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ESTA and PLASA
Announce Their
Intention to Merge
NEW YORK — ESTA and PLASA have signed
a letter of intent to merge. The organizations said
that by uniting as one body the merged entity
will be able to offer a stronger voice for members,
enhance existing initiatives and expand
their range of services.
The proposed merger has the backing of
both the ESTA board of directors and the PLASA
executive committee, who voted on the proposal
this summer and who will formally recommend
the move to their respective memberships, subject
to due diligence being completed successfully
during the spring/summer of 2010.
If both memberships vote to go ahead, the
first stage of the merger will be completed by
December 2010, effectively creating an industrywide
membership network of over 1,100 dealers,
manufacturers, installers, service providers and
consultants operating under the PLASA name.
This will also include members of PERA—the
Production Equipment Rental Association—
whose members work across the film, video and
broadcast industries and which recently merged
with ESTA.
The organizations said the planned merger
will not lead to any immediate changes, and the
direct priority for ESTA and PLASA will be to continue
to serve the joint membership in the strongest,
most relevant way possible.
To reinforce this aim, the proposal outlining
the merger recommends that leadership groups
be established initially in North America and
Europe, elected by their respective members to
represent their interests and to shape the organization
to meet their specific needs.
Each of these elected leadership groups will
provide representatives who will sit on an executive
committee charged with overall responsibility
for governance, strategic planning and
financial direction. Joining these representatives
on the executive committee will be members-atlarge
elected from the membership worldwide.
Work on key initiatives such as ESTA’s Technical
Standards Program is expected to continue
after the projected merger. ESTA’s commitment
to furthering industry skills will also remain a key
priority, and while the methods of implementation
differ, the goals of increasing the level of
knowledge and skills in the industry and creating
a safer working environment are jointly shared
and will be fully implemented.
Other initiatives, such as market research,
will be strengthened with current research exercises
expanded and opportunities for additional
research explored.
ESTA president Bill Groener and PLASA chairman
Rob Lingfield view the proposed merger as
a significant and essential move for members of
both organizations, who, they believe, will benefit
from having a much strengthened representative
body safeguarding their interests and
developing their commercial advantages.
In a joint statement, PLASA CEO Matthew
Griffiths and ESTA executive director Lori Rubinstein
said, “This is essentially about doing what
is best for our members. The proposed merger
will radically enhance what we can achieve on
behalf of the companies and individuals we represent,
making us a more effective and informed
advocate for the industry. The industry needs an
organization that is responsive to its members’
needs and one where they feel fully connected
and involved. We share common goals and objectives
and a united approach to the issues and
challenges of our market will provide major longterm
benefits and greatly broaden the role of the
organization.”
PROJECTION LIGHTS & STAGING NEWS
LOUISVILLE, KY — ZFX Flying Effects
and Las Vegas-based Stage Technologies
have announced a strategic alliance to offer
automated solutions for productions that
require complex flying sequences.
ZFX will add Stage Technologies’ hoists
and control systems to its roster of complete
flying services. ZFX also named Joe
Champelli, who has considerable experience
in automation and machinery design,
as its general manager.
“Automation provides greater precision
and versatility to the artistic flying effects for
which ZFX is already known,” said Champelli.
“The blend of our artistic experience and
Stage Tech’s reputation and reliability in
motion controlled flying equipment makes
an ideal union.”
The strategic alliance is expected to give
ZFX the ability to expand from single-point
and travel-compensated flying to automated
flying effects that include integrated
pendulum and multi-point 3-dimensional
flying with higher speeds, repeatability and
consistency.
“We are absolutely delighted to be
able to work with the team at ZFX, whose
experience and reputation we have known
for many years,” said Nikki Scott, commercial
director of Stage Technologies. “Our
NEWS
ZFX and Stage Technologies Announce Strategic Alliance
companies share similar values, and both
believe in supplying systems and service
which exceed our customers’ expectations.
The range of equipment and expertise now
available from ZFX as a result of this alliance
with Stage Technologies provides end-users
a complete range of flying effects.”
ZFX will continue to offer the company’s
tried-and-true, custom harnesses,
manual equipment, track, truss and other
system components as well as standard
aerial hoists. Automation now rounds out
the company’s capabilities, making ZFX a
one-stop shop for live flying effects.
2009 OCTOBER PLSN 5