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J.R. Clancy Rigs EMPAC, Receives Patent Print E-mail
Written by Jacob Coakley
Feb 02, 2009

ImageSYRACUSE, NY—When the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute opened on October 3, its theatre, concert hall and two studios were ready for action with automated rigging from J. R. Clancy, Inc. They have also received a patent for their SureGrip rope product, a theatrical rope with a wear indicator, to tell users when the rope should be replaced.

Eight years in the making, the 221,000-square-foot Curtis R. Priem EMPAC near Troy, NY, includes nine levels of studios, a 1,200-seat concert hall, a smaller 400-seat theatre, a studio with seating for 240 people, another that seats 120, a 1,500-square-foot rehearsal studio and four artist-in-residence studios. Designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners of London and New York, the project’s construction began in 2003. Theater consultants Fisher Dachs Associates designed rigging systems, with J. R. Clancy supplying the rigging and acoustical equipment for the four performance spaces. You can read the Stage Directions story on the Center here .

For the theatre, J.R. Clancy provided 22 high speed (0 - 240 fpm) hoists with 2000-lb. capacity;  a 33’ H x 60’ W steel-framed Zetex fire curtain, a motorized main curtain, and a stage lift and seating wagon

The concert hall received motorized acoustic elements, allowing the room acoustics to be adjusted.   These included line shaft hoists for the movable ceiling panels, acoustical panel hoists, plus acoustic drapes and tracks, and control system.

J. R. Clancy also provided point hoist systems for the two studio theatres. The hoists are at fixed locations, with an ingenious system of movable, swiveling spot blocks. These can be mounted anywhere on the grid, allowing the user to place spotlines as needed.  

ImageAdditionally, the US Patent Office has issued patent 7,461,500 to J. R. Clancy for a “System for Determining Wear to Rigging System Lines,” more commonly known as SureGrip rope. It's a theatrical rope with a wear indicator, to tell users when the rope should be replaced.   

SureGrip was developed by J.R. Clancy specifically to address the safety concerns of worn hand lines.  Excessive wear is indicated by a “telltale” red thread woven into the rope – when red threads are visible, it’s time to replace the line.  

“Theatre safety is important to us,” said Bob Theis, President of J. R. Clancy “and the development of SureGrip is part of our ongoing work to reduce risk backstage.”

In addition to the patented wear indicator, the rope contains an identifying ribbon with Clancy’s name, contact information, and year of manufacture.   A pair of “Clancy green” marker threads on the exterior of the rope indicates that it’s Clancy’s SureGrip.

SureGrip is available in 3/4” diameter in either white or black and has a breaking strength of 10,000 pounds; more than double that of manila line. The familiar 3-strand twist construction is traditional in rigging hand lines.  However, unlike the traditional manila rope, its synthetic blend resists rot or stretch from environmental factors such as heat or humidity.  

For more info, visit www.jrclancy.com .

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