Clay Paky
Encyclopedia
Clay Paky SpA is an Italian developer of automated spotlights
and stage lighting
equipment commonly used in theatre, television, concerts, nightclubs and outdoor events. The company was established in 1976 by its current president and chief executive officer, Pasquale Quadri. Since 2002, Clay Paky has been based in Bergamo
, Italy, where its 33,000m² industrial complex operates to the UNI EN ISO 9001 quality standard.
Founded in 1976, Clay Paky was one of the first manufacturers to commercially produce lighting effects for clubs and discotheques. In 1982, Clay Paky introduced the Astrodisco, which used a single lamp to project multiple rays of coloured light across ceilings and dance floors. Five years later it launched Brilliant, an early digitally controlled ‘intelligent projector
’ or ‘moving head’. This was followed in 1988 by the programmable Golden Scan, a moving mirror projector and the first luminaire to implement stepper motor
technology instead of servo motors.
The Golden Scan established itself as the world’s most popular and best selling mirror projector, and became a commonly used lighting effect at nightclubs and rock concerts during the late 80s and 90s. It has also been claimed by London rock band Klaxons
to be the inspiration behind their light-themed, hit single Golden Skans
.
Intelligent lighting
Intelligent lighting refers to stage lighting that has automated or mechanical abilities beyond those of traditional, stationary illumination. Although the most advanced intelligent lights can produce extraordinarily complex effects, the intelligence lies with the programmer of the show rather...
and stage lighting
Stage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
equipment commonly used in theatre, television, concerts, nightclubs and outdoor events. The company was established in 1976 by its current president and chief executive officer, Pasquale Quadri. Since 2002, Clay Paky has been based in Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, Italy, where its 33,000m² industrial complex operates to the UNI EN ISO 9001 quality standard.
History
The company name derives from the shortened, anglicized form of the name of the founder, Pasquale (Paky) Quadri.Founded in 1976, Clay Paky was one of the first manufacturers to commercially produce lighting effects for clubs and discotheques. In 1982, Clay Paky introduced the Astrodisco, which used a single lamp to project multiple rays of coloured light across ceilings and dance floors. Five years later it launched Brilliant, an early digitally controlled ‘intelligent projector
Intelligent lighting
Intelligent lighting refers to stage lighting that has automated or mechanical abilities beyond those of traditional, stationary illumination. Although the most advanced intelligent lights can produce extraordinarily complex effects, the intelligence lies with the programmer of the show rather...
’ or ‘moving head’. This was followed in 1988 by the programmable Golden Scan, a moving mirror projector and the first luminaire to implement stepper motor
Stepper motor
A stepper motor is a brushless, electric motor that can divide a full rotation into a large number of steps. The motor's position can be controlled precisely without any feedback mechanism , as long as the motor is carefully sized to the application...
technology instead of servo motors.
The Golden Scan established itself as the world’s most popular and best selling mirror projector, and became a commonly used lighting effect at nightclubs and rock concerts during the late 80s and 90s. It has also been claimed by London rock band Klaxons
Klaxons
Klaxons are a British indie rock band, based in London. Following the release of numerous 7-inch singles on different independent record labels, as well as the success of previous singles "Magick" and "Golden Skans", the band released their debut album, Myths of the Near Future on 29 January 2007....
to be the inspiration behind their light-themed, hit single Golden Skans
Golden Skans
"Golden Skans" is a song released by London band Klaxons on 22 January 2007. It reached #16 in the UK Singles Chart on download sales on 14 January and climbed to #14 the next week, eventually reaching #7 after the CD release...
.