Light ideas

What is your career background?

I have a degree in engineering. After working for 10 years freelancing in the event industry as a presenter, project manager, technician and sales manager for Europe and Middle East, I was approached by lunatX in December 2007.

I needed no convincing in joining the company. I’m responsible for sales, marketing and PR where my main emphasis is looking for new markets and developing new business relationships worldwide.

What products and services does lunatX offer?

Our full service offer includes consultation, planning, conception and realisation on the one hand, and specialisation on creative, innovative, precise and made-to-fit solutions on the other. When both come together, the results make lasting impressions that cannot be achieved with mere off-the-shelf products.

This is why our equipment outfit consists only of the best technology from renowned manufacturers and our own in-house engineered technology, which have quickly become approved standards.

Our engineering is also vital for breathtaking staging. For the first time, The Pyro-Matrix dynamically sets possible stadium roofs, facades, bridges or whatever you want into the right scene. Each single effect is electronically controlled and therefore fired precisely on cue. From geometrical figures to waves and chases, there is little that is not possible.

As well as the design, consultancy, installation and execution of tailor-made shows worldwide, lunatX also takes care of police, fire service and authority approvals for pyro and flame shows, plus health and safety and cover service.

Furthermore, we have a rental service for effect machines i.e. smoke, hazers, wind, snow, kabuki (for confetti and streamers), CO2 blasters and flame machines. We don’t sell our in-house engineered products except for the X-Flame system; the other products can only be hired for show purposes, including full service from our technicians.

What are the challenges in providing special effects?

The main challenges are always defining and engineering unique and state-of-the-art effects for events, like our X-Flame system with moving yokes and spinners and flame wheels 16 metres in diameter for in- and outdoor use, or our Pyro-Matrix for architectural structures and stadiums.We overcome challenges by a belief and love in what we do, through unique employees who live the entertainment and event industry, working relentless hours and the German precision and urge to accomplish everything at 110 %.

What projects have you worked on in the Middle East?

Projects include events at: DIFC 3rd Anniversary 2007, Abu Dhabi Police Jubilee 2007, Business Bay Crossing Dubai 2007, Radisson SAS Tower inauguration Dubai 2008, Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium 2006, Ski Dubai, Final Draw Golf Cup Abu Dhabi 2006 and Badminton Cup Kuwait 2007.

Show highlights include 2530 pyro effects in front of the international finance world at DIFC and a furious multimedia show finale at the Abu Dhabi Police Golden Jubilee.

What are your views on the entertainment sector in the Middle East?

The Middle East is a very interesting and challenging sector, which is always looking for state-of-the-art effects and is constantly searching for what’s not been seen or done before – aiming to leave lasting impressions and achieving the unthinkable.

With the never-ending wish to build the world’s tallest, biggest and unseen architecture, stadiums and sports facilities, it challenges us to create new engineering solutions to meet our clients’ demands.

Why are special effects so important in helping create a ‘wow factor’?

Seeing is believing – special effects bring a show to a climax through power, velocity, sound, colour and pictures that are created either in the sky, on stage or on buildings. Pyro effects also have a huge impact, by creating images that give you goosebumps.