The Musikteater in Vejle, Denmark is a busy – primarily – receiving theatre with a
1200 capacity flexible main auditorium that can be fully seated in a traditional set
up or have a standing configuration. The venue also hosts corporate and private
events, and the technical team co-ordinate production for a month long outdoor
summer entertainment season in the park. They additionally provide technical
production for the nearby Spectrum Conference & Sports Centre, which is also run
by the city.

Musikteater’s investment in Kinesys products started around 6 years ago, explains
technical manager Tor Futtrup, who has been working there for 13 years and
initiated this move with a first purchase of ten 3.25 tonne Kinesys LibraCELL load
measuring shackles and the Kinesys LibraBASIC system.

The Libra shackle pin is designed to work with the globally recognised Crosby safety
bow shackle and the LibraBASIC power supply is a straightforward and cost-
effective method of moniFuttruping LibraCELLs.

This was especially helpful for checking the weight loading during concerts
explained Futtrup as their roof point loadings in the main hall are around 700Kg.

The Kinesys products were supplied by Herning based sales specialist Light Partner,
Kinesys’ Danish reseller, and with whom the Musikteater has enjoyed a long and
successful working relationship.

For the summer outdoor work, it was important to keep a check on the truss
loading under the roof system – so they started using the system for this as well.

The Libra system was extremely useful and successful, so the next Kinesys
purchase took everything up a level with an 8 channel DigiHoist controller, K2
motion control software and LibraWIFI – which allows the DigiHoist device to
broadcast load cell information via a wireless network. An inbuilt firewall ensures
that only Kinesys data is transmitted on the Libra network so load data is fast and
secure.

The sophisticated and intuitive K2 programming environment displays real moving
objects as realistic graphic representations in proportion to the stage space. Offering numerous safety features and extensive user-feedback, multiple devices –
winches, chain hoists, LibraCELLs, etc. can all be connected and monitored.

At the same time the Musikteater was converting its main stage fly bar system
from manual to automated flying, so more LibraCELLs were also purchased, giving
them a comprehensive Kinesys load monitoring system that can be used anywhere.

They find being able to programme both the upper and lower limits of a weight
sensor on the DigiHoist controller very useful, and a feature they use on all the fly
bars on a big show.

There has also been interest from other sources, including locally based rental
companies who have hired and used it to help produce show health & safely
documentation and also bands and artists using the Musikteater for rehearsals have
been able to accurately establish the weight of production elements like video
screens before they hit the road.

As well as being impressed with the functionality and ease of use of the Kinesys
elements, Futtrup mentions that Light Partner was an important factor in the
decision, with their excellent backup and after-sales support as a reseller.