mep-Magazin February/March 2001

As host, LOBO brought ILDA 2000 to Germany and once again obtained more ILDA Awards than any other company.

The "International Laser Display Association" (ILDA) is the global umbrella organization of all professional enterprises in show laser business. The approximately 150 members of the US-based association meet once a year for a multi-day conference to exchange experiences.

Whereas last year's meeting was held in "Walt Disney World", Florida, LOBO from Aalen in cooperation with MediaLas from Hechingen invited to "ILDA 2000" taking place in Germany for the first time.

Three quarters of the participants from all over the world already joined the Welcome Reception in LOBO's new premises late last year. Nobody wanted to miss the opportunity to take a closer look at this world-renowned company. In addition to culinary delights, the newest creations from the LOBO Studios as well as lots of high-tech were also on display. LOBO's General Manager Lothar Bopp: "We are very glad to notice that in 2000 ILDA has become aware of the fact that some of the biggest and the most innovative enterprises in laser show business are based in Germany." During the three following days, the participants of the conference took the opportunity to exchange their experiences or to discover new products in Stuttgart's SI-Center. Numerous panels and workshops dealt with everyday problems of laserists. In addition, the members elected a new chairman: Chris Ward, who had been ILDA-president for years, resigned to have more time for other projects. He was replaced by Tony Zmorenski of Walt Disney World. Two evening events in the Concert Hall in Karlsruhe marked the glamorous highlights of the conference. During the so-called Lase-Off, being open to non-members for the first time, participants presented their latest laser spectacles in a 2-hours show marathon.

In the last night's traditional ceremony the best shows of the year were recognized by the prestigious ILDA Awards. These are by far considered to be the industry’s most coveted awards. Everybody obtaining an ILDA Award belongs to the exclusive club of the world's leading laser show designers. With 10 awards, LOBO’s representatives received more than one quarter of all trophies. Hence, LOBO again received more ILDA Awards than any other company.

Lobo‘s Art Director: “As we all know, it is very difficult to measure creativity objectively. Therefore, ILDA itself, consisting exclusively of competing laser show companies, is certainly the best organization to judge the most creative designers among their own members. We are very glad and proud that, this year again, we could defend our leading position and that we were especially successful in the categories mostly disputed.”

For example, the laser spectacle “Dremscape”, presented for the first time at SIB in Rimini, was awarded as the best indoor show of the year. LOBO also achieved top placements in all categories for beam shows. Furthermore, LOBO’s highlight for the official millennium celebrations in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, watched by up to 1.5 million spectators during peak times, also won an award.

A huge outdoor spectacle in Medina, Saudi Arabia, using a gigantic water screen as projection surface and integrating hundreds of actors also found the jury’s favor. In the field of multimedia, LOBO convinced with a spectacle for the German crane manufacturer Demag. The animation of a driving Cadillac, with chrome reflections realistically recreated with lasers, also was cause for sensation. Another award was won by an opener for the discotheque chain “Riverside”. There is no doubt: LOBO has every reason to be satisfied with the conference and the numerous ILDA Awards demonstrate that the heart of the industry is beating in Germany. Lobo Electronic, Aalen