Stage Rigging - Hoist Options

Automated Rigging - Hoist Options

Arbor Assist Units

PowerAssist® is a single axis unit which is extremely compact and can install in standard locking rails to motorize new or existing counterweight sets. The hoist replaces the floor block and the rope lock. A double leaf roller chain positively drives the arbor, and a proprietary steel/urethane rope allows use of a standard head block. The combination of a fixed weight in the arbor and a hoist allow the set to work with loads from 0-2,000 lbs without the need to adjust or handle counterweights. PowerAssist® can also be placed between two manual sets on 6" centers. It's the perfect way to automate your lighting and acoustical shell units!

Motorized Battens

PowerLift® is a multi-line winch that uses a zero fleet drum to page cable out to the loft blocks. The drum moves so that the point where the wire rope leaves the drum is always aligned with the head block. This allows the head block to be next to the drum, forming a compact, self-contained hoist. It can be installed in various ways - underhung offstage, underhung onstage, upright on the grid, even vertical if necessary. Powerlift® can be fixed or variable speed and can be outfitted with simple push controls or complete programmable computer consoles. PowerLift® is the easiest and safest way to move scenery; adding motion to your performances.

Kaufman Center - NYC - (4) PowerLift® Installation

Drum Winch

Drum winches, with their integral motor gearbox and brake can be mounted on the floor, in the gallery or on the grid. The winch drums are helically grooved to keep the wire rope wound in a single layer so as not to change the drum diameter and alter the lift rate while preventing damage to the wire rope. The drums are typically long enough to accommodate all the lift lines for a particular set. Head and loft blocks may be used to route the lift lines to the batten. A traditional drum hoist requires at least 10' between the drum and head blocks.

Enclosed Truss Winch for Toyota Tour

Scarsdale H.S., NYC - (1) Single Clew Winch

Line-Shaft

A line shaft winch hoist is a self-contained unit with separate drums for each lift line. In-between the drums are shafts that connect to a motor. Since the lift line goes directly to the load, there is no need for head or loft blocks and the wall or floor space they require. This makes line shaft winches ideal for renovations in which there isn't much space or enough steel frame work to handle side loading.

Christopher Columbus H.S., NYC (3) line-shaft installation

Controls

Motorized rigging controls can vary from a simple push button station to a complete computer control front end system. Depending on how many units need to be installed, type of movements required, and what speed the units need to run will determine what type of control function is an appropriate match for each application.