AUSTRALIA: Leading Australian rental specialist Harry The Hirer Productions (HTH) has expanded its lighting inventory with an investment in 80 ROBE iFORTES, reinforcing its commitment to rider-ready, high-performance fixtures for touring and large-scale event work. The new fixtures have been added to the company’s extensive rental stock and will rotate between its major hubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, supporting a busy schedule of national and international productions.

Supplied via ROBE ANZ, part of distributor LSC Control Systems, the delivery reflects the new distribution structure for Robe across the ANZ region, headed by Darren McLanders. Explaining the decision, Harry the Hirer Productions’ General Manager Simon Finlayson noted that while the company prides itself on trailblazing trends, it is equally mindful of mature products with proven demand, particularly in the US. The iFORTE’s frequent appearance on international touring riders was a key factor, positioning the fixture to help generate its own demand within the Australian market. Alongside this, the business was actively seeking a long-throw profile fixture capable of meeting both current and future production requirements.

After evaluating multiple options, iFORTE was identified as the strongest choice in terms of brightness and longevity, with Simon adding that their ROI calculations are based on a minimum of three years of constant work, extending ideally to a six-year lifespan for full value. Previous Robe investments had already demonstrated durability in demanding rental environments, while versatility was another decisive factor, with the iFORTE proving equally applicable across touring and event-based sectors.

Much of Harry the Hirer Productions’ work involves servicing international artists on Australasian tour legs, alongside delivering numerous high-profile corporate and major events. “We put time and money into the research of our investments, and also consult our international connections, so we know what is happening in the US, the UK and Europe, which is where a lot of the touring specs tend to start. This is another good indicator of what we should be purchasing,” stated Simon.

From an operational perspective, the fixture’s IP65 rating was also a major consideration, according to Eddie Welsh, General Manager of the New South Wales branch, particularly given the volume of outdoor concerts and major events in the company’s portfolio. He highlighted that not having to pressurise the unit significantly reduces maintenance time and supports the fast, efficient turnarounds demanded by the business. “The lumens-per-kilo ratio is another consideration,” stated Eddie, noting that roof weight loading is often restricted in venues, while the crisp output over long zoom ranges impressed across both rock ‘n’ roll and corporate event applications. Since delivery, the iFORTES have been in near-constant use, an outcome that aligns perfectly with the company’s investment strategy.

Fifty of the fixtures were recently deployed by lighting designer Ziggy Ziegler of ZZ Creative Australia on a project for a major Australian bank at the ICC Sydney, forming part of a rig comprising 250 static and moving LED fixtures, primarily flown on overhead trusses. The event combined an environmental technology expo with plenary sessions, breakout rooms and product demonstrations, all presented within a contemporary theatrical framework that blended naturalistic Australian themes with technology-driven lighting.

Throughout the venue, including internally lit free-standing walls and scenic elements, the iFORTES acted as the primary workhorses. “It was simple to assign multiple tasks to the iFORTES,” explained Ziggy, noting their use for focused front light stage washes via the inbuilt shutter system with soft focus, before being re-tasked as chair and fireside chat specials and speech spots throughout the day. “The brightness was amazing – we mostly ran them at around 60 per cent – and they worked well juxtaposed against the projection surfaces in the room,” he added.

Elsewhere, groups of iFORTES were used for effects, gobo washes, set lighting and shutter specials with colour tints tailored to individual expo stands, with individual fixtures delivering both wide zoned gobo floor washes and tight-focus signage highlights, simplifying patching, system design and maintenance. In a waterfall-themed breakout room, further iFORTES were deployed as effects lights alongside low fog and water sound effects, with projection creating the waterfall itself. Ziggy reports that the iFORTE colour temperature adjustment enabled accurate and even colour correction to match the projected imagery. Experiencing the fixtures for the first time, he concluded, “I was delighted with the results, very much enjoyed using them and look forward to the next time.”

Both Simon and Eddie emphasised their confidence in Robe as a brand they trust, citing the company’s engineering-led philosophy under the leadership of Josef Valchar. “You can see that these lighting products are designed by a lighting engineer who is passionate about his products, who understands the fundamentals of lighting and who is tuned in to what lighting designers and rental companies want,” he concluded, underlining why the iFORTE has become a strategic addition to Harry the Hirer Productions’ evolving lighting arsenal.