Tomcat USA celebrated 15 years of in-depth training courses for professionals in the entertainment industry with a sold-out Hoist and Rigging Workshop recently in Midland, Texas. Top-notch instructors and 82 participants from all over the United States plus Canada and the UK were brought together for the four day workshop. This year also marked the third annual Advanced Hoist and Truss Workshop with 10 participants from around the US.
Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon coached participants through the disassembly and reassembly of a Lodestar chain hoist. Dimitroff was most ably assisted by Dave Sowa, project manager, and Fernando Hernandez, hoist technician, both from Tomcat.
Rocky Paulson, the recently retired president of Stage Rigging Inc., taught safe rigging techniques while Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances gave instruction on fall protection practices and equipment.
Training was rounded out by Tomcat USA design manger Keith Bohn’s one day course on advanced concepts in truss usage, including: grid design, applying loads, ground support system considerations, structural design concepts, inspection techniques. Bohn was assisted by Will Todd, project manager for Tomcat.
In addition to four days of highly informative classes, the students were treated to dinner each night—culminating with the traditional “factory night” at Tomcat USA featuring a tour of the facility, demonstrations, and graduation ceremony.
The Advanced Workshop was brought back by popular demand after its successful debut in 2005. Since Tomcat USA began its annual Hoist and Rigging Workshop, there has been a demand for more training. The Advanced Workshop is a tough two day course with more in-depth training for those that just can’t get enough.