Fiberstars Inc. (www.fiberstars.com) has received a $2 million R&D award from the Advanced Technology Program of the US Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (www.nist.gov).
Frezzi Energy Systems (www.frezzi.com) was awarded a technical Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development of Advanced Battery Technology for news-gathering cameras. It was the first time the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had recognized this category.
Hi-Tech Rentals, Inc. and Full Circle Lighting, Inc. have decided to officially merge their resources. The goal of the merger is to provide clients with the highest-quality turnkey solution available in the marketplace - Full Circle's expertise lies in lighting and production services for corporate, theatrical, and special events while Hi-Tech is prominent in high-end projection, audio, and video in the national trade show market. Both companies will continue to operate with existing management and facilities headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in the Orlando, Dallas, and Seattle markets. They can be found online at www.hitechrent.com and www.fullcirclelighting.com.
The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is accepting scholarship applications to be chosen at the 18th annual Lighting Design Awards program on May 31 in Las Vegas. Applicants must be students who are pursuing architectural lighting design as a course of study. Deadline for scholarship and grant submissions is February 15; visit www.iald.org for submission requirements and eligibility information. In other IALD news, three new fellows have been elected to the organization: Randy Burkett of St. Louis, MI; Helen Diemer, vice president of The Lighting Practice in Philadelphia; and Lee Waldron of Narberth, PA.
Meyda Tiffany (www.meyda.com) names Tracy Lighting Group its new sales agency in Georgia and Alabama.
PLASA has announced that Neil Darracott, design engineer at Total Fabrications Ltd, has been elected to the executive committee of the association. Mick Hannaford (Light Processor), the serving PLASA chairman, has been reelected for his second three-year term, while PLASA treasurer Sammy DeHavilland of Dare Pro Audio/Deco Leisure has been reelected for a three-year term. Newcomer Darracott fills the other three-year term, while Paul Hinkly of LMC Audio, who was co-opted onto the PLASA committee last year, was elected for a further one-year term.
The Pulse is the name of Super Vision's new 3,500-sq.-ft. (315 sq. m) application showroom and training facility for its fiber-optic and LED lighting products. Jan Storment is the company's new national accounts sales manager.
Visual Lighting Technologies has announced a North American distribution pact with Frederikshavn, Denmark-based Roblon, for Roblon's fiber-optic products used for themed environment and entertainment-related markets.
South Africa-based Prosound Pty Ltd has recently installed Zero 88 desks in a number of entertainment venues. The Monsoon Lagoon Revue Bar and the Hannover Street Night Club are now able to control both automated and conventional lighting with a Sirius250 desk, while the Grandwest Casino in Cape Town chose an Illusion120 to light its Ice Rink.