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‘Tabs’ derives from the term tableaucurtains, curtains which were often drawn back and up to reveal a scene,and dates as far back as the 1880s.Audiences over the decades have cometo expect to be greeted by the glow ofthe tab warmers - lights gentlyilluminating the plush rich red velvetcurtains adorning a proscenium arch, in anticipation of the evening’sentertainment. Indeed, most venues willhave a curtain to mask the stage when a performance is not in progress, butthere are many other requirements andfunctions for today’s theatrical curtain.

A curtain can be used to enhance dramaand spectacle, or perhaps its primaryfunction might be for fire safety. Somedrapes are required in a venue to define a physical boundary, for example using a curved track to circumnavigate a spaceto form a perimeter, common in drama ordance studios. Perhaps a curtain mightserve to reduce echo and reverb,improving the audio experience, or maybeit offers a blackout solution. But for somany venues, the requirement for itscurtain and subsequently its track system,is multi-functional - a workhorse systemfulfilling many roles.

The requirements of a track system will initself define which particular model orsolution will best suit the application.Primary considerations are the size and theweight of the curtain: it might not even becurtain that is required to track, but rather

a set-piece or video screen. Size andweight will instantly rule out, or rule in,particular track systems.

Secondary considerations must surely bestructural and aesthetic. What is the trackmounting on to? What are the angles of thetrack? What will the track look like in thespace? Does it need to be recessed? Andso on and so forth.

Operation is perhaps a later consideration;does the track system need to be manuallyoperated or electrically? Does it need to beDMX controllable via the lighting consoleetc? Several off-the-shelf products andbolt-ons are available to facilitate this, sosophisticated systems are becomingaccessible to even the smallest of venuesand budgets.

So let’s point the tab warmers on thecurtain tracks currently on the market, andlook at some of the functions they fulfil.

ADCUSA-based manufacturer ADC (AutomaticDevices Company) has been supplying theindustry since 1919, and offers an almostmind-boggling range of curtain tracks,components, lift systems, machines andcontrol systems. From mega-heavy duty tothe lightweights of the curtain world, ADChas a range for every application you couldimagine.

Silent Steel is a key product in ADC’sheavy duty stage track range and can

Making Tracks

Hogging the limelight,

taking centre stage

before a headline artist

has even graced the

boards . . . But you might

be forgiven for not even

noticing the focal point

of many venues the

world over, the humble

house tabs . . .

by Chris Henry

LSi looks at theatrical curtain track systems . . .

TF_Curtain_Tracks:Technical Focus 21/08/2014 11:45 Page 88

accommodate heavy straight curtains ofalmost any length. In its medium-dutyrange is Besteel, suitable for medium orlight-weight straight curtains. Both canbe suspended or ceiling-mounted, orsupplied with a pipe-backbone.

For architectural solutions Models 113Specifine and 220 Trak-Eze are intendedfor straight curtains and have theadvantage of being recessed, surface-mounted, or suspended, with the cordwithin the track. These systems are lowprofile tracks but also offer high loadcapabilities.

If you need to bend it like Beckham, thenthe versatility of the Model 140 Rig-I-Flexand Model 132 Flex-I-trac series allowsfor both curved and straight systems.These tracks can be easily curved in thefield or can be supplied factory curved tocustomer specification. These can becord operated up to 18m in length andwalk-along operated to almost anylength.

The Model 500 Patriarc is one of ADC’sheavy duty curtain track system butdespite its size, it is one of the quietestand easiest operating tracks in the ADCrange.

ADC offers multiple-stop, low voltage andvariable speed control options for all theirmachines right up to colour touch screenoperator interfaces. ADC’s LS-1 and LS-2LogiStop multiple-stop controllers canprovide up to 20 easily programmablepositions. The Model LS-1 is DMXableand the preset stops can be easilyassigned to the lighting desk.www.automaticdevices.com

Doughty EngineeringThe latest curtain track product fromDoughty, Doughty Rail, was launched atFrankfurt’s Prolight+Sound back in April,and offers a solution to venues wherespace is tight. This compact extrudedaluminium curtain rail system haswalkalong operation, and each ballrunner has a SWL of 6kg. Available in

straight lengths from one to three metresand four metre radius curves, DoughtyRail has a range of brackets enabling therail to be suspended in most situations.

The longest established track in therange is Doughty’s Six Track - a modularaluminium track system suitable for arange of stage and studio applications.Six Track is fabricated using a tubularsteel top hanging rail and rectangularsection tube rails making it strong,durable and easy to install. Again, it isavailable in straights up to three metresand a selection of curves, with customcurves and straights available formanufacture to order. Adaptor platesallow the track to be cut to length on siteif necessary. Six Track can be walkalong,corded or motorised control.

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Above : ADC’s heavy duty Model 500 system.

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Studio Rail is an extruded aluminium walkalong rail that has beendesigned mainly as an overhead studio rail system but is equallysuitable for curtains. “The great thing with this system is that wemanufacture a wide range of friction braked carriages that are perfectfor carrying lights, screens or even scenery, so it is extremelyversatile,” says Laurence Dyer of Doughty UK. Available in two sizesand finishes, natural aluminium or black anodised. www.doughty-engineering.co.uk

GerrietsGerriets is known for its stage machinery products as well as fabricsand soft goods for theatres and opera houses around the world. Itsmetal workshop in Umkirch, Germany, features CNC millingmachines and other metal fabrication facilities, and the companyworks closely with engineers and project managers to custom-buildtrack systems, and modify Gerriets products, to meet specificrequirements.

Gerriets’ track systems cover a variety of applications, from theTRUMPF walk-along track for loads of 60kg, through to CARGO XL,which is capable of carrying loads of up to 1200kg.

Another product of note is Gerriets’ STRATUS Festoon system, a vertically motorised curtain system which can work with a range offabrics. This system was recently installed at the Fondation LouisVuitton, a cultural centre in Paris designed by architect Frank Gehryto resemble a glass cloud. The building’s form is provided by 12curving glass-paneled sails, with a complex 15m x 14m Gerriets’track designed to follow the contour of the façade.

Triple E celebrates 30 years producing

award winning curtain tracks.

See us at

GLASGOW | 2-3 DECEMBER, 2014BRUSSELS | 3-4 NOVEMBER, 2014

Visit www.3-eee.com for more information

standardssave.

make life easier

Save time and money with ANSI E1.20 - Remote Device Management over DMX512. Visit tsp.plasa.org to learn more.

Would you rather:

Spend two months scaling the building to assign a DMX address for each light?

-or-

Spend two hours and do it while sitting across the street?

Bur

j Qat

ar

This page, from top:

The Doughty Six-Track; the Doughty Rail; and Doughty Studio Rail.

TF_Curtain_Tracks:Technical Focus 21/08/2014 11:45 Page 90

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sOver 1.5km of Gerriets’ FENCE ScissorTracks have been installed in the last decadein venues across the world, including theBolshoi in Moscow. FENCE tracks allow forthe designed fullness of a curtain to bemaintained during both its opening andclosing.

New to Gerriets’ range is its CUE-TRACK 2system which works on a continuous chainto ensure accurate positioning at fixed orvariable speeds. CUE-TRACK 2 is often usedfor main curtains with a tight stacking area,and in blackout and room dividing systems.It is very compact in size and can bemounted horizontally, vertically or in angularpositions. www.gerriets.com

Hall StageEstablished in 1898 by George Hall, HallStage makes steel curtain tracking systemsfor any application, and for any material.Having originally started as a chandlerysupplier for canal boats and transport ships’rigging, Hall may have been well known toearly stage crews, who were often recruitedfrom among mariners for their knowledge ofrope-work and rigging.

Today, as well as track fabrication, thecompany offers bespoke design services,installation, maintenance and certification ofgeneral stage engineering systems.

The track pictured in Hall stage’s 1920scatalogue is the predecessor to the modernday T70. T70 falls in the heavy duty end ofthe range, and is aimed at large venues orsystems where heavy or long curtains arerequired. Current projects include filmproductions underway at Pinewood andShepperton Studios. Market demand in the1950s led to the lighter Anglia track, today’sT60 system, which can be manufactured tomeet any configuration.

Estimates suggest that over 1000 miles ofT60 and T70 track has been manufacturedand installed over the past 50 years, and thecompany continues to maintain systems builtin the 1930s and still in use today.

Recent developments include the newChaindrive system which motorises heavydrapes, scenery and screens, and a currentproject sees a T70 Chaindrive installed tomove a 500kg LED screen.

J&C Joel Limited

United Kingdom ~ Netherlands ~ South Africa ~ United Arab Emirates ~ Macau ~ Hong Kong

www.jcjoel.come: sales@jcjoel.comt: +44 (0)1422 833 835 Follow us:

Motorised Tracks ~ Corded Tracks Walkalong Tracks ~ Custom Tracking Solutions

Mechanical Solutions ~ Studio Engineering Bespoke Fabrication ~ Power Flying

Stage Lifts ~ Pilewind Winches Truss ~ Acoustic Solutions

Rigging ~ StarclothsFlame Retardant Fabric ~ Staging Standard and Bespoke Drapery Flooring ~ Projection Screens

Digital Printing ~ Rosco Scenic Products

Specialist manufacturers and suppliers of

performance and entertainment industries

Above: Gerriets’ FENCE Scissor Track.

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The new DGC Capstanwinch will launch atLondon’s PLASA showin October and offers a powered Dynemahauling line option,which can be retro-fittedto any existing Hall Trackinstallation.

Also new is HallStage’s Track Priceapp launched at theABTT Trade Show inJune, which allows detailed cost calculationsfor thousands of track configurations. www.hallstage.com

ShowTexThe nuts and bolts are crucial to anyinstallation, but one look at the ShowTexwebsite demonstrates the artistic flarebehind the brand. From velvet drapes,projection surfaces, printed and laser-cutbackdrops and glassless mirrors, to thelatest technology in curtain motion systems,tracks for every weight of drape, Kabukidrops and roll ups - ShowTex has a lot tooffer a production.

Rail H100 is a good all-rounderfor ShowTex as a budget-friendly,multifunctional product, suitablefor medium- to heavy-duty curtains. A sturdier version of the H100 is ShowPipe,which is easy to assemble and fast to rig.ShowPipe slides into 50mm aluminium tubesand can be integrated into systems.ShowTrack is an I-beam track for very heavycurtains. The beams come in 6m lengths andcan be custom curved. ShowTex’sChainTrack combines its ShowTrack withdouble chain installation allowing for multi-directional curtain or set piecemovement and sharp turns of up to 180degrees in as little as a 5cm radius.

ShowTex’s ultra-silent ball raced SceneryCarriers come in different capacity levels.

The new Heavy Load Scenery Carrierhas been developed for weights from100kg up to 350kg and can beattached to the chain of the ChainTrack

with a comb connector. The carriers canbe joined together and are equipped with

an emergency release system.

All ShowTex systems can be manually-,rope- or motor-operated and DMX-controlled. Its Track Motor Control Rangefacilitates motion and positioning of set

pieces or stage curtains on a motorisedoperating line threaded track system. All TrackMotor Control systems are equipped with a remote control with open/close switch andspeed controller. The operating line and headpulley guarantee maximum grip for accuratemovement and the speed controller allows forfast motion with a fixed or variable speed.Basic track movement can now also becontrolled with the new Radio Remote Control,consisting of a transmitter and a receiver.www.showtex.com

Stage TrackSince 1994 Stage-Track has been supplyingcurtain track systems to theatres, schoolsand village halls. Simple assembly and

Above: Chaindrive system from Hall Stage.

Right: Estimates suggest that over 1000miles of Hall Stage’s T60 (top) and T70(bottom) track has been manufactured andinstalled over the past 50 years.

Above: ShowTrack, from ShowTex, is an I-beam track for very heavy curtains.

Left: ShowTex’s ChainTrack with double chaininstallation.

Above: Stage Track’s EasyTrack (left) and EasyTrack Lite (right).

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sinstallation has always been a key priority;today Stage-Track offers a range of products.

The clue’s in the name - Easy Track is aimedtowards schools, colleges and Village Hallsas well as TV studios. The maximum tracklength is 25m in motorised systems, but canbe longer when made-to-order, or as walk-along; 10kg or 20kg runners are available.Easy Track Lite is a lighter version of EasyTrack but uses the same components and issuitable for light-duty back-drops, andapplications.

Other tracks include the ST-A, ST-B, and ST-Cranges. ST-A is aimed at small and domesticapplications with a maximum track length of10m when motorised, longer in walk-along.ST-B is targeted for general stage use andcyclorama applications. It has a maximumtrack length of 24m when motorised andagain longer as a walkalong. Similar to ST-Bbut with reinforced sections, ST-C is used forheavy loads. It has a maximum track lengthof 24m when motorised.www.stagetrack.co.uk

Triple ECelebrating its 30th anniversary this year,Triple E entered the market in 1984, winningthe ABTT Theatre Show’s Product of the YearAward for its Loose Pin Hinge - and it hasgone on to win three more ABTT awards inthe years since.

Triple E’s I-beam track systems, Unitrack andUnibeam, were introduced in 1988. TodayTriple E manufactures eight ranges: Unitrack,Unibeam, Chainbeam, Chaintrack, Erail,Unicyc, 3Way and 2Way, with an ethos ofsimple design, rugged construction andease of installation. And it’s a case of horsesfor courses - each range offers advantagesin particular circumstances, such as simplewalk-along systems for space dividing, ormotorised systems used for example to varyvenue acoustics.

Unitrack has a simple one bolt and fourspigot joining system which along with ball

raced runners and nylon pulley, offerssmooth and silent operation. Most solutionscan be serviced with standard parts butsystems can also be custom designed. Theaddition of a TDrive motor allows for a fullymotorised system.

Unibeam is an aluminium extruded blackanodised track system and shares manycomponents of Unitrack. Stock length is6.1m, and it can be curved to a minimumradius of 2m. The symmetrical design allowsfor Unibeam to be rigged either way up.

Erail is a compact aluminium track suitablefor medium- to heavy-weight curtains: it canbe operated manually or by motors.

New in the Triple E stable is its range oftrack-mounted plug-and-play motors, theTDrive and the SDrive, which can be used onboth straight and curved systems. TheTDrive is primarily intended for Unitrack andUnibeam and the SDrive is designed forErail.

This year, Triple E launched its new DMAXcontrol box which allows all of its motors tobe controlled via DMX.

Of course, in addition to its ‘standard’ range,Triple E also undertakes many customdesign engineering projects. www.3-eee.com

INFO@SHOWTEX.COM // WWW.SHOWTEX.COM // WWW.SHOWTEXRENTAL.COMAMAZING STAGE FABRICS IN MOTION

Molton / Velours Shakespeare / Rail H100 / ShowTrack

THE OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR HIGH END

CURTAIN TRACKS & MOTION CONTROL

Triple E’s SDrive.

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