Manchester Central is one of the UK’s most iconic and popular venues and the redevelopment has centred on creating new and extended foyer areas to the iconic Grade ll listed Central Hall. The redevelopment is allied to infrastructure improvements to provide further cohesion to the venue’s facilities, adding value to clients and to the venue’s appeal as one of the UK’s major convention and exhibition complexes. Key to the Central Hall space development was the implementation of infrastructure in-house to facilitate the staging of conference and gala functions.
We are proud to announce a provision of a complete rigging solution, working with our partners, Litestructures, the rigging package consist of over 240m of primary trusses, orientated in 6 longitudinal runs down the hall space. These runs can be operated independently for local rigging, or joined laterally using LitePro290-4HD spreader beams, to create a versatile rigging grid.
Alternative Access Logistics worked with Lift Turn Move (LTM) to specify a hoist system, with the aim of minimizing working at height within the Central Hall. Utilising 54 LoadGuard™ 1000kg BS7906/1/a hoists gives the facility to move the grid to a number of positions within the hall, without the need for secondary restraint when rigged. The control system utilises IBEX positional control, integrated load monitoring on all hoist locations, to create a reliable user interface to embrace the many and varied requirements of users of Manchester Central. Cabling and mounting infrastructure was installed utilising a combination of IRATA abseiling and powered access machinery, in direct liaison with the venue management and electrical contractors.
We would like to thank our partners on this projects which enabled us following the tender procedures and extensive design consultation, to manufacture and install the systems in a period of just 8 weeks. The systems are aimed specifically at ensuring safe and productive use of this cutting edge venue infrastructure, currently and in the future.
