NEW 2000 SQ FT TENT IS SET

UP IN JUST 15 MINUTES !

Stephane Carufel drove from Quebec to Hensall recently in his pick-up towing a large 35ft long trailer with what appeared to be a large sausage-like object on board.

He headed to the field close to the Iceculture facility, and in less than 15 minutes the secret of the mystery load was revealed. It was folding tent which offered 2000 sq ft of clear space inside.

The tent was developed by a Quebec engineer who worked for Cirque du Soleil and was the result of a vision he had after setting up touring road shows for the famous Cirque group. He felt he could improve the process of erecting a tent by engineering a system that operated similarly to an umbrella.

Engineer, Paul-Andre Bouchard nurtured his idea for almost five years and in 2002, applied for a patent on his clear-span tent prototype.

The tent is 15 m in diameter, dodecagon-shaped (12 sided) and the design has revolutionized the tent industry. The trailer is an integral part of the system. A hydraulically-operated, retractable mast powered by its own portable generator lifts the tent and the umbrella-like mechanism folds out to deploy the tent.　

When the tent is erected, the central post is retracted into the trailer leaving the space free of any obstacles. The trailer is then pulled out of the tent.

When taking the tent down, the trailer is backed into the tent and a built-in laser system helps the operator guide the trailer to the exact position for a speedy take down.

Reason for the visit to Hensall was to work with Iceculture on the development of a portable ice lounge, a concept which is fast becoming popular around the world.

‘The tent provides us with an ideal structure’, says Julian Bayley of Iceculture. ‘It can be set up in less than 30 minutes with one or two men and this alone brings considerable savings when you think a regular 2000 sq ft tent would take a team of six to eight several hours to put up’.

‘We are now working with a freezer equipment manufacturer to come up with a suitable compact freezing system for the tent and an insulation company to create an easy-to-install freezer package. We need to maintain a temperature of about minus 6 degrees C inside’, he explains.

	The frame is robust enough to carry lighting and has even been strong enough to support a car. The sturdy frame can also act as ties for the insulation panels or material. The freezer unit will be stationed alongside the tent and will also be designed for easy handling and placement.
Once the components are in place, the system is ready to go. The design people know how much space they have to work with and what has to be done in terms of layout. At the same time, a marketing program will be developed so special event companies, corporations and festivals can be targeted.