Le Maitre’s latest range of pyrotechnics, the VS – “virtually smokeless” range, is continuing to expand. The VS range was originally conceived back in 2010 when Le Maitre’s R&D team, based in Peterborough, UK, were looking to improve the visual impact of effects by overcoming typical but unwelcome byproducts of pyrotechnics. Conventional pyro can produce a lot of smoke and ash, and with the advent of HD television and the increased use of pyro in sporting events, these by-products needed to be addressed.
More details from Le Maitre (www.lemaitreusa.com):
Le Maitre’s R&D team set to work, fundamentally changing chemical compositions. They moved away from metals and products that produce the solid particles which make the unwanted smoke and have replaced them with products that burn more cleanly and don’t produce solid particles.
The first products the team worked on were Flares as their magnesium base made these extremely smoky items. The resulting VS Flares were a resounding success, not only resulting in virtually no smoke, but also producing an extremely strong colour and aura. Buoyed by their success the team moved on to successfully develop the VS Flame range and VS Small Starburst range, with all three being launched in 2011.
In addition to much reduced smoke levels the VS range has incredible intensity and depth of colour compared to conventional pyrotechnics which can be bright but their colors still tend to be pale. Le Maitre’s VS products all have much deeper and more vibrant colors, particularly noticeable with the blue, purple and pink.
The VS range is also benefiting from the company’s newly automated production process installed at the Peterborough manufacturing plant last year. Primarily invested in to address growing demand it also enables the faster prototyping of new compositions, drastically reducing the time to market for products under development as well as improving product consistency.
Since its inception the VS range has been further added to with VS Falling Stars, VS Coloured 8-foot Ice Gerbs and VS Intense Flames. At LDI 2014, Le Maitre launched VS Mines.
“The VS range is in line with Le Maitre’s strategy of continuously introducing the best range of visually stunning pyrotechnics on the market ensuring spectators get to see the effects at their very best!” said Karen Haddon, Joint Managing Director and Owner of Le Maitre Ltd.
