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About OPTI 1 of 6 |
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| Back in the heady days of the late 1960s, a group of young visionaries saw science, in the form of light and movement, as a means to enhance the aural experiences of the time. They managed to blend audio surroundings with a visual experience, thus developing a total environmental experience. This early collaboration led to Optikinetics Ltd being formed in 1970. |
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From humble beginnings in a farmhouse on Barbara Cartland’s estate near Hatfield
England, (oh to  have been a fly on the wall when a young hippy, Phil Brunker,
was interviewed by Ms. Cartland) Optikinetics became one of the world's leading
designers and manufacturers of effects lighting and structures. Together the
founders of the company shared a vision, to deliver quality and technical excellence
through innovation and high standards of customer service. An ethos that has
continued to this day. The first effect produced by Optikinetics was the 6 inch Liquid Wheel (see the 6 inch Wheel Effect pages and History of the 6 inch Wheel) producing a projected effect of constantly moving and mixing globules of coloured light. |
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| After experimenting and adapting other projectors and
luminaires Optikinetics launched the World's first purpose
built effects projector, the Solar 250 effects projector was launched. The 70’s would never have
been the same without innovative Optikinetics effects, strobes and the dynamic combination of the Solar 250 and
the 6 inch Liquid Wheel. Still in great demand. |
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About OPTI 2 of 6 |
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 Later in 1973 Optikinetics brought the two existing
sites together in an ex-hat factory in Luton. This was
to be the centre of all lighting effects manufacturing
and development. It still is and is also the companys
head office.
Within the first decade Optikinetics had designed, manufactured and sold over 45,000 projection systems, leading a revolution in contemporary entertainment lighting along the way. This success has continued to date, with the introduction of increasingly more powerful and sophisticated products. Along the way many ground breaking products like Sound Scanners, Pin Spots, Flatspots, Super Slave Strobes, Sparklites, the Total Eclipse, the Quasar and Fanlites have been and gone.
The 10,000th Solar 250 was made and presented in 1977.
Less than 4 years after the first prototype.
 Neil Rice with Peter
Stringfellow.
Neil’s the one on
the right - we think?
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About OPTI 3 of 4 |
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 The early 1980s saw the introduction of Optikinetics'
first aluminium trussing system. OPTI Trilite.
OPTI Trilite was originally branded as simply Trilite.
Trilite was developed in response to the need for a
strong, yet easily de mountable and lightweight
exhibition system for Optikinetics’ own products.
The original system was based around a 2 inch tube.
What is now OPTI Trilite 200 and was developed
into all the other variants of the OPTI Trilite 200
series.
Trilite was so successful - that in 1984, in order to
satisfy demand, Optikinetics opened the first of two
factories in Huntingdon, England. Trilite soon
established itself as the de-facto standard for
entertainment lighting installations across Europe,
and naturally migrated to the exhibition industry,
where it was eagerly adopted by designers and
contractors alike.
In 1990, with Trilite in demand Worldwide, Optikinetics
extended their presence with the opening of another
Trilite fabrication factory in Carp, Ontario, Canada.
This resulted in the development of the imperial Trilite
systems featured in the 'American Imperial' section
of this site. This was followed by the opening of a
sales and distribution centre in Ashland VA. USA to
better satisfy the needs of our clients, for Trilite and
Lighting, in the Americas. 
In the 1991 in response to a particular requirement
by the NAAFI in Portsmouth, England a 19mm tube
version of Trilite was rapidly created and installed.
This was then changed to a 1 inch tube which
eventually became OPTI Trilite 100 and was also
developed into all the other variants of the OPTI
Trilite 100 series.
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