--- title: 15 Years of Rigging at ETC description: In 2007 Fred Foster called together a group of engineers to develop a portfolio of rigging products for ETC. 15 years later, ETC is still innovating. image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Nebraska_Public_Media_2024-9_Lincoln_NE%20(45).jpg --- - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [ABOUT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [AUTHORS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [CONTACT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [![EtCetera_319x104](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "EtCetera_319x104")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) [![ETC Blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "ETC Blog")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) Search ## [![blog-header](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-header.png?width=476&height=155&name=blog-header.png "blog-header")](https://www.etcconnect.com) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [✕](https://blog.etcconnect.com/15-years-of-etc-rigging#gwen-offcanvas-primary) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) # 15 Years of Rigging at ETC ![Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rachel-author.png?width=34&height=34&name=rachel-author.png)By [Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick) 19 Dec 2024 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Nebraska_Public_Media_2024-9_Lincoln_NE%20(45).jpg) In 1975, Fred Foster, his brother, and two of their friends from college started ETC with their work on a lighting console. In 1990 ETC acquired LMI and added dimming systems to their portfolio of products. In 1992, the iconic Source Four fixture launched, giving ETC the market edge. They were now able to offer a full theatrical system with all gear designed to work together from a single manufacturer. But one key system was missing - rigging.   In 2007, Foster called together a group of innovators to discuss the possibility of ETC adding rigging to the portfolio. He had been approached by Don Hoffend who, along with his father, was part of one of the oldest companies on Broadway known for both scenic design and rigging technology. Hoffend and Sons is credited with engineering the first motorized rigging hoist in the industry.  Don Hoffend knew that to those who worked backstage, rigging was all about the machinery. And he knew that ETC was a company known for its control products. If the two started collaborating, they would have a chance to revolutionize rigging technology worldwide. So, Foster flew to North Carolina to see Hoffend’s hoists in a university setting. What began as a fact-finding mission, and a bit of a skunkworks project at ETC, soon turned into a solid commitment and the eventual need for additional factory space.   ![Northwoods_Community_Church_13](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Northwoods_Community_Church_13.jpg?width=1200&height=800&name=Northwoods_Community_Church_13.jpg)   Fred hand-picked his rigging engineers with the goal of coming together with a single focus to develop projects quickly. At the LDI tradeshow in 2009, ETC announced the first Prodigy fixed-speed hoists to the market. Variable speed shipped two years after that, and P75 for the largest theatrical venues, released two years after that. ### Acquiring Vortek In August of 2014, ETC doubled its stage machinery offerings with the acquisition of the [Vortek rigging division of Daktronics](https://www.etcconnect.com/About/News/ETC-purchases-Vortek-rigging-division-of-Daktronics.aspx). The Vortek design took the cost and long installation times out of the rigging equation by providing a hoist that was considered the first “boxed product” solution. This more standard style hoist developed by Hoffend and Sons enabled ETC to break into the education market where mass manufacturing hoists was required in order to bring them down to a price point that schools could afford.   ![CarrierDome_SyracuseNY_10012020_003](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CarrierDome_SyracuseNY_10012020_003.jpg?width=1200&height=900&name=CarrierDome_SyracuseNY_10012020_003.jpg) ### ETC Rigging Today ETC continues to develop new hoists for venues of every size. We build scoreboard hoists like you’ll see at the [Carrier Dome at Syracuse University](https://portfolio.etcconnect.com/my-product/the-carrier-dome-syracuse-university/), or T-Mobile Arena, and smaller hoists for TV studios, churches, and restaurants. But, like we mentioned earlier, ETC has always been known for its control products and rigging control is no different.   ![BraswellHighSchool_DallasTX_05252017_08](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BraswellHighSchool_DallasTX_05252017_08.jpg?width=1200&height=800&name=BraswellHighSchool_DallasTX_05252017_08.jpg)  Originally developed from German studio rigging, Transteknik’s Voyager system kicked off ETC’s rigging control platform. With a user-friendly interface that feels more like a lighting console than stage machinery, ETC continues to take the market with its extreme safety features, aggressive factory testing, and simplified product options. To learn more about ETC rigging products through the years, visit etcconnect.com.   - - - 0 [#ETC Culture](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) ### Most popular blog posts of 2024 [Previous article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2024-blog-review) ### ETC Gets Show-Ready for LDI, IAAPA, CSI, and JTSE [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/etc-gets-show-ready-for-ldi-iaapa-jtse-and-csi) [Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick) ![Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rachel-author.png?width=180&height=180&name=rachel-author.png) Rachel has worked with ETC since 2007. She takes advantage of the limited warm months in Wisconsin by participating in outdoor activities like camping, paddle boarding, kayaking, and riding waterslides. She has several gardens that she swears she’ll be able to keep up with someday. And she enjoys stretchy things like new socks, yoga, and taffy. She writes a lot, she reads a lot and she plays with her kids a lot. #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Prodigy_Balance_Rigging%20(9).jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/the-counterweight-argument) [FEATURED](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/featured) ### [The Counterweight Argument](https://blog.etcconnect.com/the-counterweight-argument) By [Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick) 6-Mar-2025 ETC has improved century-old rigging technology through innovative engineering to encourage safer backstage environments. We found a way to make rigging safer and easier for staff to use and teach.... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/the-counterweight-argument) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Starbucks2_ETC-e1538408051145-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/10/etc-lights-starbucks-in-shanghai) [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) ### [ETC lights Starbucks in Shanghai](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/10/etc-lights-starbucks-in-shanghai) By [Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick) 3-Oct-2018 Starbucks opened a new Reserve Roastery in Shanghai in December 2017. Situated in the city center of one of the busiest cities in China, the Shanghai shop is not only the second Starbucks Reserve... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/10/etc-lights-starbucks-in-shanghai) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/ETC.year.in.review..jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2023-blog-recap) [ETC Culture](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) ### [2023 et cetera... blog recap](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2023-blog-recap) By [Rachel Frederick](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick) 28-Dec-2023 We find ourselves once again at the end of the year. This is the time when we look back and take stock of what we’ve accomplished, the milestones we’ve hit, the people we’ve met, the music we’ve... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2023-blog-recap) - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [About](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [Authors](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [Links](https://blog.etcconnect.com/links) - [Contact us](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Privacy Policy & Legal Notices](https://www.etcconnect.com/Privacy-Policy-Terms-of-Use-and-Acceptable-Use.aspx) [CA Transparency Act & Transparency in Coverage](https://www.etcconnect.com/About/California-Supply-Chain-Transparency-Act.aspx) [Do Not Share My Personal Info](https://www.etcconnect.com/Do-Not-Share-My-Personal-Info/) [CA Privacy Rights](https://www.etcconnect.com/CA-Privacy-Rights/) ![ETC blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/ETC-logo_footer-wh.png)   ![ETC 50 anniversary](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedimages/Main_Site/Images/50yr_160x80.png "ETC 50 anniversary") [![ETC social networks](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Images/social_Footer.png "ETC social networks")](https://www.etcconnect.com/Get-connected.aspx) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rachel Frederick", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/rachel-frederick" }, "dateModified" : "2024-12-19T15:00:00.339Z", "datePublished" : "2024-12-19T15:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "15 Years of Rigging at ETC", "image" : [ "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Nebraska_Public_Media_2024-9_Lincoln_NE%20(45).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/15-years-of-etc-rigging", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Logos%20-%20Icons%20-%20Design%20Elements/ETC_4c.png" }, "name" : "ETC" } } ```