News

MDG, the world leader in atmospheric effects, is pleased to announce the appointment of AED Distribution as its official distributor in the Belgian and Luxemburg markets, with effect from 1st October 2011.

Through this partnership, AED Distribution (part of AED group), will supply and support MDG's leading portfolio of fog and haze generators to resellers, installers and rental companies, which will now benefit from easier access to MDG's reliable quality products.

"MDG is proud to partner up with AED Distribution for the Belgian and Luxemburg market and welcomes AED Group to the MDG family," states MDG President & CEO Martin Michaud. "AED's perpetual quest for excellence, their personalized service and the quality of their team and organization reflects values shared by both our companies."

Established in Mechelen, Belgium in 1977, AED Distribution distributes top professional brands across the Benelux countries, carefully screening all products before taking them into their range. AED Distribution works closely with the best dealers, installers and rental companies to provide the highest level of service.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with MDG, which is a world leader in professional fog and haze generators," states Hans Vanderheijden, Managing Director of AED Distribution. "AED Distribution is constantly looking for more products that bring value to the customer. MDG's are exactly such products, made for, and used by, professionals.

"As an extra bonus, our clients will not only be able to buy MDG at AED Distribution, but our sister company, AED Rent, will also add MDG products to its rental catalogue."

"The addition of our products to AED Rent's catalogue will strengthen both our positions as the leading atmospheric effect providers for the European entertainment rental industry," adds Michaud. "In my mind, it's a perfect match and the natural evolution."

Founded in 1986 as a dry-hire rental company for sound, AED Rent is one of the key European market players in lighting, sound, video, trussing, rigging and accessories for the professional audiovisual industry.

"We are truly excited about the partnership with MDG and AED Distribution," says Steven Mansvelt, Light Department Manager at AED Rent. "Logically, we will buy and promote MDG products. Without any doubts, MDG is a market leader and we're pleased to add state-of-the-art fog and haze generators to our rental program. MDG products do not need many 'words': they are typical products that add serious value to our rental catalogue."

After debuting with Celine Dion (Taking Chances World Tour 2009), Britney Spears (The Circus World Tour 2009), Kylie Minogue (US Tour 2010), Microsoft (Kinect CDS launch 2010) and Victoria’s Secret (2010), the MDG theONE™ atmospheric generator has completed another international assignment with Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite – Les Folies World Tour 2011, which draws to a conclusion in South Africa this week.

Four of the ground-breaking theONEgenerators have accompanied Miss Minogue across 28 countries, augmented by four MDG Ice Fog QTM Low Lying Fog Generators, to produce the spectacular atmospherics which underpinned the tour’s distinctive look.

The MDG units were supplied for the European and North American legs by the tour’s lighting, video and sound supplier, Solotech. They were supplied at the request of lighting designer, Nick Waterhouse, who was careful to specify theONE for the demanding 77-date, six month tour.

“I was introduced to MDG by Solotech’s Karl Gaudreau when touring with Alicia Keys,” says Waterhouse. “We then took four DMX-operated versions of theONE on Kylie’s For You, For Me tour in 2009 and I was very impressed. I was determined to use them again for Kylie’s Aphrodite tour. I love the unique ability theONE has to set the output level from the desk and to switch between haze and fog modes.”

theONE’s revolutionary technology means this, fully digital, atmospheric generator, is capable of creating both fog and haze effects from the one source. It is also the first atmospheric generator with networking capability and, uniquely, can be operated via DMX, RDM, ACN, ETC-Net or Art-Net. These features ensure a fine, remote control over output, and gradual, seamless switching between haze and fog modes.

The superior qualities of theONE was acknowledged by receiving the Best Debuting Product Award at the LDI 2010 where the LDI judges deemed it “the turnkey solution for combining both fog and haze capabilities in a single, highly-portable design.”

MDG Fog has responded to these plaudits by perfecting a touring cradle for theONE, which is the first to provide fully-approved rigging options and uniquely fits all known sizes of 9kg gas (CO2 or N2) bottles. These unique features that ensure theONE is the only atmospheric generator you will ever need, on tour or at home.

Solotech’s Gaudreau has worked with MDG Fog on developing the DMX version of theONE so is well qualified to insist on using MDG atmospheric generators on his projects. He was extremely satisfied with the way the new cradle performed on the Aphrodite tour: “The newly refined design of theONE’s cradle is ideal for touring,” he says. “It gives us many more options for safely rigging the units and is strong enough to withstand the demands of an international tour. The cradle is set on wheels for easy transportation, making it especially fit for ready-to-go touring conditions.

“I find it is very user-friendly and, with its universal voltage rating, theONE is perfect for both international touring and for the rental side of our business.

For reasons of construction, features and effects, MDG’s theONE is my preferred solution for all tours.”

It’s not wonder why, this thing spits out fog or haze like no ones business! Just take a look at the tour edition of the thing with CO2 canisters attached, it looks mean and ready to smoke you out. In fog mode, theONE can spit out 10 hours, yes 10 HOURS of continues fog.. But it gets better, it Haze Mode, 308 HOURS all while consuming just 1415 watts of power.

There is a good reason MDG is calling this thing theONE, it’s the last one you’ll ever need! Martin Michaud, President of MDG Fog gave me a quick run down and demo of both the touring edition of theONE and the stand alone version. Take a look and let me know what you think. Will this be the last one you’ll ever need?

Thanks Martin and congrats!