A Brief History

It’s no secret that trusses are chosen as a support structure for a number of different projects. What this boils down to is that these trusses are not only lightweight, but extremely strong in the way that they are designed. Those who decide to invest in a set of trusses understand that this particular structure is going to be the best option for them when it comes to supporting even the heaviest of arrangements.

Of course, when we speak of the way that a truss is designed, we are referring to the triangle shape that adorns each one. The reasoning behind the triangles is that the shape and design provide structural stability. A triangle will not change shape when the lengths of the sides are fixed, keeping each unit straight and firmly connected to the nodes.

Some of the earliest trusses were constructed with wood by the ancient Greeks and used to build bridges and buildings. Instructions on how to build bridges with trusses were then written down in a book called, “Quattro Libri dell’Architettura” by an architect named Andrea Palladio during the Renaissance. It wasn’t long however before the truss’ strength and flexibility was recognized as something that could be useful in more projects than just bridges and buildings.

While trusses are still used in both of those aspects today, their usability in the world of displays and exhibits soon gained notice. Today, truss manufacturers, like those at James Thomas Engineering, work with various different venues and organizations to create steel truss structures for concerts, night clubs, theatres, trade show exhibits and so much more! As time passes by, more and more architectural versatility for these trusses is becoming apparent, and our company will be standing by for you when you come up with the next challenge for us!

Light Up The Night!

One of the most important elements of putting together a concert of any kind is its lighting. Think about it; lighting not only points out key elements in the show, (i.e. where to look, when a song is beginning, when a song is ending, etc.) but it gets you really excited! One of the most popular lighting fixtures used for stage lighting would be the PAR, or parabolic aluminized reflector light and it just so happens that James Thomas Engineering is the industry leader in truss lighting fixtures such as these.

In addition to the lighting fixtures themselves, the spun aluminum PAR lanterns manufactured by our engineers are commonly regarded as the industry standard. Housed in a cylinder-shaped aluminum tubing with a flat, round lens that resembles the headlight of a car, PAR Lanterns are your go-to choice for lightweight durability.  

Now while the bodies of these PAR lanterns are typically black or silver in color, other shades are also available if specified during the order. However, the list of colors that can be filtered through these fixtures is endless! Experience an intense ray of light as they light an entire stage and provide a wash of vibrant color!

You can even be sure that your lighting fixtures will be perfect for their individual environments as our engineers have managed to create both an indoor and outdoor PAR lantern. Regardless of where the event is being held, James Thomas Engineering will have no problem delivering what you need. We stand behind our work and we guarantee that you’ll see why when you choose our company as your PAR fixture manufacturer.