Stay up to date with the latest happenings in the live events and technical production industry. From product launches and training sessions to behind-the-scenes stories and project highlights, our news section is where you’ll find it all.
Get the scoop on what’s new at DWR, follow our journey with industry partners, and discover the people and moments that make our community so unique. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, information, or innovation — this is the place to be.
Robe for Nuova Scena Launch Party
The latest series of Italian talent show Nuova Scena – Rhythm + Flow Italia – which scouts out some of the best rising star rappers – kicked off to an electric start with a launch party staged at famous Milan live music venue and nightspot, Fabrique, complete with a dazzling
Introducing ADJ’s Vizi Pix Z19 Pixel-Mappable LED Wash Zoom
Designed To Dazzle: Introducing the Vizi Pix Z19 Pixel-Mappable LED Wash Zoom Fixture with Three Effects in One! Conceived to help lighting designers unleash their creativity, ADJ’s new Vizi Pix Z19 is a versatile automated wash-zoom luminaire equipped with 19 pixel-mappable, lime-infused primary LEDs. These can generate everything from a
Claypaky Shines on Mexico’s Riviera Maya with its Aqua Line During Shield Family Open Day with Hermes Music Profesional
Claypaky, in collaboration with Hermes Music Profesional, its official exclusive distributor in Mexico, held a spectacular Shield Family Open Day in a unique setting at the Bombay restaurant on the shores of the Nichupté Lagoon in Riviera Maya, Cancun. Claypaky’s Shield Family of IP66 fixtures is designed to ensure effectiveness and
grandMA3 User Training, Johannesburg
You are invited to attend a three-day grandMA3 User Training Workshop, presented by Jaques Pretorius, from 16 to 18 September from 9am to 5pm at DWR Distribution’s Johannesburg office. This three day programme is designed to familiarise participants with the essential functions of the grandMA3 software and lighting consoles, as
DWR Distribution joins TUT’s Inaugural Career Expo
The Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) held its first Career Expo on the Arts Campus on Wednesday, 13 August. The event connected senior students with potential exhibitors to showcase career pathways in the creative and technical industries. DWR Distribution was pleased to be
Claypaky Skylos Fixtures Add Stellar Effects to King’s Cup Final 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August – Sixty-two thousand people witnessed the King’s Cup Final 2025 at King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where Claypaky Skylos fixtures delivered piercing beam effects. A sea of light and color enveloped the sold-out stadium in a visual spectacle created by SLS Production, which provided 498 lighting
Koltech Gets the ESPRITE Spirit
Be’er-Sheva, Israel-based lighting rental specialist Koltech has invested in 24 new Robe ESPRITE moving lights to add to its ever-expanding rental inventory, which now includes over 150 Robe moving lights. The company was founded in 2007 by Yossi Bendavid – better known industry-wide by his nickname ‘ZakZak’, which means talkative
DWR hosts training for Ghana delegates
After months of planning, DWR Distribution is thrilled to welcome Iamadinkra, a company based in Ghana, to South Africa for private training taking place this week! With expertise spanning audio-visual design, conferencing, interactive media, and system integration, Iamadinkra has partnered with clients across many industries, delivering outstanding projects in the
IJS breaks new ground DiGiCo Quantum 852
For over three decades, Brisbane-based company IJS has helped clients navigate the often-complex landscape of technical production, providing high-end audio, lighting, staging and backline for concerts, festivals, corporate events and beyond. Further strengthening its technical capabilities, IJS recently welcomed DiGiCo’s latest digital mixing console, the Quantum 852, into its ranks.
zactrack helps deliver the magic of Souk Wonder show
A substantial zactrack PRO automated tracking system – with 32 x active trackers in use, and arguably the largest to date – was used by lighting designer Ben M Rogers from A Loud Minority (ALM) to deliver an automated follow spotting solution for the spectacular immersive “Souk Wonders” performance show
Clear-Com to Spotlight Broadcast Solutions and Special Events at IBC2025
ALAMEDA, USA – 13 August 2025 – Clear-Com® will showcase a full lineup of intercom innovations for broadcast professionals at IBC2025, taking place September 12-15 in Amsterdam, NL. On display at Stand #10.D29 will be the latest addition to the FreeSpeak wireless family, the award-winning FreeSpeak Icon™ beltpack, the adaptable
Robe for De Roma
De Roma – originally Kinema Roma – is one of Antwerp’s best-known and loved music venues, and has recently added new Robe moving lights to its house rig, comprising 12 x LEDBeam 150s, 12 x LEDBeam 350s and 24 x TX1 PosiProfiles, all specified by lighting technicians Hans Lodewijckx and
DiGiCo Quantum 225 amazes at Hangzhou Butterfly Theatre
Yue Opera is a popular Chinese opera genre that features women in all roles. For Hangzhou Butterfly Theatre’s successful premier of My Grand View Garden the audio team chose to invest in a DiGiCo Quantum 225, supplied by Rightway Audio Consultant (RAC) to deliver the required clarity and immersive experience
Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Performance: Introducing The ADJ Vintage Bar
Designed to ignite lighting designers’ creativity, the new Vintage Bar from ADJ is a decorative blinder packed with potential. Fusing vintage charm with contemporary sophistication, this eye-catching fixture offers a potent central strip of amber blinder COB LEDs surrounded by a textured reflector illuminated by RGBL color mixing LEDs. With
Vectorworks Training Durban
Join Jade Manicom for a training session focused on Vectorworks Spotlight 2025 in Durban in September. Whether you’re new to Vectorworks or an intermediate user, this small-group course (limited to just 12 participants) offers personalised guidance to help you get the most out of the software. By the end of
Network Training with Kyle Freemantle – JHB
A specialised Network Training Course, led by Kyle Freemantle, will take place at DWR Distribution in Johannesburg on 4 and 5 September from 9am to 5pm. In the world of live events, maintaining a stable and reliable network is essential. This requires careful planning of network topology, VLANs, redundancy, and
Basic Rigging Training, Durban
You are invited to join Robert Izzett from DWR Distribution for a two-day Basic Rigging training course held from 3 to 4 September from 9am to 5pm the Vineyard Church in Morningside, Durban. The two day course aims to equip delegates with the rigging laws applied in South Africa according
FENIX training kicks off in Johannesburg with Durban, and Cape Town coming next!
FENIX training kicked off in Johannesburg with delegates gaining great insight from Alex Bryan from FENIX Stage! The theory delved deep into topics like technical advise, loading capacitities, safety practises and maintenance. The fun part really was the practical side just showing how fantastic these lifting towers are and
Anolis Calumma Brings on the Carnival Mood
Two hundred and thirty-two Anolis Calumma M MC RGBCW LED fixtures – with 65-degree lenses and including a custom rear-mounted IP rated junction box modification for easier installation – are now in place on seven out of eight Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) ships! This started with Carnival Horizon in
ADJ Expands PAR Z Series with Four New LED-Powered, Wireless-Enabled Fixtures
Classic Design Meets Modern Innovation: ADJ Expands PAR Z Series with Four New LED-Powered, Wireless-Enabled Fixtures ADJ’s popular PAR Z Series fuses the timeless look of traditional PAR cans with the advantages of cutting-edge C.O.B. LED technology. Building on the success of the existing lineup, the series now welcomes four
Nina Pušlar Show Impresses Slovenia
Slovenian singer, songwriter, and superstar Nina Pušlar rocked her picturesque hometown of Ivančna Gorica, 40 kilometres out of Ljubljana, for a showstopping homecoming concert at the football stadium, celebrating 20 years of success in the music industry. Her career, like so many, started via a talent competition, and her energising,
AV Unlimited with Robe!
We mean that literally, of course … as Robe’s LEDBeam 350 unlocks some cool creativity for the team at rental company AV Unlimited in Johannesburg, South Africa! The busy rental production and technical specialist has added 12 x Robe LEDBeam 350s to the lighting inventory that join its existing stock
A Dream Come True – the DiGiCo Quantum 852 makes its debut in Africa
When the DiGiCo Quantum 852 first launched at an exclusive event in England in 2023, it caused a stir with its unrivalled capabilities and sheer size! At the time, Kyle Robson and Duncan Riley of DWR Distribution attended the launch and were blown away by DiGiCo’s new flagship console leaping
Mandela Day 2025: A Small Gesture, A Big Dream
For Mandela Day 2025, DWR Distribution chose to support an organisation close to our hearts—the South African Roadies Association (SARA), founded by Freddie Nyathela. Tucked away in Newtown, Johannesburg, SARA is more than a training centre. It’s a safe space, a second home, and a launchpad for young South
Absen ACE Training for the Rental and Staging Market
We are excited to invite the rental and staging market to attend Absen ACE Training, taking place on 19 and 20 August from 9am to 5pm at our offices. We are able to accommodate up to 40 delegates per class. This is for technicians and those in the rental and
Absen ACE Training for the Pro AV market!
We are excited to invite the ProAV market to attend Absen ACE Training, taking place on 26 and 27 Augustfrom 9am to 5pm at our offices. We are able to accommodate up to 40 delegates per class. This course is specifically designed for System Integrators and professionals in the Pro
Joyful Night as Brixton lights up
Brixton, Johannesburg once again lit up for a fabulous community event, bringing together residents, artists, and supporters in a vibrant celebration of community and creativity. The Working Dog’s Fried Wilsenach called on the help of friends from Gearhouse Splitbeam and DWR Distribution to light up the neighbourhood he proudly calls
France’s first touring pair of DiGiCo Quantum 852 join Indochine for massive tour
Formed in Paris during 1981, Indochine have combined single and album sales of 10 million. Their latest tour sold out in hours, with 105 dates across France, Belgium and Switzerland. Over one million people will experience these shows and, in a first for France, powering every performance will be a
Positive Feedback from June’s Clear-Com Training
Nick Chapman from Showcom and Kyle Robson from DWR Distribution presented Clear-Com training in June at the DWR offices in Johannesburg. The two-day session covered everything from basic 2-wire communication systems to the full Clear-Com range, including ICON Beltpacks and hardware components that integrate with Arcadia—resulting in a complete multimedia
Gearhouse Splitbeam expands and updates its followspot inventory with Robert Juliat Arthur LT
Gearhouse Splitbeam of Johannesburg, part of South Africa’s Gearhouse Group, has updated and expanded its followspot inventory with the addition of 3 Robert Juliat Arthur LT 800W LED 4°-10° (Long Throw) followspots, supplied by Robert Juliat’s exclusive distributor for South Africa, DWR Distribution. Founded 15 years ago by Alistair Kilbee,
Aurras Group Invests in grandMA3
Aurras Group is a busy, energetic and innovative technical production – embracing lighting, audio, video and AV, power, staging & rigging and event supply – company based in Cape Town, South Africa. It is owned and headed by Justin Heyman and Gareth Aitken, who merged their respective companies, TechX and
ADJ Focus Flex L7
The Focus Flex L7 offers lighting designers the creative flexibility of generating vibrant washes, punchy beams, and eye-catching pixel effects from one compact and quick automated luminaire. Powered by an array of seven potent 40-Watt 4-in-1 RGBL color mixing LEDs, each of which can be controlled independently, it offers
The RdmNode from Visual Prodctions
RdmNode 4-port eDMX converter The RdmNode is a 4-port eDMX node designed to seamlessly convert Art-Net and sACN into DMX-512 and vice versa. Its compact DIN Rail form factor makes it an excellent choice for system integration and architectural lighting projects. A jack-of-all-trades for DMX data conversion This versatile device
Robe Takes a Walk in The Park
Production lighting for the vibrant and diverse Park Stage at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival was once again supplied by Bristol, UK-based SWG Events. A design by Mat Spencer – also Chief LX for the project – which included nearly 70 Robe moving lights, helped deliver great lighting for a blistering
The new Absen iCon X V2 Series
Exciting News from Absen! The wait is over — the iCon X V2 Series is now officially launched worldwide! The next evolution in professional LED display technology has arrived. Designed for modern meeting rooms and high-end applications, the iCon X V2 Series delivers: • All-in-one integration • Unrivalled visual clarity • Significantly enhanced performance Engineered for excellence, the iCon X V2 sets a new benchmark in LED display innovation. Upgrade your display experience today. Learn more: https://www.absen.com/product/x-v2-series/ #Absen #Absenled #AbseniConXV2 #LEDDisplay #DisplaySolutions #VisualExperience #ProductLaunch #dwrdistribution #itsallaboutthepeople Save As PDF
FENIX training in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town!
DWR Distribution is excited to welcome the wonderful Alex Bryan from FENIX Stage to South Africa! Alex will be hosting hands-on training sessions covering everything from product introductions to loading capacities, safety, maintenance, and more. The training takes place in Johannesburg on 14 August, in Durban on 19 August and ends
Visit the Clear-Com Roadshow in Cape Town & Johannesburg!
DWR Distribution invites you to the Clear-Com Roadshow with Clear-Com’s John Sparrow and Samer Mouwanes and DWR’s Kyle Robson, where the latest communication solutions will be showcased. From advanced beltpacks and headsets to reliable cabling and connectivity, explore the tools that bring clarity, control, and confidence to every production. Join
SpiNode 4-port SPI converter from Visual Productions
The SpiNode is a 4-port SPI controller engineered to effortlessly translate Art-Net and sACN into SPI, bridging the gap between lighting control and pixel-mapped installations. Designed for versatility, the SpiNode supports all major SPI chip protocols ensuring compatibility with virtually any LED fixture or custom rig. Additionally, its compact DIN
KLANG provides Immersive Clarity for Ballimaaraan
Ballimaaraan is a band whose performance style is a genre in itself, and musical storytelling is key. Led by creative powerhouse Piyush Mishra, their style moves fluidly between spoken word, rock, folk and theatrical performances. For Piyush Joshi, KLANG has transformed his approach, becoming essential for every artist he works
Robe LedPOINTE Hits it Off in the UK
Robe’s new LedPOINTE moving light is blazing a trail of interest across the UK market with rental and production companies investing in, and lighting designers and show operators loving this bright, versatile contemporary and – obviously – more sustainable version of Robe’s legendary original Pointe! (Above): Courtesy Firebird Events
Lightpower Group builds new headquarters
The family-run Lightpower Group unites national and international sales companies in the field of professional stage lighting. And they have been doing so for more than 45 years. In addition to Lightpower GmbH, which distributes an exclusive brand portfolio in Germany and Austria, the company MA Lighting International operates worldwide
CT Middle East makes Another Large Robe Investment
Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) has made a huge investment in new lighting equipment. This follows another substantial Robe purchase earlier in 2024. The Robe numbers on this one are 60 x iFORTES, 60 x iFORTE LTXs, 8 x IFORTE LTX FS Cameras, 80 x iTetra2 battens, 100 x LEDBeam
L-Acoustics L2D Arrays Solve 40-Metre Coverage Challenge at Spain’s Baluarte Congress Palace
Teatro Baluarte’s 1,600-seat main auditorium presented a classic audio challenge: achieving consistent coverage across 40 metres of depth without delay systems, while accommodating programming that ranges from classical orchestras to contemporary rock concerts. The venue’s reverberant acoustics and requirement for clean stage presentation – essential for flamenco and classical performances
Acoustics L Series Solves Multi-Stage Live Audio Challenge at changeNOW Event
changeNOW, Europe’s most impactful sustainability summit, presents an audio engineer’s ultimate challenge: twenty simultaneous performance zones operating across Paris’s iconic—and iconically reverberant—Grand Palais. The three-day event hosts 40,000 attendees from 140 countries in a unique format that combines international conferences with live artistic performances. Six main stages plus fourteen additional
Robe Brings on the Sunshine for Carnival Cruises
A new Robe moving light rig has been installed in the 800-capacity ‘Liquid Lounge’ main theatre space aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, which stages a host of large-scale production shows, themed performances, and other entertainment events. This was undertaken during an extensive refurbishment of the vessel whilst in dry
Have a look at the new KioscTouch2 by Visual Productions
8″ Wall-mount Touch Screen KioscTouch2 is a wall-mount touch screen providing an intuitive front-end for lighting control systems, with extensive personalisation options. Seamless Control KioscTouch2 offers a vibrant 8” touch screen with high-resolution visuals and a smooth, responsive interface. Kiosc Touch features: – Landscape and portrait mode – Multiple control
Gearhouse Splitbeam Keeps All Options Open with Robe
Johannesburg-based theatrical lighting rental specialist Splitbeam – part of the Gearhouse South Africa Group – has invested in new Robe ESPRITE Fresnels and Tetra2 moving lights to help service its busy, vibrant, and varied client base. The 48 x ESPRITES were purchased with the HCF (High Colour Fidelity) LED engines
Creative Kilowatt brings Pro Absen LED Screen, MPT Towers and Chainmaster to Bloem
(Above): DWR Distribution’s Dylan Jones with Creative Kilowatt’s Stefan van Biljon and JP Schroeder. Bloemfontein-based technical supplier Creative Kilowatt stepped up the city’s event tech game with the purchase of 120 Absen NT3.9 outdoor LED panels — the first of their kind in the region — along with four
ROA Hits a High Note with New Robe Fixtures
Grupo ROA is a busy and creative event production supplier and equipment rental company based in Zinacantepec just west of the city of Toluca in Mexico State, Mexico. The company is run by the charismatic, proactive entrepreneur and music enthusiast Rodolfo Oropeza, who runs several related companies and businesses located
Murangi Productions upgrade with grandMA3 and ADJ
This year marks several exciting milestones for Johannesburg-based technical supplier, Murangi Productions. The company is celebrating its 21st anniversary, founder Hendrick Nemalili is turning 50, and to top it off, they’ve just made a major investment in new gear—including a grandMA3 light and 12 ADJ Jolt Panels, all supplied by
RCF Hybrid Online Training, Cape Town
Cape Town technicians looking to enhance their audio skills are invited to join RCF Training held at DWR Distribution, Cape Town. The training, presented by Jaco Beukes and Kyle Freemantle, will be streamed live from Johannesburg, with on-site support provided by trainer Juan Jansen van Vuuren. The course runs on