing up the system with a heavy hitter in rigging, like ARS, just made sense.”
“Ease of use for production and increased venue safety is at the core of our permanent installation business,” added Dave Gittens, ARS vice president. “It’s great to see safety features like this being implemented across the country.”
ARS worked with a local electrical contractor to complete the project in approximately six weeks. This was coordinated around the venue’s schedule so as not to interfere with any existing productions or events. This included removing and sending the venue’s 40 chain hoists to ARS in staggered shipments for their annual inspections and the installation of the soft limit encoders.
The Convo, a multi-purpose arena that opened back in 1987, is home to the ASU Red Wolves basketball team. It draws from a three-state market with a population of 500,000 and accommodates between 10,200 and 11,200 visitors.
