ISO achievements mark great start to 2009 for The ICC

ISO achievements mark great start to 2009 for The ICC

The International Convention Centre Birmingham has become only the second venue in the UK to achieve both leading international standards accreditation for quality (ISO 9001) and environmental (ISO 14001) management systems.

These standards provide customers with the assurance that their event will be delivered to their requirements and in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Geoff Fenlon, General Manager at The ICC, and Team ICC were presented with the certificates by BM TRADA’s Andy Green.

Geoff Fenlon said: “The ICC has always had an outstanding reputation as the host tothe finest international and national associations, as well as many blue chip companies .Our aim throughout is to “wow” our customers.The ISO 9001 award just confirms our approach of working with clients to ensure their event is a huge success – that’s why we have published our service promise.

“By achieving not just ISO9001 but also ISO14001 at the same time we bring together 2 of the most important aspects of running a top class venue – consistently delivering what the customer wants with minimum negative impact on the environment.These accreditations show that the customer and the environment are integral and central to how we work..

“Combined together, these two standards provide our delegates and organisers with the assurance that their event at the ICC will be of an exceptionally high quality.

“The auditor visited us for three days last November, examining our systems and commented that the internal audits undertaken by The ICC team were some of the best that she had seen.”

BM TRADA’s Andy Green said: “This is an excellent achievement by The ICC and shows genuine commitment to providing and environmentally sustainable venue.Geoff and all his team should feel very proud to be at the forefront in this way.”

The ICC is now looking forward to hosting the Liberal Democrat’s Spring Conference in 2010, and their full conference in 2011, following the successes of the Labour Party Spring Conference and Conservative Party Annual Conference, both of which were held in 2008.

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A trip down memory lane at The NEC

A trip down memory lane at The NEC

Employees at Birmingham’s NEC took a trip down memory lane to the venue’s beginnings more than 30 years ago – when they welcomed a very special visitor to the exhibition centre.

The daughter of the architect who designed the first ever halls visited for the first time, to see what her father masterminded in the seventies.

Mrs Gillian Payne and her husband Jim were given a VIP tour of The NEC by Event Managers Mike Dolphin and Sandra Williams, before meeting its Managing Director, Kathryn James.

Mrs Payne’s father Edward Mills, who passed away in 1998, designed Halls 1 to 5 of the venue, which set the standard across Europe when it was officially opened by the Queen in 1976 and remains the UK’s biggest and busiest exhibition venue.

Today The NEC has 20 halls totalling 195,000sqm of exhibition space on a 650-acre site, and future plans include proposals for £90million Leisure and Entertainment Complex onsite, called Resorts World @ The NEC, which will be delivered in partnership with casino operator Genting UK.

This is part of The NEC Group’s vision of a Destination NEC where a range of leisure and business facilities would compliment the exhibition halls and LG Arena and create a work, rest and play environment.

Kathryn James, Managing Director of The NEC, said: “It was wonderful to meet Mrs Payne and her husband, and a real pleasure to be able to show her the site her father designed.

“When it opened in 1976 The NEC set a benchmark of excellence across Europe, gradually developing into the 650 acre site it is today.

“Edward Mills’ groundbreaking designs, which complimented its central location with accessible travel by road rail and air helped make it a successful venue ever since, welcoming millions of visitors from across the world.

Mrs Payne said: “It was a very emotional journey for me to see The NEC for the first time.

“The visit was very moving for me as the NEC is such a memorial to my father and the project he was most proud of. Growing up I was forever hearing tales of his work there, and he would be so proud to see how it has gone forward.”

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NEC Group arenas record 1.6 million visitors in 2008

NEC Group arenas record 1.6 million visitors in 2008

Sell out concerts from major artists including Coldplay and Oasis were just part of the 1.6million tickets sold for events at Birmingham’s two biggest music, sporting and entertainment venues last year.

The figures come from ticket sales to shows at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena (The NIA) and the LG Arena, formerly The NEC Arena, which is in the midst of a £29million refurbishment programme.

Box office statistics unveiled this month reveal that nearly 780,000 tickets were sold for events at The LG Arena, whilst there were 821,000 for The NIA.

Rockers Kings of Leon broke box office attendance records with a 14,000 turn-out for their show at The NIA in December.

Meanwhile Coldplay sold 37,311 tickets performing three nights at the venue, and Oasis 27,311 tickets over two nights.

The figure also includes visitors to the LG Arena, including tickets sold for Horse of The Year Show, Best in Show for Crufts and TV spin offs Dancing On Ice and Strictly Come Dancing.

Phil Mead, Director of Arenas, The NEC Group said: “An attendance of 1.6million people between our iconic venues is a number that not many other cities can boast.

“As a venue, The NIA is renowned for hosting the finest international live music and sporting events. We stage a diverse range of shows for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

“The introduction of hospitality boxes last year further improved this offering, as well as increasing our capacity to 14,000.

“Meanwhile the LG Arena is undergoing a dramatic £29million improvement programme that will make it a world class 21st century visitor attraction, and ensure it continues as a must stop destination on the European Touring Circuit.

”With these improvements in place we are ensuring our venues continue to be as ever popular in the future.”

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NEC Group appoints new solicitor to in-house team

NEC Group appoints new solicitor to in-house team

The NEC Group has appointed solicitor Emma Dickson to its Legal Services team.

Emma, who is currently Birmingham Law Society’s Commercial Solicitor of the Year for 2008, has joined The NEC Group from legal firm Browne Jacobson.

Emma said: “Working in-house you get to know the business and your clients a lot better. Roles like this at organisations as diverse as The NEC Group don’t often come up, and I’m really looking forward to making my mark.”

Keith Marriott, Group General Counsel, said: “I am very pleased to be able to welcome Emma to our team.I am sure that she will be a great addition to The NEC Group and an asset in the future.”

Working closely with the Group General Counsel, Emma will be focussing on providing legal support for the procurement team, developing venue agreements and working on internal projects.

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Anastacia In Concert at Birmingham’s NIA Academy

Anastacia In Concert at Birmingham’s NIA Academy

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Anastacia In Concert at Birmingham’s NIA Academy
Issue Date: 03/03/2009

“Anastacia can more than match any singer of her generation. She is a class act at the top of her game”- DAILY MIRROR

The lady with the most distinctive voice in pop music is back. Fresh off the back of the release of her critically acclaimed album Heavy Rotation, Anastacia is set to tour the UK and Europe this summer. Anastacia performs at The NIA Academy on Sunday 28 June 2009.

Tickets priced £32.00 and £36.00 plus booking and transaction fee go on general sale at 9am on Friday 6 March 2009. Tickets can be purchased on-line at theticketfactory.com or by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 33 88 000.

With over 14 million album sales in Europe alone, in excess of 225 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum discs, countless awards (from MTV to Marie-Claire awards), and a record-breaking chart history to her name, Anastacia is not only one of the biggest selling artists of this decade, but also one of the biggest names in today’s music industry.

This tour will be the first time Anastacia has hit the road since 2005. Aside from featuring songs from Heavy Rotation Anastacia will also be performing favourites such as I’m Outta Love, Left Outside Alone and One Day in Your Life from previous albums Not That Kind, Freak of Nature, and Anastacia. The tour is being directed by Kim Gavin, the Creative Director and Producer of all live events for Take That, (including their forthcoming Stadium tour), the 2007 Concert For Diana and the 2007/2008 Viva La Diva Tour with Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins.

Anastacia will begin her UK tour in London on 25th June. Prior to her arrival in the UK, Anastacia will be performing at the Women’s World Achievement Awards in Vienna on March 5th, where she is nominated for the award of Woman of the Year. Previous winners include Oprah Winfrey, Vivienne Westwood, Susan Sarandon and Whitney Houston amongst others.

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Phenomenal Public Demand Secures Second Date for Michael McIntyre

Phenomenal Public Demand Secures Second Date for Michael McIntyre

Due to overwhelming public demand tickets are now on sale for a second Michael McIntyre date at Birmingham’s NIA. Comedy’s hottest property will now perform on new date – Thursday 8 October and original date Friday 9 October 2009.

Having taken the comedy world by storm last year with sell-out shows around the country including an impressive 5 nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, Michael returns to the road with a brand new show.

His hugely successful debut DVD Michael McIntyre Live & Laughing has now sold over 600,000 copies and has been at the top of the comedy charts for over 3 months. Michael’s brilliantly engaging delivery and effortless rapport with the audience has led to him being hailed, by audiences and critics alike, as the best new stand-up to emerge for years.

A DVD of Michael’s 2009 arena show will be released by Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd on Monday 16th November 2009.

Michael is set to host a brand new BBC1 show Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow coming to our screens in Spring 2009. Further information will be released over the coming weeks.

Tickets priced £30.00 plus booking and transaction fee can be purchased on-line at theticketfactory.com or by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 33 88 000.

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The National Wedding Show Returns To The NEC

The National Wedding Show Returns To The NEC

From the venue to the menu, from the proposal to the Big Day, The National Wedding Show at The NEC, Birmingham, offers excited newly-weds-to-be everything they need to help them plan their dream wedding. All in one place, all in one day visitors can choose wedding gowns, occasion wear, menswear, accessories, favours, cakes, photography, flowers, gift lists, honeymoon destinations, stationery, beauty, entertainment, venues and much more.

From March 13 – 15 the pages of glossy magazines will come to life at this celebratory Show. Visitors can taste cakes, smell flower displays, try on dresses and choose accessories. There is so much to see and do with more than 250 experts and five inspirational features. It is the ultimate wedding shopping experience with thousands of ideas for whatever stage of planning the happy couple are at. It’s a fun and inspiring day out for all the wedding party, the bride and groom-to-be, their mothers, bridesmaids, page boys, the best man and even stags and hens.

The glamorous Catwalk Show offers further inspiration and a sneak preview of the unique and stunning collections on offer at The National Wedding Show. The Boutique Area brings together the hottest names in retail and design to house the UK’s largest collection of wedding dresses under one roof. From full on fairytale to Hollywood glamour, every style, fabric and colour you could imagine is here; vintage, empire lines, traditional, voluminous, contemporary, simple, and embellished – whatever style you’re looking for, whatever your budget you’ll be spoilt for choice. And it’s not all about dresses; there is an exquisite range of accessories including tiaras, headpieces, veils, fascinators, underwear, jewellery and footwear too!

At the Wedding Theatre, the How to Look Good Show – a live make-over show hosted by TV’s style guru Caryn Franklin (The Clothes Show, Style Challenge, GMTV and This Morning), and her expert team of make-up artists and hairdressers – will provide visitors with top tips on how to create your dream ‘Big Day look.’ The Inspiration Sessions are fun, interactive and informative chats hosted by leading figures from the wedding industry who share top tips on topics such as budgeting and planning, wedding flowers and cakes.

Of course it’s not all about the bride, which is why The National Wedding Show ensures they have the very best in groomswear from traditional tops and tails to contemporary styles – with Hugh Harris, Moss Bross, Young’s Hire, Geoffrey Tailor, and Losners to mention a few, as well as a selection of bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride outfits and occasionwear to boot.

As fun as wedding planning is, it can be thirsty work, so the Celebrations Bar will be stocked with champagne enabling shoppers to kick back and relax with a chilled glass of bubbly to toast to future happiness.

The National Wedding Show is at The NEC, Birmingham, from March 13 – 15. Tickets bought in advance start at £10, subject to booking fee. Book by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 338 8000 or online at http://www.theticketfactory.com.

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Final Line-Up Announced For Dancing On Ice

Final Line-Up Announced For Dancing On Ice
After wowing more than 500,000 people across the country in 2007 and 2008 with stunning ice performances, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean will embark on a third live UK tour of Dancing on Ice which comes to Birmingham’s NIA from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 April.

Tickets are still available priced from £32.50 – £45, subject to booking and transaction fee. Book by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 33 88 000 or online at http://www.theticketfactory.com.

This tour will celebrate the 25th anniversary of skating legends Torvill & Dean’s Olympic Gold medal win for their stunning Bolero routine at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in 1984. They will be joined by past and present Dancing on Ice celebrity contestants Kyran Bracken, Todd Carty, Chris Fountain, Melinda Messenger, Roxanne Pallett, Ray Quinn, Zoe Salmon, Suzanne Shaw and Jessica Taylor.

All the celebrities will be trained and choreographed by Torvill & Dean who will also perform at each show. Olympic gold medal winner Robin Cousins will lead the panel of rink-side judges who will critique their performances. The full judging panel is now confirmed and consists of Karen Barber, Robin Cousins, Ruthie Henshall and Nicky Slater. There will also be one guest judging seat for each date, organisers are in the process of lining up some very special guestsAt each performance the audience will have a chance to vote for their favourite skating celebrity. Replicating the format of the hit ITV1 show, they will be able to use their mobile phones to text vote for their favourite dancing couple. The audience votes will then be added to the scores from the Judges to decide the winner. Once the votes have been counted, the winning celebrity will join their skating partner to perform a magical finale. As with the previous tours, all profits from text voting will go to charity, more than £45,000 has been raised to date.

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NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S: Short-distance projections

NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S: Short-distance projections

NEC Display Solutions expands its product portfolio for the education sector with two new short-throw projectors

Munich, 19 March 2009 – NEC Display Solutions is proud to present to the market two innovative LCD projector models featuring short-distance projection capability. NEC is extending its projector portfolio in the education sector with these new models and is offering an outstanding technology solution to this particular market sector. The highlight of both projectors is their virtual remote control allowing full PC control of all projector functions. The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S can project pictures with a diagonal of 60” from a distance of only one metre. This means that presenters don’t cast any annoying shadows nor are they dazzled by the projector itself. The two models are ideal for small rooms and are also particularly suited for meetings and training courses where interaction between the participants is best undertaken directly in front at the whiteboard.

The unique Virtual Remote function allows all the projector settings to be directly computer controlled using the VGA cable. It can simply be installed onto any computer. The software interface has been created to mimic an actual remote control unit with important buttons such as, for example, for choosing the operating mode, specifically represented. Such functionality is particularly important for the education sector where the projector is generally used by multiple people and a single remote control unit is otherwise too limited. Moreover it tends to get lost. It also means that the annoying climb over tables and chairs to switch a fixed installation-projector on or off is now no longer required.

Outstanding options for centralised network control and monitoring via the RJ45 LAN connection are additionally enabled by the PC Control Utility Pro 4 software. The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S have been equipped with a function allowing the programming of user-defined operating times so as to automatically switch them on and off. This can be set using the projector itself or via software-control over the entire network. Automatic error messages are also sent to the system administrator when a fault occurs indicating the source of the error, which makes maintenance of the devices significantly easier. The PC Control Utility Pro 4 software can be downloaded free of charge from the NEC homepage.

Additional practical features have also been developed for particular application within the education sector. For example, alongside the programming and alarm functions, the projectors have also been equipped with Off-Timer, Quick On and Off, and Direct Power Off. In addition, the NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S have been equipped with an EcoMode function that even increases lamp lifetimes from 3,000 hours to up to 4,000 hours. When operating in Standby, the user also has the choice between normal standby and a special Power Safe mode featuring a power consumption of only 3 Watts. This ensures cost-efficiency as well as low operating costs (i.e. total cost of ownership.)

With WXGA (NEC NP500WS) and XGA (NEC NP600S) resolutions, the projectors also offer a contrast ratio of 600:1. Automatic vertical keystone correction of +/- 20 degrees as well as wall colour correction with whiteboard mode also ensure that the devices can be quickly set up in the most varied of deployment locations, whilst the practical connectors enable the highest possible flexibility in numerous deployment situations. The LCD projectors have been equipped with a DVI-I interface for digital signals that can also be used as a second analogue connector using the included adapter. In addition, the RS-232 interface allows the projectors to be controlled and maintained by PC. The integrated 7W loudspeakers also enhance the multimedia functionalities of the devices. With their low weight of only 3.3 kg the NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S are ideal for fixed installations in educational facilities, or for mobile applications within companies.

Ensuring reliability and protection against unauthorised access, the projectors have been secured with a Kensington Lock connector, password protection, a lockable keypad as well as a security bar.

Availability and Price

The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S models are now commercially available. The recommended retail price is 1,092.00 Euros (inc. VAT) for both models. Included in the package are a network cable and a mini D-Sub signal cable, an IR remote control unit, replacement battery, protective lens cap, as well as a handbook CD and a quick setup guide. The projectors are supplied in a carry case with their accessories.

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Exact representation and precise reproduction – NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC

Exact representation and precise reproduction – NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC

NEC Display Solutions expands its medical product portfolio with two color displays for radiological diagnostics

Munich, 18 March 2009 – Real-time, 3D color imaging is an increasingly important aspect of clinical medicine, for example in surgery. NEC Display Solutions is therefore proud to present two new models in its NEC MD Color series to the market to enable precise image representation within the medical sector. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC displays guarantee best possible color fidelity and maximum reproduction of even the finest details. Their precise image representation, even for monochrome applications, makes them the ideal successors to the purely gray-scale monochrome displays used in radiological diagnostics. The NEC High Brightness color monitors can be used as Class A diagnostic displays for the imaging, amongst others, of body extremities, head and thorax. In addition, they are particularly suited for sectional-view diagnostics in combination with 3D color reconstructions. The UA SFT (IPS) panel offers particularly wide viewing angles and the best possible display view from almost any position. The displays have also been equipped with the innovative NEC X-LightTM 3 technology with integrated RGB 3-color front sensor, which ensures full compliance with the required medical standards and fidelity of representation over the entire operational lifetime.

With the new NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC, NEC Display Solutions is expanding its medical sector displays product portfolio with 2- and 3-megapixel color displays respectively. The provider of display solutions is also meeting the increasing demand for integrating color displays into systems which formerly only required gray-scale monitors. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC are equally at ease in offering full-color as well as monochrome imaging. They are therefore invaluable for the detailed analysis of medical images from surgical specialisms such as internal medicine or radiotherapy, for initial radiological diagnosis, as well as for computerised axial tomography (CAT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic scans.

The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC offer a native resolution of two (1,600 x 1,200) and three (2,048 x 1,560) megapixels respectively, as well as a contrast ratio of 750:1 which is particularly advantageous for the reproduction of radiological gray-scale images. They can achieve a maximum native brightness of up to 800 cd/m2 (400 cd/m2 after calibration) and can therefore be used for diagnostics in Category A applications according to DIN V6868-57. With an outstanding black value, the UA SFT (IPS) panel of the NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC particularly supports the exact reproduction of gray-scale images, as required for X-ray diagnostics. In addition, with their wide viewing angles, the displays are perfect for multi-screen systems – they guarantee best possible picture viewing in even the busiest of clinical environments.

Brightness homogeneity across the entire screen of the displays is ensured by the digital uniformity control (DUC) that NEC Display Solutions has equipped the monitors with. This makes control of the brightness distribution uniformity significantly better than is required by DIN V6868-57 Category A with its limiting tolerance of +/- 15 percent. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD 213MC also satisfy all the other requirements required for quality assurance in diagnostic displays. Amongst other features, the innovative NEC X-LightTM 3 technology also makes an important contribution in this regard, with brightness values and colour settings remaining constant and stable over the entire operating lifetime of the display. Here, an RGB 3-color sensor integrated within the front display bezel directly measures the brightness as well as white point, and automatically adjusts the backlighting to the required settings. This means that more exact measurements (i.e. exact setting values) are achieved, since the sensor being situated outside of the LCD module ensures that the measurements correspond exactly to what is being seen by the viewer.

In line with the increased networking of medical facilities, the DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) GSDF Part 14 standard is of greatest importance since it allows the secure exchange of digital images between hospitals and for teleradiology. To this end, both NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC medical displays satisfy this standard, with the DICOM profile additionally already pre-set within the factory.

To guarantee uniform and reliable reproduction quality over the entire operational lifetime of the devices, the NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC have been equipped with the NEC GammaCompMD client software.

Within the medical sector, the ergonomics of display systems at the work place is of particular importance. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC can therefore be height adjusted by up to 150 mm, whilst the panel can also be rotated and tilted. With VESA-conforming fastening plates, the displays can be fixed to the wall or mounted onto a movable arm.

Excellent signal quality is ensured by the CableComp feature. Here, potential signal losses over cable lengths of up to 30 m (digital) can be fully compensated without any additional hardware.

The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC are now commercially available from NEC Display Solutions or from certified medical equipment suppliers. NEC Display Solutions offers a three-year guarantee for its devices including backlight.

Industry standards required in the field of radiological diagnostics

For quality assurance within the field of radiology, independent sources recommend that displays employed for medical diagnostic imaging satisfy the same legal regulations as prescribed for X-ray image reproduction devices. Commissioning of the display requires a once-only conformance check be undertaken according to the DIN V6868-57 Category B or AAPM TG18 standard. The appropriate quality assurance standard may additionally require a quarterly test of the device‘s consistency. The GammaComp MD Client software and designated calibration sensor supplied by NEC Display Solutions allow the user to perform regular tests for consistency in the simplest possible way. Calibrations undertaken using this software allow the prescribed, regular checks for consistency to be straightforwardly performed. In addition, fully-valued DICOM gamma correction can also be calibrated taking the ambient lighting into account, and then electronically stored within the three 12-bit look-up tables of the display. This allows more exact colour nuances to be achieved, without losing any of the 16.77 million colors available from the display. Decalibration of the display is prevented by storing the data within the monitor, as well as by locking the display against manual adjustments.

The commissioning process, as described by the DIN V6868-57 Category A standard, also requires consideration of the diffuse illumination. This means that reflections from the display‘s outer surface, also dependent on ambient lighting conditions, need to be included within the calibration parameters.

In a fully automated system during production, all NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC displays are individually measured at various gray-scales. Hundreds of measuring points distributed across each display’s screen yield the basis for a three-dimensional correction matrix which is subsequently electronically-stored within the display. During operation of Digital Uniformity Control, these data serve to optimise the uniformity in color reproduction and brightness across the screen. Such distinctive capability is only offered by displays at the high-end of the product class

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