Electronic Theatre Controls
Since its founding by Fred Foster in 1975, ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.) has become a global leader in award-winning entertainment and architectural lighting equipment. ETC's fixtures, lighting control consoles, dimmers and distribution products are the backbone of lighting systems in venues worldwide - from schools and churches, to community theaters and TV studios, to opera houses and theme parks.
Over the first decade of its history, ETC earned a reputation for sophisticated microprocessor-based lighting control consoles. By 1990, ETC had acquired Lighting Methods, Inc., a Rochester, New York-based manufacturer of entertainment dimming systems. ETC quickly became one of the largest fully-integrated entertainment lighting control manufacturers in North America, with offices in Middleton, WI; Orlando, FL; Rochester, NY; and Hollywood, CA. The next phase of growth began in 1995, when ETC acquired the lighting control division of London-based distributor ARRI GB. That same year, ETC opened an office in Hong Kong, extending its expansion into Asia. In 1997, ETC opened an office in Copenhagen, Denmark, to serve the Northern European market, and a year later opened an office in Rome, allowing greater access to Southern Europe. ETC acquired Transtechnik Lichtsysteme, Holzkirchen, Germany in 2002, widening ETC's market potential in Europe. Continuing its growth, ETC took an equity position in Avab France in 2003. In 2004, ETC acquired Dutch sine wave dimming manufacturer IES and its industrial weighing and measuring division Penko Engineering BV, both located in Veenendaal, the Netherlands. Beginning March 31, 2005, all formerly separate operations of ETC in Europe joined under the common corporate banner of ETC. ETC's new international headquarters, located in Middleton, WI (near the state capital Madison) serve as hub of global administration and manufacturing.
Through the years, ETC has gained an industry-wide reputation for outstanding service and customer support. ETC not only maintains in-house, 24-hour Technical and Customer Service staffs, but an extensive network of factory-trained, authorized field service centers.
Used Power Distro
The power distro refers to a portable power distribution system, and is extremely important in the professional lighting industry, as electrical power distribution needs to be carefully managed to avoid power cuts or electrical failure. The power distro is a portable power distribution unit that has been especially designed for rugged outdoor use, which makes it the ideal power distribution center for use in large outdoor concerts.
There are a number of options with regards to what can be used as a power distro. Breaker panels are used to feed electrical power into subsidiary electrical circuits, while providing a circuit breaker or protective fuse housed in an enclosure for safety. Single/three phase power is another type of portable touring power distribution system.
Power distro systems use a number of specialist connectors and cables. Standard household hardware cannot support the electrical voltage used in professional lighting, and so specially adapted connectors are needed to handle things. These include the stage pin connector (also called a grounded pin), the socapex, which has 19 pins and is used to terminate a multi-cableā??s ends, twist locking connectors and the Edison plug.
