The new Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) headquarters building in Middleton, Wisconsin, has opened to wide acclaim. The headquarters’ atrium is based on the paintings of Edward Hopper, with each “storefront” having a story to tell, according to ETC CEO Fred Foster who created the concept for ETC. The Nighthawks cafe serves as the company’s reception area, with the look preserved down to the coffee urns in the corner. Next door, an historic movie theatre marquee reads “Century” and the facade serves as the entrance to product demonstration and staging areas.

A skyscraper reminiscent of the Empire State Building towers over the entire Town Square area. The $21 million building project provides a new operations facility where all corporate functions are in one place, with a spectacular demonstration space to show ETC’s lighting products in action. To find out more about the new space based on Mr. Foster’s ideas of a more “democratized” space, visit www.etcconnect.com.

ETC also announced the acquisition of the Dutch dimming manufacturer IES. ETC plans to increase sales of IES products through its sales network in Europe and introduce its technologies to the North American markets.

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After several years of growth, Production Advantage decided it had “busted the seams” at its previous location. The company has moved to a very spacious location in Williston, Vermont. Mailing address for Production Advantage is P.O. Box 1700, Williston, VT 05495-1700. Shipping address is 301 Avenue D, Suite 10, Williston, VT 05495. Telephone and fax numbers have not changed, nor has the web site, www.productionadvantageonline.com.

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American Harlequin Corporation has added a new product line, ConfiDance, a concentrated liquid rosin which can be used on wood, tile, linoleum, or almost any hard surface. ConfiDance slows down a dance surface to guard against slippery spots, and can be diluted slightly for very slippery surfaces or diluted heavily for surfaces where just a bit of traction is needed. While Harlequin’s dance vinyl roll floor is slip-resistant, the company has had requests to provide a liquid rosin for hardwood and tile floors. The concentrate is available in one gallon containers which make at least 21 and up to 40 gallons of product and can be ordered at 800-642-6440.

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Production Resources Group, LLC and VLPS Lighting Services International, Inc. have announced a merger agreement. A newly formed subsidiary of PRG will merge with and into VLPS, with VLPS becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of PRG. The new PRG would operate as PRG Lighting, PRG Audio, and PRG Scenic Technologies. VLPS had sales in 2003 of $63.5 million, according to the announcement. PRG’s Jere Harris will be chairman and chief executive officer and Rusty Brutsche will be vice chairman and chief technology officer.

“This is a new beginning for our company,” Mr. Harris said. “we are taking the entertainment equipment and technology sector to the next level of development, responding to customer demands for more comprehensive production solutions available under one roof and new, more creative and more personalized approaches that bring productions to life.”

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