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Widget of the Year 2019

Broadweigh Bluetooth is now an award winning product – despite launching just one week ago. The product which made its debut on the A.C. Entertainment stand at the ABTT Theatre Show in Alexandra Palace on the 5th of June, was awarded the Widget of the Year accolade at the annual awards ceremony.

The judging panel, which comprised an experienced group of working practitioners and industry peers, commented:

“As a quick way to provide monitoring of small rigs, the Broadweigh load cell shackle – in conjunction with a Bluetooth connected device running the Broadweigh app – is exceptionally useful for those touring shows that require up to 12 points of rigging. The App also sums selected load cells to enable a maximum load to be identified. Use of this product will greatly speed up prep days.”

Kelly Voysey, sales and marketing manager at Mantracourt Electronics, Broadweigh’s parent company added:

“We are delighted to receive this year’s widget award at the show. Our aim was to bring a useful and affordable tool to a theatre technician’s tool box – which would provide a clear picture of what is happening on the rig.”

She continued: “As a design and manufacturing company, our ethos is to bring intelligent, usable products to market. We believe the Broadweigh Bluetooth system fills a gap in the load monitoring solutions currently available. We look forward to bringing more Broadweigh innovations to our customers.”

Johnny Marshall, senior rigging sales executive for A.C. Entertainment, Broadweigh’s product partner in the UK, added:

“The Broadweigh Bluetooth shackle had a fantastic launch day with plenty of interest on our stand. This was topped off by the product winning the ABTT Widget of the Year Award. Over the two days of the ABTT show, many conversations were had regarding integrating Broadweigh Bluetooth into front of house trusses, weighing set pieces into a scene dock, and comments that it would be a valuable addition to a technician’s tool box. The simple set up and ease of use through the free iOS or Android app means you can quickly have access to loading information straight to the technician’s pocket – without a laptop or extra products. All in all we felt this product with its unique features is what the theatre industry has been waiting for.”

The sentiment was echoed by Michael Sorowka, managing director of Broadweigh’s US product partner, Paradigm Rigging – one of a number of the brand’s distributors who trialled the kit prior to its official launch. Testing Broadweigh Bluetooth on the Ford booth at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, Michael put 4 Broadweigh Blue load cells on a lighting truss.

“The Bluetooth line, in my mind, really shines in the applications where there are less than ten load cells in use and simple readings of the loading data are all that is needed. It’s so quick and convenient for weight checks and easy monitoring for riggers. Having the ease to share a file with anybody else running the phone app, extends the load cell weight information available, right unto the palm of the rigger’s hand.”

Kelly concluded:

“We had an excellent ABTT Theatre Show this year. Shows like ABTT provide a great forum for us to engage with our greatest asset – our customers. Winning the ABTT Widget of the Year Award is the icing on the cake.”

Johnny Marshall, Senior Rigging Sales Executive, A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd. Kelly Voysey, Sales & Marketing Manager, Mantracourt Elliot Van Leare, Sales Executive, Mantracourt