Vortek Rigging

VORTEK is a complete theatrical rigging system brought to you by Vortek Rigging,  the industry leader in stage machinery innovation. From ceiling to floor Vortek Rigging delivers single point responsibility by providing the entire rigging package.

VORTEK is the complete system, from hoist unit, loft blocks and battens to the VORTEK Automation Center (VAC™) -- Mission Control of the VORTEK system. 

VORTEK is the culmination of years of innovation and design.  Vortek Rigging delivers this cutting-edge technology, and makes it affordable to every performing arts organization regardless of size.

Vortek Hoists

V76A Pendant Control Hoist Module is suitable for Sets, Orchestra Shells and Large sized Electrics in larger theaters where manual push button control is required. It provides fixed lifting speeds with soft starts and stops at maximum lifting capacities. It is a perfect choice when requirements call for a batten of 2000 lbs or less lifting capacity.

• SPEED: 20 ft/min
• LIFTING CAPACITY: 2000 lbs
• TRAVEL DISTANCE: Standard Travel 65’ – Additional travel distance available upon request
• DIMENSIONS:

• Length: 12’-8”

• Height: 19.3” Does not include backbone stiffener height

• Width: 9”

• WIRE ROPE LIFT LINES: 3/16” 7x19 Galvanized Aircraft Cable run to a single Nylatron® drum
• WEIGHT: 650 lbs
• Every Vortek® hoist system is built to lift line standards of 10:1 design factor.
• Glass filled Nylatron® drum features helical grooves which fully envelops lift lines to insure positive tracking and avoid “pile winding” wire rope. Glass filled Nylatron® is less abrasive to wire rope than steel drums as noted by SAE. Nylatron is quieter than steel.
• Pendant Control Center features; Soft Start and Soft Stop, Momentary push buttons for directional control with ability to store and clear up to four targets with the turn of a key, Relative positioning errors between targets of no more than .02”. Easy to adjust I batten sensitivity, Maintained mushroom head emergency stop button.
• Vortek® control system general architecture is composed of “Off the Shelf Parts” which are available world wide
• Wireless Remote with e-stop available

• Acoustical barrier significantly lowers audible noise from escaping the enclosure. 6 decibels over ambient noise level with no outstanding frequencies.

• Acoustical Cover: Self-extinguishing fire retardant thermoplastic that holds a UL94-V0-5VA flammability rating. This is the most flame retardant UL94 rating for any material available today.

• Loft Block: Self-extinguishing, molded, glass-reinforced, heat stabilized nylon 66 resins. This material has been tested to ASTM D 648 and ASTM D 3418 standards and holds a UL94-HB flammability rating.

• Power wiring is installed in a common buss system with pigtail taps for ease of connection to each Vortek® hoist.

• The power pigtail cords are equipped with twist locking connectors to connect 3-phase 200-240VAC or 380-480 VAC +/- 10%, 50/60 Hz power to each Vortek® hoist module as specified in the system riser drawing. (Wireways provided by Vortek™) Hoist motor horsepower: 2 HP standard for VP76A.

Vortek Automation Center (VAC)

The Vortek® Automation Center (VAC™) is the brains behind the Vortek® Automated Rigging System. There is no show too big or small for the VAC™. Each VAC™ is supplied with Vortek® software to ensure unbeatable reliability, protection and security. Productions requiring either multiple presets or hundreds of cues are handled smoothly through VAC™. VAC™ offers an optional seamless, instantaneous recovery of cues, which prevents a processor failure from stopping your show.

• VAC™ is wheelchair accessible
• VAC™ screens are inherently intuitive
• Maintained mushroom head e-stop button
• Multiple e-stop locations available
• Variable speeds
• Virtually unlimited cues
• Easy-to-use preset screens
• Digital photography identification for scenery
• Factory pre-set ultimate software limits
• Adjustable batten high/low and intermediate trim targets
• VAC™ will operate up to 250 Vortek® units on one system
• Target and position repeatability is consistently within 1/50" accuracy
• Adjust over-load under-load sensitivity of battens

• Motor restrict function gives administrative control over selective hoist access

• Multi-language feature along with a user selectable menu for English/Metric position conversion

• VAC™ uses easy-to-operate touch screens, splash proof keypad and dual joysticks

• Ramped starts and stops for smooth acceleration and deceleration

• VAC™ has 3 levels of password protection; factory, administrator and user

• Seamless recovery of cues in the event of main possessor failure (optional with backup laptop)

• All electrical components are off the shelf parts and available worldwide

• Multiple synchronous battens track together in groups within 1/50" accuracy

• Remote service and assistance

Vortek Wireways

The Vortek® wireway insures that Vortek® System commissioning will be swift and reliable. The Vortek® wireway system also insures a smooth running, stable Vortek® system for many years to come. Each wireway system consists of two independent wireways, one for high voltage power and one for low voltage and network control. The high voltage wireway comes pre-engineered and tested per application and contains the power distribution buss that will ultimately deliver protected high voltage power points to each Vortek® hoist in the system. The low voltage wireway also comes pre-engineered and tested per application and is used to distribute all low voltage control wiring and network through a series of pre-terminated pigtail drops.

• Compact design, only 3.375" x 4.75" in cross section
• Constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy #6063-T6
• Significantly reduces field electric time and cost
• Internal corner gussets for strength and rigidity
• Terminal access panels for easy installation
• Interlocking cover design for added safety
• 1 1/2" die cut Vortek® identification labels
• Integral resettable over current protection
• Electro-statically applied paint finish
• Terminal block interconnection
• Pre-terminated and tested
• Rustproof construction
• Plug and Play design

Vortek Loft Block

Vortek® Single and Multi Line Loft Block’s unique flexible design facilitates quality installations when inherent inconsistencies exist with the building’s structural steel. Each loft block quickly attaches to building steel via high strength bolt and locknut that promote constant holding pressure on the mounting beam. The design of this loft block allows it to pivot on two axes. Vortek® Loft Block pivoting action permits the loft block to self-align in the event of uneven or often unpredictable building steel. All injected molded components are formed from high-grade glass filled Nylatron™ to provide a quiet, non-abrasive surface for the cable to travel on. Glass filled Nylatron™ has been shown to be less abrasive to wire rope than steel by SAE. Vortek® Loft Blocks are lighter in weight than traditional angle iron based, loft blocks. Light-weight Vortek® Loft Blocks can considerably reduce overall building structural loads. Unlike typical idler blocks, the fully integrated Vortek® idler block was designed with the same root diameter as the load bearing sheave to ensure that all moving components travel at the same rate. This reduces both noise and wear. All pass through and drop cables are contained by Vortek® keeper guards, to prevent unwanted system intrusion.