MGG adds second grandMA3 full-size as demand grows
MGG adds second grandMA3 full-size as demand grows
South African technical production company MGG has added a second grandMA3 full-size lighting console to its inventory, responding to growing demand for MA3 across large productions while providing additional rental capacity and a reliable backup.
The console was supplied by DWR Distribution and brings MGG’s total number of MA consoles to 10. The purchase marks another step in the growth of the company, which founder Mark Gaylard started with a single Zero 88 Leap Frog console before expanding into lighting, sound and AV.
“To watch MGG over the years has been amazing,” said DWR Distribution’s Duncan Riley. “I’ve known Mark Gaylard, founder of the company, for such a long time, going back to when he was still at school and hiring gear from Cal Morris at Calite. It’s wonderful to see what he has achieved and how he has kept his head despite the growth. It’s always a pleasure working with the entire MGG team.”
For Gaylard, the investment reflects MGG’s approach of selecting equipment that can deliver value over the long term. The company has previously retained its MA2 consoles, even investing in motherboard upgrades to extend their working life.
“We don’t have enough capital to do what we want to do so we have to be really careful about what we need,” he explained. “But things like getting a grandMA3 will give us a saving because we can still rent our other console out and do our shows. We’ve had times when we wanted to rent in an extra console and couldn’t because of a shortage in the country. You can also buy something really cheap, use it and get rid of it, but sometimes it’s about the longevity.”
MGG technical manager Nardus De Lange said the new console will expand the company’s capabilities, with MA increasingly used on major productions. “It’s a good purchase and we see it as an investment for future work,” he confirmed. “The last one was bought about two years ago and this is going to bring us more capabilities. The industry uses MA and almost every large show is MA.”
The additional console will also support MGG’s growing pre-programming operation, with a dedicated studio allowing shows to be prepared without removing an MA3 from the rental pool.
Günther Müller, project lead at MGG, concluded: “Our first MA3 full-size has been working non-stop. We’re getting to the point where there’s a lot of overlap and we need two, so it was an easy decision to go this route.”
