Johannesburg-based rental and production company MGG has made a significant investment in new Robe moving lights, taking delivery of the 76 new fixtures, including the first iFORTE and iFORTE LTXs and the first SVB1 luminaires on the continent of Africa. The total order comprised 24 iFORTEs, 48 SVB1s, and four iFORTE LTXs, which are for use with the four RoboSpot BaseStations the company already owns.
Celebrating 25 years in business this year, MGG started as a small company when owner and Managing Director Mark Gaylard was still at school and running mobile discos. It has grown steadily and now become a highly successful and visible technical supplier in South Africa.
MGG purchased its first Robe products in 2008 – eight ColorMix 250 ATs. “Robust build quality and longevity of the products is a major reason for our continual investment in Robe,” Gaylard commented, pointing out that the company’s original ColorSpot and ColorBeam 700s are still working well and are in general use for those more budget-conscious projects. “They are still excellent moving lights for many applications.”
A selection of different BMFLs joined the inventory around 10 years ago, shortly after the product was launched, and while these are also still going strong, it was also the time to invest in the latest LED tech. “Robe offers such great value, and we know the kit will last for many years – something that is essential for the SA market, which has a slower attrition rate for fixtures than some others,” he stated.
MGG Project Manager Günther Müller explained how the company has always been interested in Robe’s TRANSFERABLE ENGINE – a route they it first bought into with 34 ESPRITES purchased in 2020. “The ESPRITES have worked extensively and brilliantly to become our new workhorses,” he said, noting that they have done almost the same hours as the BMFLs in half the time.
“The innovation of the iSeries was a big thing for us,” noted Müller, explaining why it was the right time to add the more powerful iFORTE series to the company’s stock. “Robe has really refined and developed its IP technology nicely, ensuring that the fixtures are lightweight and virtually identical in size and weight to the non-IP versions, so it’s easy to mix the two types for indoor shows.”
Gaylard initially spotted the SVB1s on the internet when searching for more LEDBeam 350s and 150s after PLASA 2024. Having ordered 24 of each sized LEDBeam to the existing stock, he and the team also decided to go for some SVB1s.
Apart from all the technology, “it is always exciting to be ‘the first’ with anything,” Gaylard confirmed. With the SVB1s residing at the Johannesburg HQ, MGG can also move some of its LEDBeam 350s and 150s to its Cape Town branch.
MGG now has a wide selection of Robe moving lights built up over the years, and these are out working most of the time. The LEDWash 600s and 1200s are still hugely popular across all the sectors – from music concerts and television productions to local and international high-end business events.
Meanwhile, Gaylard’s all-time favourite Robe fixture remains the Tetra2. “There are so many cool and creative ways that the Tetra2’s sheet of light effects can be applied,” he commented, admitting that his preference may change with these new arrivals.
Photos: Chris Duys
