Leading European flightcase manufacturer 5 Star has supplied well over 1000 cases to West Midlands based AV rental specialists Central Presentations Ltd (CPL) in the last seven years, which have ranged from audio equipment, 19” racks, projector, plasma and LCDs and video production cases.
5 Star's Keith Sykes says, “Clients like CPL are invaluable. They are extremely busy year-round, their work is always varied and interesting and they are constantly expanding the equipment and rental stock, all of which needs flight casing for on-going road work. Consequently, we are involved in supplying a full range of standard and special cases”.
The latest CPL 5 Star case project has involved a custom designed set of road cases for CPL's newest series of “fly away” portable video production units (PPUs).
This is a smaller PPU specifically designed to service the proliferation of projects where the larger full sized Grass Valley PPUs would be too large, and is based around a Panasonic AV-HS400 mixer. This is integrated with two Marshall 24 inch monitors, a Ross HD/SD matrix switcher and an RTS talkback system.
The case was required to incorporate all the PPU elements in one compact road trunk, which is waist high and an easy lift. 5 Star's Steve Swann collaborated with CPL's Matthew Boyse on evolving the design.
"We needed something smaller, highly portable and quick and easy to install and rig for small-to-medium corporate or live events and presentations in particular," explains Boyse, adding “The system, complete with its flight case, fits the bill perfectly”.
The Tour Grade road case features a striking red laminate exterior finish to match in with all the other 1000 plus cases that 5 Star has manufactured for CPL.
The screen monitors are mounted on gas struts that lift up and glide elegantly into place – a feature that utilises an otherwise redundant case lid.
As with all the other PPU components, these are in exactly the right mix-ready location for comfortable operation – no neck or arm straining, etc. - of the system, so once on site in the established ‘video world' position, all that is needed is power ..... and the video department is ready to rock!
One CPL client initially thought that some bits were missing when the kit arrived on site due to the compact nature of the cased PPU!
However, he soon realised that inside the case is a fully loaded 'Pandora's Box' of technology which is smartly packaged, neatly arranged, fully functional and good to go – the result of some great teamwork between 5 Star and CPL.
The first CPL mini PPU has been used on numerous events, and proved such a success … that more are imminent.
For more press info on 5 Star Cases, please call Louise Stickland on +44 (0)1865 202679 or +44 (0)7831 329888 or Email ‘[email protected]'. Contact 5 Star direct on +44 (0)1945 427000 or check www.5star-cases.com.
Photo shows Richard Fitzgerald, one of CPL's warehouse technicians who assisted in building the PPU for which 5 Star custom designed the special highly portable case.